Meet the Team
Lab Director
Dr. Mengya Xia
​Assistant Professor
​
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.
Graduate Student
Yichun Liu
Hi! I am Yichun Liu, and I am a graduate student in the DREAMS Lab. I earned my Bachelor and Master in Psychology from Fudan University. My research interests lie in the socioemotional development and adjustment of adolescents, especially regarding their family and cultural environments. In my spare time I love to go cycling, watch movies, and do crafts.
Graduate Student
Mengting Peng
​I’m Mengting Peng. I completed my bachelor’s degree in Psychology at Beijing Normal University in China, and my master’s degree at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. In Fall 2025, I joined the Family and Human Development program as a PhD candidate. My research focuses on how self-views and social-emotional development are shaped by contextual factors such as family and school. I consider myself an open-minded and motivated person who values cross-cultural exchange. Outside of academics, I enjoy bouldering, playing volleyball, and reading.
Graduate Research Assistant
Lucia Xueqing Yuan
Hi! My name is Lucia Xueqing Yuan, and I am a graduate research assistant in the DREAMS Lab. I explore how emotion regulation contributes to resilience, adaptation, and a sense of belonging in everyday life. Using person-centered and dynamic methods, I also study how interpersonal and family dynamics shape these processes over time. In my free time, I enjoy traveling, tasting new cuisines, hiking, climbing, and spending time with friends and family.
Sofia Llanos
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
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!
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Saba Shakir
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!
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Maria Alleyne
My name is Maria Alleyne, and I'm currently pursuing a BS in Family and Human Development, with an expected graduation date of May 2026. I have experience working for the insurance industry and in claim and CAT team support. I enjoy research that explores human behavior, family dynamics, and social well-being. I hope to contribute to meaningful research while gaining hands-on experience in data collection and analysis. Outside of academics, I enjoy yoga, fishing, and gardening. My husband and I plan to retire in Barbados, where we hope to live in his childhood home.
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Willow Sowards
Hi! My name is Willow Sowards, and I am an undergraduate research assistant for the DREAMS Lab. I’m a psychology major working on completing my bachelor’s at ASU. After undergrad, I hope to work on earning a PhD in clinical psychology, focusing on how love and nurturing affect development in adolescents and young adults. Outside of academics, I enjoy making music, roller derby, and writing fantasy stories.
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Hi everyone! My name is Ammie Yu, and I am an ASU alum who recently graduated in Spring 2025 with degrees in Psychology and Family & Human Development. Following my passion for research and exploration, I will be working at Mayo Clinic as an Associate Clinical Research Coordinator. I hope to attend graduate school sometime in the near future to pursue a PhD and a career as a clinical psychologist. I'm beyond grateful for my time at the DREAMS Lab, as it has solidified my experiences and research interests.
Undergraduate Research Assistant
DREAMS Lab Alumni
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Chimela Nwosu
Hi everyone! My name is Chimela Nwosu and I'm an undergraduate research assistant for the DREAMS lab pursuing a BA in Psychology at ASU. Right now, I'm interested in relationship dynamics and how they contribute to people's lives. In the long term, I'm hoping to attend medical school and become a psychiatrist. My personal interests include literally any sport, playing video games, going to the gym, and learning French.
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.