Yingying (Jennifer) Yang, Ph.D.
Lab Director
973-655-7639
Dickson Hall 227
Dr. Yang is an Assistant 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.
Click here for Dr. Yang's recent publications.
Click here for Dr. Yang's abbreviated CV.
Arielle Hershkovich
Graduate Research Assistant
Arielle Hershkovich is a third-year PhD student in the Clinical Psychology program. 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. As a graduate assistant at Dr. Yang's spatial development lab, Arielle is researching the spatial abilities of typically and atypically developing children.
Nardin Yacoub
Graduate Research Assistant
Nardin Yacoub is a third-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.
Sadaf Khawar, M.A., BCBA, NYS-LBA
Graduate Research Assistant
Sadaf (she/her/hers) is a 4th year student in the Ph.D Program in Clinical Psychology 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. Sadaf's clinical work in the last decade with individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities (DD/ID), primarily autism spectrum disorder (ASD), has inspired her 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, 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.
Lauren Grove
Graduate Research Assistant
Lauren Grove is a first-year PhD student in the Clinical Psychology program. Lauren graduated with her BA in Psychology from Temple University in 2015 and obtained her MA in Clinical Psychology from Towson University in 2018. Her 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, Lauren is researching the spatial abilities of Typically Developing children and children with Down Syndrome.
Daria Lasc
Graduate Research Assistant
Daria Lasc is a second-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 second-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.
Julia Hauss
Research Assistant
Image coming soon
Julia is a master's student at Montclair State University. After graduation, she plans to continue her education by going to a doctoral program for psychology. She also works with Dr. Laura Lakusta in her cognitive development lab at Montclair State.
Jessica Charles
Research Assistant
Jessica is a senior at Montclair State University as a Psychology major. After graduation, she plans to continue her education by going to a master’s degree program for Occupational Therapy.
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
GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANTS
Dai'jah Diggs
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.