Our Lab
Current Lab Members
Lab Director
Philippe Rochat, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology
Philippe Rochat was born and raised in Geneva, Switzerland. He was trained by Jean Piaget and his close collaborators and received his Ph.D. from the University of Geneva, Switzerland in 1984. He then began a series of Post Doctoral internships in the United States at Brown University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Johns Hopkins University. During this time, he conducted research on action, perception, and cognitive development in human infants.
Dr. Rochat taught and did research in developmental psychology at the University of Massachusetts, and joined the faculty at Emory University in Atlanta in the 1990s, where he is currently a Professor of Psychology.
A 2006-2007 John Simon Guggenheim fellow, Dr. Rochat has published five books and many scholarly articles on infant and child development. The main focus of his research is the early sense of self, emerging self-concept, the development of social cognition and relatedness, and the emergence of a moral sense during the preschool years in children from all over the world. Dr. Rochat’s research emphasizes differences in populations growing up in highly contrasted cultural environments, as well as highly contrasted socio-economic circumstances.
Dr. Philippe Rochat’s comprehensive Curriculum Vitae can be viewed here.
A list of published works can be viewed here.
Phone: 404-727-4284
Fax: 404-727-0372
Graduate Students
Nikita Agarwal
Nikita’s research focuses on the development of social categories like gender and race. She is particularly intrigued by how these categories shape our biases, influencing who we see as a part of our in-group or out-group.
Outside of the lab, she enjoys merging her passions for reading and cooking by diving into the science of food and experimenting with new recipes.
Lab Staff
Liz (Doyon) Kim
Lab Coordinator/Research Specialist
Liz is from Seoul, South Korea. She graduated from Emory University in 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a minor in Sociology. She earned her Master’s degree in Psychology from the University of Chicago in 2025, where she worked in the Early Social Thinkers (EAST) Lab under the mentorship of Dr. Rongzhi Liu and Dr. Lin Bian.
Liz serves as a joint lab manager for the Infant and Child Lab under Dr. Philippe Rochat and the Morality and Development Lab under Dr. Arber Tasimi. Her research interests lie in early cognitive and social development. She plans to apply to Ph.D. programs in developmental psychology for the Fall 2026 cycle.
In her free time, Liz enjoys dancing and cooking.
Undergraduate Research Assistants
Erin Koo –
Psychology 2026
Erin is a junior from Seoul, South Korea. She is studying Psychology at Emory and has a special interest in developmental psychology. Outside of the lab, she likes to watch cooking shows, travel, and cafe hop. In the lab, Erin is assisting Liz with her Duration study.
Jillian Lee-
Psychology, Dance 2027
Jillian is a junior studying Psychology and Dance. She is from Bergen County, New Jersey. In her free time, she enjoys taking Pilates classes, exploring local cafes, and attending dance performances. In the lab, Jillian primarily assists Nikita with her social categorization study.
Emily Gu -
NBB 2028
Emily is a sophomore studying Neuroscience & Behavioral Biology (NBB). She is from Shanghai, China. In her free time, she enjoys embroidering, reading, and hanging out with her friends. In the lab, she aids Nikita with her social categorization study.
Chloe Nam -
English 2028
Chloe is a sophomore studying English and Psychology. She is from Chalfont, Pennsylvania. In her free time, she enjoys reading novels, going on walks, practicing videography, and listening to music. In the lab, Chloe aids Liz with her Duration study.
Elim Jiang -
Psychology, Music 2027
Elim is a junior studying Psychology and Music on the pre-med track. She is from Chino, California. In her free time, she enjoys learning guitar, reading, live music, and experimenting with new coffee recipes. In the lab, Elim aids Nikita with her social categorization study.
Natasha Strauss -
Psychology, QSS 2028
Natasha is a sophomore studying Quantitative Sciences and Psychology. She is from Palo Alto, California. In her free time, she enjoys working with kids, rock climbing, and going to concerts. In the lab, Natasha aids Liz with her Duration study and has previously worked on data collection and coding for the Schadenfreude study.
Izzy Levine –
Psychology, Rhetoric, Writing, and Information Design 2028
Izzy Levine is a sophomore studying Psychology with a minor in Rhetoric, Writing, and Information Design. She is from Long Island, New York. In her free time, she enjoys trying new workout classes, going to concerts, and spending time with her family. In the lab, Izzy is assisting Nikita with her social categorization study.
Thulsy Krishnan (Remote) -
English, Psychology 2026
Thulsy visited us from Duke University this recent summer, and at Duke, she is a junior pursuing a BA in English and Psychology. She enjoys doing yoga, playing the violin, and spending time in nature. After working with us for Summer 2024, she remotely aids Nikita with her social categorization studies.
Previous Visiting Scholar
Maxime Ryser
Maxime served as a visiting scholar from Neuchatel, Switzerland, where he received his MA in Cognitive Science. During his stay at the Emory Infant and Child Lab, Maxime worked with Dr. Philippe Rochat on the mechanisms regulating the reciprocation of gifts, and the development of children’s sensitivity to merit.