{"id":710,"date":"2017-01-13T14:14:42","date_gmt":"2017-01-13T21:14:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.psych.ualberta.ca\/IClab\/?page_id=710"},"modified":"2026-03-12T11:46:03","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T17:46:03","slug":"independent-studies-students","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.psych.ualberta.ca\/IClab\/new-page\/people\/independent-studies-students\/","title":{"rendered":"Undergraduates"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Honour Students<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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Isabel Ng Yek En<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hello! I\u2019m Isabel, a BA (Hons) Psych international student from Malaysia. Coming from the other side of the world, I\u2019m passionate about exploring intercultural differences and motivations that guide people\u2019s actions. I\u2019m excited to delve into these topics and more in the IC Lab!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Anny Kwon<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hello! My name is Anny Kwon. I am currently a fifth year psychology student in the Honors program. I moved to Canada when I was 10 years old and have grown up in Edmonton since. I have always been interested in social and cultural psychology; specifically conflict in ethnic identity (in my case Korean vs. Canadian) as well as other G1.5 immigrants\u2019 experiences living in a foreign country. I am excited to learn and explore more about these topics, and getting involved in the research field in general through the IC Lab.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Mia Leedell<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hi, I’m Mia, and I am a fourth-year honours psychology student in the IC lab. I have been working here since January 2024, and although I have had the fortune to fill a few roles during my residency at the lab, my work has continually centred on self-determination theory and psychological well-being in foreign-language learners. Outside of my research and coursework, I can be found climbing, swimming, hiking, skiing, knitting, and\/or reading.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Independent Study Students<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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Avantika Singh<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hi! My name is Avantika, and I\u2019m a third-year BA psychology student. This is my first semester in the IC Lab, and I\u2019m really excited to be here and learn from everyone. I was drawn to this lab because of my interest in culture, language, and how different social environments shape the way people think and connect. Growing up and studying in several multicultural settings sparked my curiosity about how cultural background and experience influence identity. Outside of school, I like exploring new coffee shops, trying different recipes, and spending time with the people I love.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Janna Elcehtry<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hi! My name is Janna, and I’m Egyptian, born in Canada and raised between Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Growing up across different cultural environments shaped the way I understand communication, identity, and social behavior. Adapting to multiple cultures from a young age made me especially aware of how cultural context influences the way people perceive the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I believe that being part of the intercultural communication lab will allow me to explore how cultural differences shape behavior scientifically and to connect personal lived experiences with research. Additionally, I’m very interested in exploring how individuals navigate cultural transitions and how identity is formed, and the extent it is influenced by social contexts. Outside of academics, I really enjoy strength training, playing squash, exploring new cities, trying new things, spending time with family and friends, and listening to music. 
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Jana Sleiman<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hi, my name is Jana, and I’m a third-year psychology major! It’s my second year working in the lab, and I’ll be helping the lab expand its research with immigrant students. I’m looking forward to learning and developing my research skills. My interests outside of school surround video games and reading!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Safa Awan<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hello! My name is Safa, and I\u2019m a fourth-year Psychology student. This is my first semester in the Intercultural Communication Lab as an independent study student. I\u2019m interested in intercultural communication, language learning, and how language and culture shape identity and well-being. As a Canadian Pakistani fluent in Urdu and English, I bring a multilingual and multicultural perspective to the lab. Outside of academics, I enjoy going to the gym and traveling. I\u2019m excited to gain research experience and contribute to the lab\u2019s ongoing projects.
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Farah Elgnaoui<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hello everyone! My name is Farah, and I am from Tunisia. I am a third-year Bachelor of Science student majoring in Psychology. This is my first year in the IC Lab as an independent study student. I am excited to further explore my interests in intercultural communication, including language learning, cultural identity, acculturation, and motivation in multicultural contexts. By joining the IC Lab, I am hoping to gain valuable research experience and skills that I can carry forward as I pursue a career in clinical psychology.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Anfal Rafique<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hi! My name is Anfal and I’m in my second year of BSc Psychology. I worked with the ICLab for a semester as a volunteer and decided to join the team as an independent study student. I love learning about different cultures and different forms of communication and I think it’s really important to learn and understand these experiences and why they’re so important! In my free time I love to read, bake, write, and I love to explore and learn how to do various different hobbies! <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Tasmia Shahid<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hi! My name is Tasmia, and I am a fourth-year student double-majoring in Biology and Psychology. I am excited to be joining the IC lab as an independent studies student for this upcoming year! My research interests center on understanding the factors that influence second-language learning and maintenance, with a particular interest in how gender may shape these processes. Outside of academics, I enjoy listening to music, going on nature walks, and spending time with friends and family!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Glory Okebugwu<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hello! My name is Glory Okebugwu, and I\u2019m a third year student in the Faculty of Arts, majoring in Psychology. I\u2019m especially interested in exploring intercultural differences\u2014particularly how youth from immigrant backgrounds navigate acculturation. I\u2019m fascinated by how the process of adapting to a new culture while maintaining aspects of one\u2019s original culture shapes personality and social interactions. I\u2019m excited to dive deeper into this area through both research and lived experience.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Jessi Kattel<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

My name is Jessi, I’m a fourth-year psychology student, and this is my first semester in this lab as an independent student. I moved to Canada when I was 15 years old and have lived in Edmonton since. I have always been really interested in language because of my own multilingual background, as well as cultural and cognitive psychology. Outside of university, I enjoy reading, watching shows, crocheting, cooking and painting.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Lucy Hu<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hi! My name is Lucy (she\/her), and I\u2019m a fourth-year Psychology student with a Biology minor. This will be my first time working in the Intercultural Communication Lab, and I\u2019m very excited to be joining the team. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I immigrated to Canada with my family when I was 11, and my experiences with language learning, cultural adaptation, and identity development have strongly shaped my academic interests. I\u2019m especially interested in research on intercultural communication, language and ethnic identity development, motivation in second and heritage language learning, and language mindsets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m really looking forward to learning from the lab, developing my research skills, and contributing to projects that inform education and immigration contexts.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Yunjiao (Estella) Zhu<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hello, everyone. My name is YunJiao. I am conducting independent research in the IC lab this semester. In daily life, I enjoy playing the piano and reading, and I have a very cute Schnauzer. I hope to enhance my cross-cultural understanding and communication skills, and learn more about different cultures!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Ritika Raval<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hello! I\u2019m Ritika Raval, a fourth-year Independent studies student. As a multilingual international student, I\u2019ve always been fascinated by how language and cultural differences shape an individual\u2019s perception and experiences in this world. I am excited and honored to contribute to this exploration in the lab.
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Emily Ewald<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hello! My name is Emily and I am a fourth year BA Psych student. Cultural psychology has always been something that I\u2019ve been fascinated by, which was only further expanded upon learning about my Indigenous heritage. I can\u2019t wait to have an opportunity to study something that I\u2019ve been so passionate about for so many years. Outside of school, I am a major animal lover (I have cat named Matcha and a dog named Molly!) and I enjoy videos games!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Volunteers<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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Angela Tan <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m Angela, a third year student pursuing a BSc in Honors Psychology in the SeaSoN Lab. As a child of Chinese immigrants, I\u2019m deeply interested in the acculturation of immigrants living in Alberta, as well as the process of language learning. I really look forward to exploring these topics further as a volunteer in the IC Lab! Outside of the lab, I enjoy figure skating, crocheting, and baking.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Amira Stewart<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hey! My name is Amira and I\u2019m a fourth year psychology major and philosophy minor. This is my second semester as an independent study student in this lab and I’m happy to be back! I\u2019m interested in intercultural communication and how it shapes both individual identity and group dynamics. In the spring I worked on a study about the stressors Black Canadian students face. And this fall I will be collecting data on the experience of International students. This summer I fostered a love for golf and also studied abroad in Ireland! Outside of academics I am a big sister, a lifeguard\/swim instructor, a server, and a swim coach with Special Olympics. There is so much to learn in the IC Lab and I am excited to be a part of it this year!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Mercy Valentine<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hiii! My name is Mercy Valentine, and I’m in my 3rd year of my BA in Psychology! I’m interested in researching how different cultures and languages affect the way people identify themselves, interact with others, and how they see the world. Outside of school, I love hitting the gym, hanging out with friends, and I recently picked up the guitar!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Khusheeali Bajambally<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hi everyone!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am excited to share a little bit about myself!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am a first-year psychology student and a volunteer in the Intercultural Communication Lab. I am eager to explore my interests in how cultural identity can reinforce differences in the communication of individuals. With a shared foreign language, I am interested in studying how cultural differences unfold in the verbal and nonverbal communication of immigrants. Outside of school, I am a dancer and public speaking instructor where I like to use the stage to express myself and connect with others! Fun fact about me \u2013 I have been to over 15 different countries and have been fascinated by the differences I have observed in cultural expression! <\/p>\n<\/div>

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Kate Cababat<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I’m a 4th year Honours Psychology student and a volunteer with the IC Lab. My research interests focus on cross-cultural developmental psychology and understanding how culture and environment shape children\u2019s socio-emotional development. Outside the lab, I enjoy reading, going to the gym, and traveling whenever I get the chance.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Rahma Adem<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hi! My name’s Rahma, and I’m a fourth-year BA Psychology student at the University of Alberta and a new volunteer with the Intercultural Communication Lab. Growing up in a multilingual and multicultural household, I’ve always been curious about how language, identity, and belonging come together to shape us and how we connect with others. These experiences have made this area of research feel especially meaningful to me, and I am so truly excited to be part of the lab and learn from the team. Outside of class, you’ll probably find me either hanging out with my friends or with my nose buried in a book!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Chelseay Robles<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hi everyone! I recently graduated last summer with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology. I\u2019m currently spending my gap year working as a research assistant and travelling. This past summer, I focused on making critical health resources more accessible to diverse linguistic communities by examining the effectiveness of artificial intelligence in language translation of knowledge mobilization resources, and I\u2019m excited to continue working on projects with similar goals. I am excited to contribute to meaningful research while further developing my skills in a collaborative lab environment. Outside of research, you can find me hanging out with friends or watching movies!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Jaden Chan<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hello! My name is Jaden Chan, currently a 4th year Psychology student. I moved from Hong Kong to Canada when I was 15 years old and have stayed in Edmonton since. I’m interested in learning how intercultural communication and how language usage shapes individual identities. Having been from similar backgrounds, I’d love to learn about other people’s experience, and more importantly get involved in the research lab settings through the IC Lab! Outside of school you can find me at the gym or anywhere outdoors! <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Della Wang<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hello everyone! I\u2019m Della, a third-year Arts student majoring in Psychology. I moved to Canada 8 years ago, and have since met friends from many different cultural backgrounds. I\u2019m interested in connecting theory with practice, especially in exploring how concepts from intercultural communication are applied in real research settings. In my free time, I enjoy horseback riding, travelling, and spending time with my cats!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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An Luo<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hi, \u5927\u5bb6\u597d! My name is An, and I am an international student from China in the BA
Psychology program, preparing to enter the BA Honours Psychology program. Growing
up in Guangdong, China, while engaging with diverse cultural contexts over time
shaped my interest in cultural psychology, particularly how culture influences people\u2019s
cognitive processes. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, exploring foods from different
cultures, playing badminton, and watching movies.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Honour Students Isabel Ng Yek En Hello! I\u2019m Isabel, a BA (Hons) Psych international student from Malaysia. Coming from the other side […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":28,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-710","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.psych.ualberta.ca\/IClab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/710","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.psych.ualberta.ca\/IClab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.psych.ualberta.ca\/IClab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.psych.ualberta.ca\/IClab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.psych.ualberta.ca\/IClab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=710"}],"version-history":[{"count":137,"href":"https:\/\/sites.psych.ualberta.ca\/IClab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/710\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2481,"href":"https:\/\/sites.psych.ualberta.ca\/IClab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/710\/revisions\/2481"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.psych.ualberta.ca\/IClab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/28"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.psych.ualberta.ca\/IClab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=710"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}