For the past few years, I have been researching developmental and child psychology with Dr. Becky Waller at the Emotion, Development, Environment, and Neurogenetics (EDEN) Lab. I am interested in studying the impacts of interpersonal and communal trauma on human development. I'm currently working on an independent project about how physical and sexual abuse in childhood affects perceptions of physical touch in adulthood. In recent years, I have also worked on projects about parenting interventions and nurturing healthy parent-child relationships. On campus, I am the president of the student advocacy group Abuse & Sexual Assault Prevention (ASAP), a peer educator through Penn Anti-Violence Education (PAVE), and a sister in the Alpha Omega Epsilon Sorority.

• Research Assistant at the Emotion, Development, Environment, & Neurogenetics (EDEN) Lab
• MindCORE Summer 2024 Fellow
• Student Intern at Penn Violence Prevention
• Speaking Coach for Communication Within the Curriculum (CWiC)

My research interest is in the field of Health and Societies. I have been focusing on the 1918 influenza pandemic with the goal of shedding light on the pandemic’s differential impacts on different parts of society. In summer 2024, I completed a research project with Dr. David Barnes through PURM which suggested that African-American and immigrant populations were more adversely affected by influenza than their white, native-born counterparts: their rate of death was higher. Understanding from previous social epidemiology research that social cohesion and the physical fabric of urban life profoundly influence health outcomes, I would like to explore other avenues and perform detailed research on 1918 Philadelphia neighborhoods to further understand these initial findings. I also have worked with Dr. Adrianna Petryna in the anthropology department, researching the environmental impact of the Russo-Ukrainian War. Outside of the classroom, I am a Deputy Blog Manager on the Penn Undergraduate Law Journal, internal chair in the John Marshall Pre-Law Society, and a co-head of the Clio Society. I also love to play the alto saxophone and perform with the Penn Wind Ensemble.

• University Scholar
• Penn Undergraduate Research Mentoring Program
• Research Assistant to Dr. David Barnes and Dr. Adrianna Petryna

Yeeun Yoo is a researcher whose work focuses on the resistance movements and histories of Asian American communities, the impacts of U.S. militarism, mutual aid, abolition, and transnational feminism. She has conducted research through the Penn Institute for Urban Research’s undergraduate program, where she developed an independent project on student-led mutual aid initiatives in New York City under the mentorship of Barnard professor Dr. Mary Rocco. Currently, she serves as a research assistant for Dr. Melissa Wilde in Sociology, contributing to a project on the intersection of religion and politics. As an ASAM Fellow, Yeeun is also exploring South Korea’s conscription system and its role in shaping militarized masculinities, with a particular focus on the history of U.S. military occupation in the region. In addition to her research, Yeeun is a Civic Scholar with Civic House at Penn and a Penn IUR Fellow. She is deeply involved in community work as the Community Engagement Coordinator for Moder Patshala in West Philadelphia and as a volunteer of the People’s Kitchen in South Philadelphia.

• Galápagos Education and Research Alliance Student Researcher (through the Beiting Lab, Penn Vet School), 
• Research Assistant to Dr. John Spiesberger

My research interests lay within cultural criticism, specifically within film and the social dynamics it portrays and how it does it through the lenses of its creators. Looking at what might have caused patterns in the interests of marginalized communities despite gender is a main aspect of my research. I focus on the overlaps between the female and queer gazes, finding tropes or values that each gaze maintains and looking into what could have formed them. My passion for this topic comes from both my natural curiosity and that I plan to go into the entertainment industry. anI've worked with iHeart radio as a production intern and created an episode speaking on the correlation between the arts and trauma. Creating conversations about the connection between psychological and social happenings that were developed by history is what I love doing. Apart from my research and career goals, I have taken part as a directors of SPEC Sound for the first 2 years of my education and taken part in other groups such as Women in Animation as an outreach chair as a regular attending member at Penn before going abroad my 3rd year to London.

My research is broadly within the field of religious studies, but it has taken a few specific applications. I have assisted Dr. Talya Fishman in examining medieval Jewish works from Andalusian Spain, such as Judah Halevi’s Kuzari and selected poems of Solomon Ibn Gabirol. With the support of University Scholars and Dr. Fishman as my research mentor, I conducted an independent study that analyzed Benedict Spinoza’s Theological-Political Treatise and his thoughts on Moses, Jesus, and national religion. I am continuing to work on this project through the school year by looking closer at other notable figures in the early modern period who influenced Spinoza’s thought. All of my research has drawn on my interest in the Hebrew Bible and New Testament, which I hope to research more in depth in the future. Outside of my research, I have various hobbies that I enjoy, such as running, reading, and playing piano.

• PMG Group Leader
• Research Assistant to Dr. Talya Fishman, Department of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures

I'm broadly interested in judgment and decision-making, particularly within medical contexts. I'm fascinated by how different participants in medical processes interact with information and how the surrounding systems influence their decisions. Currently, I’m conducting independent research under Dr. James Won and Dr. Ethan Larsen at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Our study uses eye-tracking technology to analyze the visual scan patterns of radiologists as they interpret medical images. We aim to identify areas within images or workflows that consistently attract or divert attention, potentially leading to cognitive overload or lapses in focus that could impact diagnostic accuracy. Outside of research, I’m passionate about mental health advocacy and serve as the chair of finance for the Penn Wellness Student Coalition. For fun, I enjoy going to classical concerts and Broadway musicals, and I’m currently learning the art of brewing a perfect cup of coffee.

• University Scholar
• Human Factors Research Intern in the Department of Radiology at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
• Summer Research Associate and Teaching Assistant at the Sports Analytics and Business Initiatives at the Wharton School