Members of the Wu[Whoo] lab study different topics related to groups, behavioral change, and social inequality, using a variety of methods, including field and laboratory experiments, online experiments, archival data analysis, texts analysis, and qualitative interviews. We are united by an interest in applied behavioral science (Kahneman, 2012) and in theories that generate insights on behaviors in the real world.
I am a third-year PhD student studying Behavioral Decision Making at the Anderson School of Management. My research interests broadly focus on how context and cues in the environment affect judgment, decision-making, and goal pursuit. I am specifically interested in the psychology of scarcity, inequality, and attribution theory in intergroup interactions. Prior to coming to Anderson, I spent years designing and evaluating social policies aimed at reducing inequities in the U.S. I employ mixed methods aimed at elevating underrepresented voices and addressing social and economic issues through behavioral interventions. In my free time, I enjoy fostering rescue animals, hiking, and exploring new cities.
Hello, all! I am a Ph.D. student in the Management and Organizations group at UCLA Anderson. I research identity, communication, and happiness. Specifically, I investigate how identity and communication styles shape perception at work, how minority status leads to unintended consequences in the workplace, and how subjective well-being is impacted by social and emotional expression. Originally from Boston, I am enjoying cycling on UCLA's cycling team and eating tacos around sunny Los Angeles. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or would like to connect!
I'm a second-year Behavioral Decision Making PhD student at the Anderson School of Management. My research interests focus on behavior and social change — how individual behaviors and group-level dynamics develop and interact with one another, and how this interaction can be used to precipitate social mobilization and lasting change. I'm particularly interested in applying emerging methodological approaches, such as machine learning text analysis techniques, to these questions. I am invested in studying and leveraging these insights in applied contexts, and believe behavioral science is at its most exciting and effective when working in conjunction with policy and system change frameworks. In my spare time, I like to make things, lounge outside, and pull my quad while playing soccer.
I am a 5th year PhD student of Management and Organizations. I study social hierarchy, racial and gender diversity, and intergroup and intragroup processes. I’m most interested in revealing subtle forms of inequality especially within organizations, as well as interventions that can improve minority groups’ well-being and minimize backlash from dominant groups. Outside of work, I enjoy playing the guitar and piano, karaoke, and walks by the beach.
I am a second year doctoral student in Management & Organizations. I study how people reason about diversity and group-based inequality in organizations, and how people navigate intergroup contexts and group-based social hierarchies more broadly. After double majoring in Psychology and Media Studies at Pomona College, I worked in college admissions for a few years for Caltech and the University of Chicago. Then, I joined Stanford GSB's Behavioral Lab before coming to Anderson for graduate school.
I am a fourth year PhD student in the Management & Organizations department at Anderson. I broadly study organizational diversity and social inequality. In one line of research, I examine the factors that influence individuals' perceptions of, and support for, racial and social class diversity. In another vein of research, I study sources of inequality in the workplace by examining how employees' social class backgrounds influence their psychological experiences at work. In my free time I enjoy going to the beach, trying new restaurants, and working out.
Helen Zhang
I am the current lab manager for the Wu[Whoo] Lab. I graduated from Davidson College in 2022 with a BS degree in psychology. My primary research interests focus on stereotyping, prejudice, and sexism. Additionally, I am interested in conducting field research in diverse environments and working with marginalized groups. In my free time, I enjoy watching moves, eating good food, and listening to music.
I graduated from UCLA (Summa Cum Laude with College Honors) in Summer 2021 in Psychology and Communication Studies. I am interested in developing psychological theories that explain how and why social influence affects important decisions that shape people’s well-being in workplaces and beyond. I am also interested in testing psychological theories through field interventions that inform theory development in return. In my free time, I enjoy going to movies, meditating, self-teaching Chinese medicine and learning the science behind it.
I am a fourth year Statistics major and Math minor from Beijing, China. In the past, I have worked as a Risk Management Intern for Hartree Partners, a global commodities trading firm, and as a researcher on the LA Greenspace Research Committee for the International Urban Sustainability Student Corps at UCLA. I also work as a Learning Assistant for a Python-based programming course offered by the UCLA Math department. I enjoy using data science to solve real-world issues. In my free time, I like to play basketball and explore LA with his friends.
I am currently a senior undergraduate student from Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, majoring in Social Work. I joined the research lab in 2021 and work remotely with the team. I have great experience in data collection and analysis from multiple research projects and internships. I also established a Charitable public platform on “WeChat” focusing on teenagers' mental health and college students' self-development and also organized 30+ innovative events in the past 3 years.
Lab Alumni
Jose worked as the lab manager for the Wu[Whoo] Lab from 2020-2022
I transferred to UCLA from Cerritos College and graduated in 2020 with a degree in psychology and specialization in computing. My primary research interests focus on group-based discrimination and how it impacts social inequality. Additionally, I am interested in diversity messaging across organizations and how it impacts historically disadvantaged groups.