Meet the Team
Lab Director
Dr. Mengya Xia
​Assistant Professor
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T. Denny Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics
​Arizona State University
Office: Wilson 334D
Email: mengya.xia@asu.edu
Twitter/X: @xmy0704
Research Interests
My research interest is situated at the intersection of interplay between individual and context, methodology, and prevention/intervention. I am passionate about applying innovative methods to investigate how the transactional dynamic processes between individuals and their developmental contexts foster positive development (e.g. individual strength and competence, relationship health, ​optimal well-being, upward developmental trajectory, and resilience), and how to apply such knowledge and advanced methods to inform intervention for promoting individual well-being in real life.
Substantively, I am interested in understanding individual positive development from a dynamic-focused, system-oriented, and strength-based perspective, by identifying positive assets and processes in interpersonal contexts (e.g., in family systems, friend and peer relationships, romantic relationships, and social interaction in general). My research focuses on how they may accumulate or change over time (e.g., momentarily, daily, yearly) and interact with broader ecological contexts (e.g., school, community, culture).
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Methodologically, I am interested in 1) mixture modeling (e.g. LCA, LPA, LTA) from person-centered approach that acknowledges individual differences, 2) multilevel modeling (MLM) that accounts for factors from different levels of contexts, 3) time-varying effect modeling (TVEM) that enables the estimation of dynamic associations across time, and 4) structural equation modeling (SEM) and dynamic system modeling (DSM) that capture transactional process and system dynamics in complex data structure.
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The Team
Lab Coordinator
Caleb Coates
Hello! My name is Caleb and I am the lab coordinator for the DREAMS Lab at ASU. I received my undergraduate degree in neurobiology from UC Irvine, and my research interests include sleep, language dominance and diversity, and cognitive aging over the lifetime. In my free time, I love playing with my dog, hiking and rock climbing, building Legos, and watching movies.
Postdoctoral Research Scholar
Yuan Zhang, Ph.D.
Yuan Zhang is a post-doctoral research scholar in the DREAMS Lab. She earned her Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Sciences from the University of Connecticut. Her research interests include parenting and parent-child relationships across cultural contexts, with a focus on how these dynamics shape the development of children and adolescents. Her work also extends to the well-being and mental health of historically minority populations, including ethnic and racial minority communities, immigrant families, and LGBTQ+ individuals. Yuan explores potential protective factors within various ecological systems—such as neighborhoods, families, peer groups, and individual characteristics—to understand how these influences can buffer against adverse outcomes and promote resilience. When she is free, Yuan loves
to bake and cook, as well as go hiking.
Graduate Student
Silvia Jin
Hi everyone, I am Yingnan Jin and I go by Silvia. I graduated from NYU with a MS in Applied Statistics. I joined the Family and Human Development program in Fall 2024 as a PhD candidate. My research interests revolve around socioemotional development of children, family dynamics, and emotion regulation & dysregulation. In my spare time, I enjoy photography, traveling, hiking, badminton, pottery, and painting.
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Lainey Tsosie
Hi everyone! My name is Lainey Tsosie and I am an undergrad research assistant for the DREAMS lab at the ASU Tempe campus. I am majoring in Psychology and minoring in Spanish. I’m incredibly interested in how our psychological functioning impacts our physical health, especially regarding adolescent behavioral development. After graduating with my bachelors, I plan on attending grad school with aspirations of becoming a health psychologist. In my free time I enjoy running, reading, spending time with friends and family, and photography!
Sofia Llanos
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Danilla Colin
Hi! My name is Sofia Llanos and I am an undergraduate research assistant for the DREAMS Lab. Currently, I am working towards a bachelor’s in Family and Human Development at ASU. In the future, I hope to go to medical school and work in pediatrics primary care. Outside of academics, I enjoy swimming, planning events, and shopping.
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Ammie Yu
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Hello! My name is Ammie Yu, and I am an undergraduate research assistant for the DREAMS Lab. I am currently double majoring in Psychology and Family & Human Development. I am primarily interested in exploring family dynamics and the role of developmental influences in adolescence. Outside of school and work, I enjoy spending time with friends and family, as well as listening to music.
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Saba Shakir
My name is Saba Shakir and I am a sophomore at ASU. I am majoring in Biomedical Sciences with a minor in Psychology! I am very interested in adolescent and developmental psychology as well as the science of how relationships affect our growth, and am very excited to continue my work as a URA in the DREAMS Lab which supplements my volunteer work in a children's hospital. Outside of academics, I am also heavily involved in badminton and regularly compete in out-of-state tournaments. In my free time, I love reading books, shopping, and spending time with my friends and family!
Kimberly Galvan-Jauregui
Hi! My name is Kimberly, but I prefer to go by Kim. I am an undergraduate research assistant for the DREAMS Lab! I am currently pursuing a Bachelor’s in Global Health, as well as a Minor in French at Arizona State University. Once I graduate, I plan to enroll in a Master’s program and later establish my career as an epidemiologist. In my free time, I enjoy listening to music, going out with friends and family, shopping, and playing video games.
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Sarah East
Hi! My name is Sarah East and I am an undergraduate research assistant for the DREAMS lab! I'm pursuing a major in Biological Sciences with a concentration in Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior, as well as a minor in Family and Human Development. After graduation, I hope to attend medical school and pursue a career as a pediatrician. Some of my research interests include child emotional development and its relationship to physical health. I also enjoy hiking and the outdoors!
Research Assistant
Jessica Cowart
Jessica Cowart graduated from Brigham Young University with a BA in English Teaching. For the past 27 years, she has embraced the rewarding challenge of raising her eight children, nurturing their growth, and fostering a love for learning. Jessica enjoys spending time with her family, caring for her garden and chickens, feeding hungry people good food, and teaching music to the primary children at church.
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Tommie McConnell
Hello! My name is Tommie and I am finishing up my degree in Psychology this year with a minor in Family and Human Development. I am currently working as a research assistant at the DREAMS Lab and working on my honors thesis. I am very interested in adolescent development and social functioning as well as how functioning within the family unit can affect socialization and well-being. My current thesis work focuses on how adolescents are socialized online and how this is a positive or negative force on development. In my free time, I love to try out new recipes in the kitchen and mostly make sweet treats for my friends and family.