Yingying (Jennifer) Yang, Ph.D.
Lab Director
973-655-7639
Dickson Hall 227
Dr. Yang is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Montclair State University. Previously, she was a Research Associate Professor at Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China. She graduated with a Ph.D. from the University of Alabama with a concentration in Developmental & Cognitive Psychology and a minor in Quantitative Psychology.
​
Dr. Yang's research interests focus on spatial cognition in adults, children, and individuals with intellectual/learning disabilities. She is interested in observing how people interact with and remember their environment in both cognitive and developmental contexts.
​
See Dr. Yang's research profile:
​
​
​
Mikayla Haas
Lab Manager: Wayfinding Lab
Mikayla Haas is a third-year PhD student in the Clinical Psychology Program. Mikayla graduated with her BA in Psychology from Rutgers University in 2020. Her research interests include studying pediatric neuropsychology in children with neurological and neurodevelopmental disabilities. Mikayla's clinical interests are focused on neuropsychological assessments and evidence-based interventions for children with disabilities. As a graduate assistant for Dr. Yang, Mikayla is studying the development of spatial skills, such as wayfinding in children.
Samantha Zakrzewski
Lab Manager: Spatial Development Lab
Samantha is a first year Clinical Psychology PhD student. She graduated from Montclair State University with her Bachelors and Masters degrees in 2023 and 2024. Her research interests include intellectual and developmental disabilities, spatial abilities, gamification, and neuropsychological assessments and evidence-based interventions. Her master's thesis focused on the relationship between mental rotation abilities, personality traits, and reward/feedback in children between the ages of 6 and 9 years old. Some of her hobbies include reading, baking, playing with her dog, and spending time with friends and family.
Nardin Yacoub
Graduate Research Assistant
Nardin Yacoub is a fifth-year PhD student in the Clinical Psychology program. Nardin graduated with her BS in Biology from Penn State University in 2017 and obtained her MS in Clinical Psychology from Chestnut Hill College in 2020. Her research interests include studying behavioral biomarkers of developmental disabilities such as autism and cognition in individuals with disabilities. Nardin’s clinical interests include the assessment and early intervention of autism as well as disseminating research to immigrant and underserved communities. As a graduate assistant for Dr. Yang, Nardin is studying the development of spatial skills, such as wayfinding, in children.
Daria Lasc
Graduate Research Assistant
Daria Lasc is a fourth-year PhD student in the Clinical Psychology program. Daria graduated from the University of California, Irvine in 2019 with her BS in Cognitive Science. Her research interests are in cognitive development and the development of early assessment and intervention tools for children with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Her clinical interests are in neuropsychological assessment and child and adolescent psychopathology. As a graduate student for Dr. Yang, Daria is researching spatial abilities in typically developing children and children with Down Syndrome.
Stephanie Grinshpun
Graduate Research Assistant
Stephanie Grinshpun is a fourth-year PhD student in the Clinical Psychology program. Stephanie graduated from Lafayette College with her BS in 2021. Her research interests are in the field of interventions for adolescents with intellectual disabilities and her clinical interests focus on neurodevelopment disorders and early intervention and early assessment for autism spectrum disorder. As a graduate assistant for Dr. Yang’s, Stephanie is researching the spatial abilities of typically developing children and adolescents and young adults with Down Syndrome.
Nikita Duncan
Research Assistant
Nikita recently graduated from Walden University with her M.S. in Psychology and joined the lab in the summer of 2023. She received her B.A. in Psychology from William Paterson University in 2021. This is her first research experience and she is excited to learn about the research process. She joined the Spatial Development Lab to expand her research skills and knowledge. Her long-term goals involve getting her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. In her free time, she enjoys reading and working.
Romal Bhullar
Research Assistant
Romal is a Master's student in Clinical Psychology program with a forensic concentration. She joined the Lab in Fall 2023 to understand spatial development trends and gain research experience. Romal's research interests lie in forensic assessment and cognitive psychology. She aspires to be a clinical psychologist and is planning to pursue a doctorate following her masters. In her free time, Romal enjoys reading books, watching movies and spending time with her friends and family.
Lab Alumni
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANTS
Samantha Glosser
Edwina Alog
Sierra Edwards
Genesis Rombola
Precious Iferika
Gomeo Lam
Baljeet Tooray
Catherine Rathjen
Pearl Christine McGee
Jesujoba Olanrewaju
Karina Toro
Melissa Czarnogursky
Hafsa Abid
Kaitlynn Bohr
Rachel Freeman
Jessica Charles
Riddhi Gandhi
Soham Goswami
Alexander Bracken
Joselyn Lopez Moran
Melinda Mo
Kennedy Ashley
Joselyn Angon-Martinez
Leah George
Jack Gregory
Ameet Kaur
GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANTS
Dai'jah Diggs
Julia Hauss
Karima Elgamal
Matthew Baker
Sonia Conde
PHD GRADUATES
Lauren Grove, Ph.D.
Dr. Grove is a graduate of the Clinical Psychology PhD program at Montclair State University. She graduated with her BA in Psychology from Temple University in 2015 and obtained her MA in Clinical Psychology from Towson University in 2018. Dr. Grove's research and clinical interests are in forensic psychology with a focus on juvenile justice and forensic mental health assessment. As a graduate assistant for Dr. Yang, Dr. Grove researched the spatial abilities of typically developing children and children with Down Syndrome.
Sadaf Khawar, Ph.D.
Dr. Sadaf is a graduate of the Clinical Psychology Ph.D Program at Montclair State University. Sadaf received her B.S in Psychology from University of Houston and M.A. in Clinical Psychology from University of Houston-Clear Lake. Dr. Sadaf's research interests which include investigating social cognition in youth with DD/ID, neural mechanisms that influence clinical presentation of ASD, evidence-based behavioral and psychosocial interventions for improving overall functioning, and comorbidities with ASD (mainly ADHD and anxiety). Additionally, Dr. Sadaf is keen to investigate the impact of ASD on parents and siblings of youth with ASD and explore evidence-based interventions to improve their quality of life.
Arielle Hershkovich, Ph.D.
Dr. Hershkovich is a graduate of the Clinical Psychology Ph.D Program at Montclair State University. Arielle graduated from Touro College with her BA in 2020. Her research interests are in the field of cognitive development and neuropsychological assessments, and her clinical interests focus on evidence-based assessments, interventions, and prevention programs for adult and child psychopathology.
Interested in Joining our Team?
Our lab is always looking for undergraduate and graduate research assistants who are warm and kind, and passionate about research! If this describes you, please email Dr. Yang directly yangyi@montclair.edu. Our lab values diversity. So students from diverse backgrounds are especially encouraged to apply.