People

Swara Rao

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Swara is interested in understanding the intricate relationship between culture, cognitive development, and mental illness. Upbringing, societal expectations, and childhood experiences profoundly shape the mind and since these factors differ across cultures, it’s clear that our understanding of the human psyche must adapt to account for these variations. Swara's overarching goal is to deepen our understanding of the relationship between social and cultural interactions and various aspects of the human psyche.

Jonathan Sugarman

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Jonathan Sugarman is a junior studying Psychology with a minor in Business at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He is interested in how cultural and socio-ecological contexts shapes the interpretation, diagnosis, and treatment of serious mental illness (SMI). Outside of the lab, Jonathan works as an undergraduate admissions representative for UMass and is an American Red Cross Lifeguard Instructor. He also enjoys skiing and hiking in western Massachusetts.