Current Unicorns
Dr. Thekla Morgenroth
Principal Investigator
My research examines why and how people think differently about different social categories and how they react when their categorization systems are challenged.
Some of my current projects include research on why people think about important social categories such as gender in different ways, the psychology of support for and opposition to bodily autonomy, and the heterogeneity of views within social and political movements.
Kira Kay Means
5th year graduate student
I am broadly interested in studying feminism, gender-based prejudice, and prejudice occurring within social groups. As a member of the UNICORN lab, I am excited to integrate my interests in feminist and queer theory with social psychological research on gender. I am also interested in advanced quantitative methods and best practices in data analysis. In spring 2017, I earned a B.A. in Psychology and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from the University of Montana. After graduating, I participated in a year of AmeriCorps VISTA service in Washington, DC. I received my M.S. in Experimental Psychology from Western Washington University in spring 2021 and then was Lab Manager of the Brauer Group Lab at the University of Madison-Wisconsin during the following academic year.
Pronouns: She/her
Contact: means6@purdue.edu
Favorite magical creature: Also unicorn! I actually have a tattoo of a unicorn, so joining the UNICORN Lab was clearly meant to be. 🦄
Heejoo Jennifer Chung
4th year graduate student
I am interested in studying how conceptions and ideas of gender shape and are shaped by personal identity, relationships between groups and individuals, and the sociocultural environment. I am excited to conduct social psychological research on gender while construing it as a multidimensional, not binary, and possibly flexible construct. Prior to joining the UNICORN lab, I earned a B.A. and M.A. in Psychology from Yonsei University in South Korea.
Max Miller
3rd year graduate student
I am broadly interested in intergroup relations research pertaining to gender and sexuality. I am especially interested in studying endorsement of and reactions to categorizing social groups as continuous instead of discrete/binary. Before joining the lab, I graduated from Purdue with my B.S. in Brain and Behavioral Sciences with a minor in Biological Sciences. I also worked as a lab manager for Dr. Linda Zou at the University of Maryland before joining Purdue as a graduate student.
Tina Wang
Undergraduate Research Assistant
I’m a junior at Purdue University majoring in Psychology and Women’s Gender & Sexuality Studies, and minoring in Philosophy. I’m co-running a social media account about comprehensive sexuality education in China. For research interests, I’m broadly interested in the marginalization of minority groups from intersectional lens across culture, and perception on intimate relationship of people with BDSM-related interests.
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Lucy Murphy
Undergraduate Research Assistant
I am a junior double majoring in Psychological sciences and Global Studies with minors in Anthropology and Forensic Sciences. In addition to my studies I am also very involved in the theatre club Purdue Performance Collaborative. I also work as a Manager in Earhart Dining and am active in an unhoused social sorority! I am very interested in any social topic related research. My passion in psychology lies in rehabilitation and wanted to work with correctional facilities.
Beau Mitchell
Undergraduate Research Assistant
I am a Senior at Purdue University Double Majoring in Psychology and Women,
Gender, and Sexuality Studies. I am also a Purdue LEAD facilitator. I am interested in exploring queer communities to address and reduce the existing data gaps, with a particular emphasis on sexuality, gender, and diverse identities and experiences.
Gussy
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Hi! Im Gussy! I am a senior in psychology. I’m also a local drag artist that focuses on building local coalitions among queer people while trans rights are being targeted. My research interests include intergroup relations specifically collective action and queer resistance through confrontation.
Aarya Nair
Undergraduate Research Assistant
I’m a sophomore on the pre-medical track, majoring in Brain and Behavioral Sciences. I am the president and founder of The Pro Choice Collective at Purdue. My research interests include bodily autonomy and bodily self determination for all individuals along with youth mental health.
Adrian Knoll
Undergraduate Research Assistant
I am a sophomore studying Psychological Sciences and Sociology wit a minor in LGBTQ+ Studies. Outside of my studies, I am a shift lead at ACE Campus Food Pantry! My research interests are why people discriminate against gender diverse individuals with a lens of intersectionality, and why certain groups memberships tend to have/more prone to particular psychological disorders and/or substance use disorders.
Lilly Axinn
Undergraduate Research Assistant
I am a sophomore majoring in Psychological Sciences. I also run a DnD group. My research interests include adolescent neurodevelopment, with a focus on the effects of trauma and family structure, as well as the Gender/Sex binary and how people form identities as they develop.
Kartoffel
Lab mascot
My research interests include (1) food inequity with a specific focus on why the humans in my home always seem to get more exciting food than I do, (2) the best things to play with (preliminary results suggest that strings and kale are particularly great), and (3) finding the best spots to nap.
Pronouns: She/her
Favorite magical creature: Myself! I am the most magical creature there is.
Least favorite magical creature: Vacuum cleaner.
UNICORN alumni
PhD Students
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Layla Dang (currently a post-doctoral fellow at Michigan State University)
Master Students
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Finn Frohn (designer of the UNICORN lab logo!)
Lab Managers
Research Assistants
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Estefani Olguin
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Abi Click (currently graduate student at the University of Connecticut)
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Allie Mueller
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Olivia Lewis (currently graduate student at UMass Boston)
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Carter Skeels
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Cynnie Thomas
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Shelby Lehman
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Indi Puckett
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Avery Biggs
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Lily Markland
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Maura O'Sullivan
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Trisha Desai