Honors Students

Elina Moreno

Elina Moreno is in her final year as an undergraduate student, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in sexuality studies. She has been a research assistant in the Attraction and Close Relationships Lab at UC Davis for the past year. Elina is currently researching the impact of sexual growth and destiny mindset (i.e., the belief that sexual compatibility with a partner can be enhanced over time) on the relationship between sexual satisfaction and self-expansion (i.e., the inclusion of a partner in one’s own self-concept) among diverse sexual relationships for her senior honors thesis. She plans to apply to Ph.D. programs in social psychology next fall to continue researching close relationships and sexuality. In her free time, Elina spends time with her cat, reading, and exploring nature.

Amber Nusser

Amber Nusser is a fourth year undergraduate student on the UC Davis Division I Women's Equestrian Team where she is a starting rider on the reining squad. She is majoring in Psychology with a minor in Global Studies. Amber served as an undergraduate teaching assistant for an upper-division relationship psychology course for two quarters and is currently working as a research assistant in the Attraction and Romantic Relationships Lab. She is focusing her senior honors thesis on the prevention of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and investigating factors that influence conflict and communication in intimate relationships. She hopes to find affective measures that mediate previously studied factors that contribute to the perpetuation of IPV. Amber is hoping to spend her gap year teaching English in Spain through the Fulbright Program before applying to Sports Psychology graduate programs. Amber is also an avid reader and loves to ski during the winter months.

Interested in Working in the Lab?

Research assistants in the Attraction and Relationships Research Lab have multiple responsibilities.  These hard-working undergraduates work with each other, the graduate students, and Dr. Eastwick on a variety of ongoing research projects. Research assistants' duties include:

  • Running experimental sessions

  • Coding data

  • Developing study material

  • Attending weekly meetings

  • Reading relevant literature

Are you interested joining the lab?  Those who do will gain valuable experience, including:

  • Learning about every stage for the research process

  • Learning about current issues in the field of relationship science and social psychology

  • Learning about careers in behavioral research

  • Building a competitive graduate school application

  • Building personal relationships with professionals in the field

  • Building personal relationships with other students who share your academic interests

We recruit research assistants three times a year (at the end of each quarter).  If the research assistant position appeals to you, contact Dr. Eastwick at eastwick@ucdavis.edu. He or one his graduate students will contact you about the interview process.