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
Hallie Goldblatt -
Psychology, Religion 2026
Hallie is a senior studying Psychology and Religion. She is from New York City, and outside of the lab, she enjoys playing tennis and pickleball, traveling, trying new restaurants and cuisines, and working out. In the lab, she has assisted with study development, recruitment, and testing for the Gift Study, Schadenfreude study, and Nikita’s Intersectionality study.
Julia DiTrani –
Psychology 2026
Julia is a senior studying Psychology on the pre-PA track. She is from the suburbs of Chicago. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends, working out, golfing, and trying different restaurants. In the lab, Julia 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.
Solenna Shirodkar -
Psychology, Business 2027
Solenna is a junior studying Psychology and Business at Emory. She is from Long Island, New York. In her free time, she enjoys doing workout classes, watching soccer, and trying new restaurants with her friends. She currently aids in participant recruitment at the lab, and previously was involved with both the Gift study & Schadenfreude 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 -
Psychology, 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.
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.