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
Hannah Kreuziger
Lab Coordinator/Research Specialist
Hannah Kreuziger is from Peachtree City, Georgia and graduated in 2023 from Emory University with a BA in Psychology and German Studies. Hannah started in the Infant and Child Lab as an Undergraduate Research Assistant, where she developed an interest in social development in children. Following graduation from Emory, Hannah became the Lab Coordinator and has been involved in several of the projects occurring in the lab, including her own independent research projects on Schadenfreude and Gift Malaise. Currently, she is in the process of applying to graduate school to obtain her Ph.D. in Psychology.
In her free time, she enjoys hot yoga, niche perfumery, and trips to Whole Foods!
Undergraduate Research Assistants
Nora Robbiani-Paulete -
Psychology, German Studies 2025
Nora is a senior pursuing a BS degree in Psychology and a BA in German Studies. She is from Atlanta, GA. Nora enjoys traveling, hiking, cooking, and listening to audiobooks. In the lab, she is working on Hannah’s Schadenfreude and gift studies.
Gita Paladugu-
Psychology, Anthropology 2025
Gita is a junior undertaking a BS in Psychology and an Anthropology minor in Global Development Studies. She is from Fort Worth, Texas. Gita loves to make art, enjoy nature, engage in activism, and read. In the lab, she works on Nikita’s social categorization studies, as well as Hannah’s gift study.
Hallie Goldblatt -
Psychology, Religion 2026
Hallie is a sophomore studying Psychology and Religion. She is from New York City, and outside of the lab, she enjoys playing tennis, traveling, trying new restaurants and cuisines, and listening to music (especially Taylor Swift). In the lab, she is working with Nikita on understanding gender rules and norms throughout development, as well as aiding Hannah’s Schadenfreude and gift studies.
Andrew Fuentes -
NBB, Business 2025
Andrew is a junior studying Neuroscience & Behavioral Biology (NBB) and Business. He is from Annapolis, Maryland. Andrew plays on the Club Volleyball Team and is a part of the Atlas Consulting Group at Emory. In the lab, he is working on Nikita’s social categorization studies.
Kaushiki Ravi -
Psychology, NBB 2025
Kaushiki is a junior studying Psychology and Neuroscience & Behavioral Biology (NBB). She is from Hyderabad, India. She enjoys visiting new coffee shops, dancing, painting, and traveling. In the lab, she is working on Hannah’s Schadenfreude and gift studies, as well as Nikita’s social categorization studies.
Thulsy Krishnan (Visiting)-
English, Psychology 2026
Thulsy visits us from Duke University where she is rising junior pursuing a BA in English and Psychology. She enjoys doing yoga, playing the violin, and spending time in nature. As she works with us for Summer 2024, she primarily works on Nikita’s 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.