Lab members
Lab Director
Sabine Doebel
Sabine leads the Developing Minds Lab in the Department of Psychology at George Mason University. Much of the research in the lab focuses on questions related to the development of ‘executive function’—the capacity and skills involved in exercising control over thoughts and actions in the service of goals. Executive function is essential to adaptive human functioning, and predicts success in a variety of domains in life, including academic, social and behavioral outcomes; however, much remains unknown about how specific experiences shape executive function skills. While there is no question that executive function is important—we use it every day in many, diverse ways—there are many questions about how best to measure it, how it is related to skills in specific domains, and whether and how to target it in interventions to improve other aspects of development. The lab aims to address many of these questions and more.
Sabine completed her Ph.D. at the Institute of Child Development at the University of Minnesota and a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Colorado Boulder. She was born in Ohio and grew up in Ontario, Canada. (You will rarely hear her saying “eh?” these days but she is known to say “sorry” frequently!) In addition to conducting research on executive function and related topics, she also enjoys considering how we can teach developmental science more inclusively (for example, better showcasing development in diverse cultures) and how this can lead to more accurate conclusions about development. She teaches courses in child development, executive function, culture and development, and parenting. Sabine engages and trains her students in open science practices.
When not teaching or conducting research, Sabine is usually losing chess games to her 7-year-old son, Vincent, who is growing up much too fast.
View her CV here.
Graduate Students
Nicole Stucke
Nicole successfully defended her dissertation, titled “Will it Sink or Float? Examining Gender Differences in Science-task Persistence in Childhood and the Role of Gender-Related Stereotypes and Beliefs,” in the spring of 2024!
She graduated from the University of Minnesota with a B.S. in Developmental Psychology and Neuroscience in 2015. She earned her Master’s Degree from George Mason University in 2022 and her Ph.D. in Applied Developmental Psychology from George Mason University in 2024.
Nicole is interested in the early development of executive function (self-regulation) and how these skills relate to social, health, and behavioral outcomes, including prosociality, in/externalizing behaviors, and adaptive classroom behavior. She is also interested in how socialized gender constructs and stereotypes are related to children’s ability to engage their executive function skills to persist in on-task behavior.
View her CV here.
Victoria (Vicki) Rabii
Vicki is a second-year Ph.D. student in the Applied Developmental Psychology program. She graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2020 with a B.S. in Psychology. Prior to joining George Mason, she completed a Postbac IRTA Fellowship in a clinical neuroimaging lab at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), and subsequently spent a year working as a research assistant under Dr. Brenda Jones Harden at the University of Maryland collecting and disseminating child assessment data for Educare DC's longitudinal program evaluation.
Vicki is dedicated to bridging the gap between research and practice in early childhood care and education contexts. Broadly, her research interests center on the interrelations between early adversity (e.g., poverty), environmental factors (e.g., familial and neighborhood dynamics), and academic development in preschoolers and Head Start/Early Head Start attendees.
Research Assistants
Armita Dadvar
Armita Dadvar is a junior at George Mason University studying Psychology and hoping to pursue a minor in Computational Data Sciences. She really enjoys working with children and is interested in exploring how children develop and explain their emotions. After undergrad, she is hoping to pursue further education in order to get her PhD. For fun, Armita enjoys playing soccer with her friends, exploring the area, and going shopping.
Madison Ellison-Potter
Madison graduated from George Mason University in the spring of 2023 with a degree in Psychology and a concentration in clinical psychology. Previously, she worked as a research assistant in applied developmental and clinical psychology labs. She eventually plans to pursue a PhD in counseling psychology or a PsyD. She also works as an EMT and is completing her paramedic certification. In her free time, she enjoys running and being with her friends and family.
Derek Woodward
Derek is a rising senior at West Springfield High School with wide interests in data analysis and computer science applications for science and social science. He is the President and Founder of his school's CyberPatriots chapter, a volunteer in his Community Emergency Response Team, and a tutor for SAT prep. In his free time, he enjoys playing guitar, reading, and participating in volunteer work. He hopes to study computer science in college, and he wants to continue learning how to adapt emerging technologies like AI to support the work of researchers.
Kira Sherwood
Kira is a junior at George Mason University and aims to graduate with a dual-major in Psychology and Biology, with concentrations in developmental and clinical psychology and biotechnology and molecular biology, respectively. She intends to pursue graduate and doctoral studies in order to become a clinical child psychologist and hopes to specialize in helping children with Tourette's Syndrome and body-focused repetitive behavior disorders. In her free time, Kira enjoys drawing, sewing, and playing video games.
Monique Le
After Monique received her B.S. in Biology and a concentration in Environmental Science and Conservation Biology, she returned to George Mason University to study Psychology, with plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Applied Developmental Psychology. Through her studies, Monique hopes to also contribute in bridging the gap between research and practice in early childhood development. She is dedicated to the diversity, inclusion, and representation of marginalized communities within academic and research contexts and strives to make information more accessible to the general population. In her spare time, Monique enjoys crocheting, drawing, and vending at markets and conventions. She also loves to cosplay and never missed a theme day in grade school because she needed any reason to dress up!
Fatima Elescano
Fatima graduated from George Mason University in 2024 with a degree in Psychology with concentrations in both developmental and clinical psychology. She is planning to pursue a master’s degree after graduation. She is interested in children’s social development and mental health and is hoping to work with families and children. During her free time, Fatima enjoys cooking and baking, going out with friends, and watching tv shows and movies.
Lab Alumni
Sydney Foss
Sydney graduated from George Mason University in the spring of 2022 with a major in psychology with a concentration in development. She is interested in the factors that contribute to how children cope, function, and adapt to their environments and circumstances. She hopes to attend graduate school for speech-language pathology in the near future. In her free time, Sydney enjoys hiking and crocheting.
Isabela Alfaro
Isabela graduated from George Mason University in 2022 with a major in psychology with a concentration in clinical and a minor in brain, body, and behavior. She hopes to attend graduate school for social work in the future. She is interested in how one’s environment affects their developing executive function. She believes in the importance of promoting good patterns early to set the foundation for the rest of a child’s life and wants to contribute to that body of knowledge.
Jordan Hassani
Jordan graduated from George Mason University in the spring of 2023 with a degree in Psychology. He completed his Honors Thesis under Dr. Sabine Doebel’s mentorship and was selected to receive the Outstanding Honors Thesis Award. He was also voted the Best Honors Researcher by his peers. Jordan will be applying to Ph.D. programs in clinical psychology during the next application cycle with the goal of developing accessible interventions for adolescents with depression and related disorders.
Jasmine Sea
Jasmine graduated from George Mason University in the spring of 2023 with a degree in Psychology and concentrations in developmental and industrial/organizational psychology. She eventally plans to pursue a master's degree after graduation. She is interested in children's cognition and social interactions. Outside of school, Jasmine volunteers at her church with middle schoolers and students with special needs. In her free time, she enjoys cuddling with her pets, watching shows, and eating food with her friends.
Vielka Solis
Vielka graduated from George Mason University with a major in Psychology and a concentration in cognitive and behavioral neuroscience. She is from Nicaragua but has lived most of her life in Virginia. Vielka speaks Spanish fluently and she also has experience with working with children through babysitting and as a lead coach at Power Play camp. Vielka enjoys playing soccer and traveling with friends. In the future, she plans to attend graduate school to further her knowledge in the psychology field.
Songhan Pang
Songhan is now in her 1st year of undergrad at the University of Virginia. She currently serves as the Director of Education for BranchOut!, a 501(c)(3) volunteer organization that empowers DMV youth in the maths and sciences. In addition, Songhan is actively involved with leadership in her school Speech team, Asian American Association, and Science National Honor Society. Songhan is interested in the fields of cognitive psychology and neuroscience. She plans on pursuing the pre-medical track in college.
Mary Alphonse
Mary is a senior at George Mason University studying Kinesiology with a Developmental Psychology minor. She has always been passionate about working with children and was excited to learn more about their unique development. Outside of school, she works at a clinic serving pediatric patients with physical, occupational, and language rehabilitation needs. In her free time, she enjoys being with friends and family, cooking, traveling, and going on adventures.
Xander Johnson
Xander is an undergrad at the University of Virginia, majoring in psychology and computer science. He enjoys working with children and is pursuing a career as a clinical child psychologist. Previously, he was working as a research assistant in the Early Social Development Lab with Dr. Amrisha Vaish. He is interested in the influences on children's social and cognitive development, especially familial influences, and their improvement through interventions.
Aryan Rajput
Aryan is a senior at the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. He enjoys working with children and the elderly, and his research interests are in children's development and how individuals cope with incurable diseases. He is the captain of his school's chemistry team and the president of the Medical Innovation Lab. In his free time, Aryan likes reading, running, and listening to music. He hopes to continue to pursue clinical psychology and neuroscience in college.
Lynn Farquhar
Lynn graduated from Bowdoin College in Maine, majoring in Psychology and Hispanic Studies. After graduating, she looks forward to going to graduate school and spending her career working with children. Outside of her classes, she played varsity soccer at Bowdoin and participated in the college's Peer Health program. Her engagement with the Developing Minds Lab during the 2020-2021 academic year was funded by a grant awarded from Bowdoin.
Fielder Wise
Fielder graduated from George Mason University with a major in Psychology and a minor in Neuroscience. She is now working toward getting her Master’s degree in Special Education with a Board Analyst certification from George Mason University. In her free time, she works with autistic children conducting behavior therapy. She is also a Learning Assistant and tutor for chemistry. Fielder’s goal is to one day work with autistic children and children with other developmental disabilities as a behavior analyst.
Sara Khan
Sara is currently a senior at Emory University majoring in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology with a minor in English. She enjoys learning about the neurological processes that underlie child development and memory consolidation. In her free time, she writes for her college newspaper and volunteers at a local hospital. Outside of school, she loves to write, play tennis, and explore new places. She plans to attend medical school in the future.
Antonia Russell
Antonia graduated from George Mason University in 2020 with a major in Psychology. She grew up in Germany with many younger siblings and has always had a passion and curiosity for children and their development. Antonia loves to surround herself with friends, collect houseplants, read books, and be in nature. She considers herself a lifelong learner, she plans to go on to graduate school and one day have her own research lab to continue learning and discovering new things.
Wei-hsuan Chang
Wei-Hsuan graduated from George Mason University in 2024 with her MA in Educational Psychology and a concentration in learning, cognition, and motivation. In the future, she would like to pursue a doctor’s degree in a behavioral sciences field. She is interested in human development, motivation, and behavior. She hopes to work as a behavioral therapist, especially in the field of criminal prevention and correction. During her free time, Wei-Hsuan enjoys reading different kinds of books, watching movies, and playing outdoor activities.
Scarlett Bird-Guerra
Scarlett graduated from George Mason University in 2023 with a major in psychology and a concentration in clinical psychology. She is currently in her first year of Antioch University’s Psy. D program and plans to become a clinical psychologist. She is interested in mental health and understanding the deeper aspects of people’s minds, eventually hoping to end the stigma against those with mental disorders. In her free time, Scarlett enjoys reading, crocheting and knitting, and playing the piano and viola.