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Disrupting the "Traditional" Lab Model

While "traditional" lab models are derived from a single institution, our lab is built around people first. We bring together a diverse and talented group of individuals from all over with a strong desire to understand the emotional, psychological, and social aspects of being a human who interacts with technology. Because we're not tied to one institution, our lab members can be undergraduates, graduate students, or not even current students at all. Therefore, this group often does research "for fun" in their spare time. Calling themselves "research hobbyists", they are motivated by their sheer passion for research and the other people they get to interact with as part of the lab. Don't let this fool you; they are serious about conducting high-quality, impactful research.

But Why?

Sometimes it's difficult to find opportunities to get involved in the research process. And sometimes it's even more difficult to find a group of people where you feel supported and understood. This is often exacerbated if you're from an underrepresented group. As a first-generation college student herself, Dr. Eikey understands the challenges to navigating the academic world. This lab creates a community around research that is not bound to a school and does not hinge on your understanding of "how things work" at a university. This is crucial to recruiting and retaining individuals from underrepresented groups in higher ed. Our lab members are diverse in many ways, which means they each bring unique and desperately needed perspectives and expertise to studying and designing technology and supporting mental health and well-being.
More about ​Dr. Eikey: Dr Eikey is an Assistant Professor in the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science & The Design Lab at the University of California, San Diego and serves as the Assistant Director for the iSchool Inclusion Institute (i3) at the University of Pittsburgh. She's passionate about advocating for mental health and helping all students - regardless of their background - reach their full potential by providing them with meaningful mentorship. Dr. Eikey completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Informatics at the University of California, Irvine and received her PhD in Information Science and Technology and her bachelor's degree in Psychology at the Pennsylvania State University.

Active Members

Dr. Elizabeth V. Eikey
MiD Lab Founder and Director; Assistant Professor,  UC San Diego
Shimika Basuroy
Team College Students' Mental Health, Team CAPS Redesign
Sarah Linh L. Tran
Team Dopamine, Team Social Media, i3
Amiet Scheidegger
Team College Students' Mental Health
Oliver Golden
Team Mental Health in Diet and Fitness Communities
Dorothy Mensah
Doulas' Perspectives in Birth Givers' Care
Michelle Liu
Team College Students' Mental Health, Instagram Wellness Insights Project
Janine V. Lopez
Supporting Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Mental Health Needs Using Digital Tools
​Gina Soloperto
Team College Students' Mental Health​
​Mary Mei Longano
Team College Students' Mental Health
Jonah Bryan
​Team College Students' Mental Health, SMS Addiction
Manasi Pawar
​Team College Students' Mental Health
​Alan Tram
Team College Students' Mental Health, Team CAPS Redesign, Supporting Students Social Needs (TRELS)
Zara Nazir
Team College Students' Mental Health
​Ning Chen
​Team College Students' Mental Health
Project Coordinator & Lab Manager

Other Members or Affiliates

  • Anita Satish
  • Judith Borghouts, PhD
  • Cinthia De Leon, MPH

Completed Projects / Currently Inactive Members

Jordan Dodson
Team Deprew Fusion, i3
Naika Saint Preux
Team Deprew Fusion, i3
Julissa Murrieta
Team Dopamine, i3
Linda Sun
​Team Dopamine, i3
Yeyang Gu
Team Mental Health in Diet and Fitness Communities
Jenni Thang
Team Deprew Fusion, i3
Arthur Tham
Team Apps
Soros Chokanarotewong
​Team Rumination Nation
Alec Diaz
Team Rumination Nation
Christopher Frye
Team Dopamine, Team Rumination Nation, i3
Qiuer "Candi" Chen
Team Rumination Nation, Team Mental Health in Diet and Fitness Communities
Disha Jariwala
Team College Students' Mental Health
Lois Sulki Kim
Team Apps
Sean Victory
​Team Apps
Elle Chow
Zhuoxi Chen
Team Mental Health in Diet and Fitness Communities
Sierra Hagerty
Team College Students' Mental Health
Mariam Mustafa
Team College Students' Mental Health, Team CAPS Redesign
Peery White
Understanding Ways to Increase Compassion through Teaching Teams at the UC San Diego Campus to Better Serve Student Needs
Vivian Trang
The Influence of Priors on Mental Health and Well-being Behaviors Among College Students at UC San Diego
Claire Manhard
SMS Stress and Burnout Monitoring in Physicians
Courtney Cochancela
Team Dopamine, i3