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Languages
The BOBA Project
Building Our Bonds Authentically
Our Research Team
The BOBA Project team is a group of professors, researchers, and volunteers who are dedicated to supporting Chinese American families and the Asian American community at large.
Faculty
Cindy Liu, PhD
Brigham & Women's Hospital
Principal Investigator
Cindy H. Liu, PhD is an Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School and Director of the Developmental Risk and Cultural Resilience Program within the Departments of Pediatric Newborn Medicine and Psychiatry at Brigham and Women's Hospital. Her research focuses on mental health and stress across the lifespan, with a particular focus on mental health disparities among marginalized groups.
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Her favorite boba drink is passionfruit green tea with jelly.
Hyeouk “Chris” Hahm, PhD
Boston University
Co-Investigator
Hyeouk “Chris” Hahm, PhD is an Associate Dean for Research and Professor of Social Work at Boston University. She is dedicated to reducing health disparities among Asian American populations with a particular emphasis on building empirical evidence of health risk behaviors (e.g., self-harm, suicide and HIV risk behaviors).
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Her favorite boba drink is fruit tea with jelly.
Tiffany Yip, PhD
Fordham University
Principal Investigator
Tiffany Yip, PhD is a Professor of Psychology at Fordham University and director of the Youth Development in Diverse Contexts Lab at Fordham University. Her research focuses on ethnic identity, discrimination, and sleep among minority adolescents and young adults.
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Her favorite boba drink is passionfruit green tea.
Peggy Wang, PhD
University of Notre Dame
Co-Investigator
Peggy Wang, PhD is a quantitative psychologist at the University of Notre Dame. She is interested in developing, evaluating, and applying cutting-edge statistical models and research methodology in order to better understand the psychological processes involved in Asian American mental health.
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Her favorite boba drink is black milk tea with grass jelly.
Linda Charmaraman, PhD
Wellesley College
Co-Investigator
Linda Charmaraman, PhD is a senior research scientist at Wellesley Centers for Women (WCW) and founder and director of the Youth, Media, & Wellbeing Research Lab. Her research interests include technology and adolescent health, digital citizenship, and how social identities (e.g., race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, political) affect wellbeing.
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Her favorite boba drink is ube milk tea with lychee jelly.
Staff
Candice Ma, BA
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Research Assistant
Candice Ma received her B.A. in Psychology and Plan II, as well as her minor in Chinese from the University of Texas at Austin. She is interested in developing a culturally sensitive understanding of early childhood experiences, wellbeing, and resilience.
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Her favorite boba drink is oat milk Thai tea.
Scott Lee, MD
Harvard South Shore Psychiatry
Resident Physician
Scott Lee is a resident physician at Harvard South Shore Psychiatry. He completed medical school at Baylor College of Medicine. His interests have ranged from studying the intersection between medical ethics and psychiatry to now exploring the cultural and psychosocial factors that affect mental health outcomes in minority populations.
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His favorite boba drink is coming soon.
Jenny Zhao, PhD
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Postdoctoral Fellow
Chang (Jenny) Zhao is a developmental scientist with a PhD in Family and Human Development from Arizona State University and a BA in Psychology from Pennsylvania State University. She conducts culturally and contextually informed research within ethnically and racially minoritized communities. Her current work focuses on how families' ecologies (e.g., neighborhoods and activity spaces) shape family processes, parental mental health, and youth development in U.S. Latinx families. She is dedicated to expanding her research on ethnic-racial socialization and mental health in Asian American families.
Vi Nguyen, MA
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Graduate Research Assistant
Vi holds an MA in Child Study and Human Development from Tufts University, with a concentration on Clinical-Developmental Health and Psychology. She is passionate about understanding how children navigate socializing messages during their identity exploration process and is particularly intrigued in innovative research methods that capture cultural nuances and diverse lived experiences of children and youth.
Her favorite boba drink is jasmine milk tea with caramel boba.
Maya Hernandez, PhD
Wellesley College
Postdoc Research Scientist
Dr. Hernandez received her PhD and MA in Social Ecology from UC Irvine and BA in Psychology from Johns Hopkins University. Her interdisciplinary research brings together developmental psychology, education, public health, and informatics to understand the risks and affordances of social technology on adolescent wellbeing, with an emphasis on historically underrepresented communities. As a postdoc at the Youth, Media, and Wellbeing Lab at Wellesley College, she is engaged in action-based research and programming to support positive youth development.
Her favorite boba drink is honeydew milk tea.
Kyle Lorenzo, MA
Fordham University
Graduate Research Assistant
Kyle Lorenzo is currently a 3rd-year graduate student in the Applied Developmental Psychology program at Fordham University. Kyle’s research interests include interdisciplinary approaches to exploring health disparities and identity development among racial/ethnic minority youth.
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His favorite boba drink is taro milk tea with tapioca pearls.
Alyssa Gramajo, BS
Wellesley College
Research Associate
Alyssa Gramajo received her B.S. from Simmons University in Biology with a minor in Public Health. She is a Research Associate at the Wellesley Centers for Women at Wellesley College. She supports the work of the Youth, Media & Wellbeing Research Lab as the project coordinator for data collection.
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Her favorite boba drink is brown sugar milk tea with tapioca pearls.
Anthony Menor, BA
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Research Assistant
Anthony Menor received his B.A. in Political Science with minors in Global Studies and Film from the University of California, Los Angeles. He is passionate about conducting community-engaged research on childhood trauma in marginalized populations and culturally sensitive interventions.
His favorite boba drink is vegan taro tea.
Wenbo Zhang, MA
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Graduate Research Assistant
Wenbo received his BA and in Psychology and Mathematical Methods in the Social Sciences from Northwestern University and his MA in Clinical Psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University. He is interested in culturally-adpated, cost-effective interventions for adolescents who are at risk of mental health issues.
His favorite boba drink is osmanthus oolong tea with lychee jelly.
Ritika Rastogi, PhD
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Postdoctoral Fellow
Ritika Rastogi earned her PhD in Developmental Psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles. She is interested in applying Critical and multidisciplinary approaches to supporting marginalized (BIPoC and immigrant-origin) young people’s positive development and mental health.
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Her favorite boba drink is jasmine green milk tea with tapioca pearls.
G. Alice Woolverton, PhD
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Postdoctoral Fellow
G. Alice Woolverton, PhD is a postdoctoral research fellow in the Developmental Risk and Cultural Resilience Lab at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Her research focuses on youth mental health, discrimination processes, and anti-racism.
Her favorite boba drink is brown sugar boba.
Jessica Wang, BS
Harvard Medical School
Research Assistant
Jessica Wang (BS) is a medical student at Harvard who is passionate about the intersections of mental health, social justice, and marginalized identities. She is an aspiring psychiatrist who will work with underserved communities to advance health equity.
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Her favorite boba drink is taro milk tea.
Alice Cui, MPH
Wellesley College
Research Associate
Alice Cui, MPH received her BA in Psychology with a minor in Public Health from Boston University and MPH in Biostatistics and Epidemiology from Boston University School of Public Health. She is a Research Associate/Data Analyst at the Wellesley Centers for Women at Wellesley College, where she supports the work of the Youth, Media, and Wellbeing Research Lab.
Her favorite boba drink is black milk tea with tapioca pearls.
Students
Jiawei (Ada) Wu
Fordham University
Graduate Research Assistant
Jiawei (Ada) Wu is a sophomore at Fordham University Rose Hill campus majoring in Psychology. She is interested in studying clinical psychology and is especially interested in mental health problems and related physical conditions among minority groups in society. Ada hopes to receive a Ph.D. in psychology and become a professor to educate future generations about the importance of mental well-being in the future.
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Her favorite boba drink is oolong milk tea.
Kaitlyn Wang
Wellesley College
Undergrad Research Assistant
Kaitlyn is a Wellesley alum who majored in Neuroscience. She cares deeply about increasing social support and mental healthcare access for youth. She hopes to pursue medical school in the future.
Her favorite boba drink is wintermelon milk tea with boba.
Estella Zhu
Wellesley College
Undergrad Research Assistant
Estella is a junior double majoring in History and Economics. She is interested in studying social issues from both historical and contemporary perspectives, focusing on the interplay between culture, economy, and politics.
Her favorite boba drink is jasmine milk tea (with whipped cream).
Annika Liu
University of Chicago
Graduate Research Assistant
Annika Liu is currently the Behavioral Research Lab Coordinator at McCombs School of Business, UT Austin. She received her BA in Psychology and East Asian Studies from Oberlin College and her MA in Social Science with a Psychology Concentration from the University of Chicago. Her research interests focus on personality and cognition, persuasion, and decision-making.
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Her favorite boba drink is jasmine milk tea (classic)!
Stephy Hsu
Columbia University
Graduate Research Assistant
Stephy Hsu is a first-year M.A. Clinical and Counseling Psychology student at Teachers College, Columbia University, and a graduate of the New York University M.A. Art Therapy program. With a strong background in art therapy and clinical research, Stephy is passionate about integrating spirituality, art therapy, and evidence-based practices like Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) to address mental health challenges. Stephy's dedication extends to promoting cultural inclusivity in therapy, drawing from her experience working with Asian-American families and communities in correctional, outpatient, and inpatient settings.
Her favorite boba drink is matcha milk tea with red beans and boba.
Julie Hong
Wellesley High School
Research Intern
Julie Hong is a senior at Wellesley High School who loves people, art, and culture. They care deeply about solidarity in advocacy, taking action through AANHPI Congressional Advocacy Day and the UCA National Youth Conference, learning more about healthcare disparities at the MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute Medlytics course, and serving their own community as a member of the Massachusetts AAPIC Youth Council and editor-in-chief of their school’s art and literary magazine. Above all, they value empathy.
Their favorite boba drink is black milk tea with boba.
Alice Zhang
Wellesley College
Undergrad Research Assistant
Alice is a senior at Wellesley College majoring in Data Science with a concentration in Bioinformatics. She is interested in studying the intersection of Bayesian statistics and computational biology to advance precision medicine.
Her favorite boba drink is original milk tea.
Angela Li-Mei Yong
Wellesley College
Undergrad Research Assistant
Angela is a junior at Wellesley college majoring in Psychology and minoring in Computer Science. She is passionate about adolescent mental health, and is interested in pursuing psychology in graduate school after receiving her Bachelor’s Degree.
Her favorite boba drink is matcha milk tea with boba.
Izzy Zhou
Wellesley College
Undergrad Research Assistant
Izzy is a sophomore majoring in Media Arts and Sciences and Minoring in German Studies. She is interested in how technology can help generate various media for different purposes of creative expression.
Her favorite boba drink is oolong milk tea with boba.
Martin Lee
Columbia University
Graduate Research Assistant
Martin Lee is currently a second-year master’s student in Clinical Psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University. Previously, he received his BA in Psychology and Minor in History from Michigan State University. He is interested in developing a culturally adapted psychodynamic intervention for adolescents.
His favorite boba drink is jasmine green milk tea.
Felix Lou
Vanderbilt University
Undergrad Research Assistant
Felix Lou is a freshman at Vanderbilt University. He is part of his school's HOSA chapter, LexStopHunger, and Asian Student Union. He enjoys running and listening to music in his free time. He is excited to learn about Asian American issues and collaborate with researchers and other students to find solutions to those issues.
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His favorite boba drink is taro milk tea with grass jelly.
Jodie Chen
BB&N
Research Intern
Jodie Chen is senior at Buckingham Browne & Nichols School who is passionate about serving her own communities and others’. In her free time, Jodie enjoys dancing, rock climbing, and taking long walks with her dog. She is curious about the intersections of psychology, culture, and language.
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Her favorite boba drink is mango black tea with lychee jelly.
Sancha Gonzalez
Wellesley College
Undergrad Research Assistant
Sancha is a senior at Wellesley College pursuing a double major in Political Science and American Studies. She hopes to use her passion for researching racialized and gendered hierarchies in America to better advocate and understand the forces that inspire community-building and political action.
Her favorite boba drink is taro slushee with extra tapioca pearls.
Yihan Ling
Wellesley College
Undergrad Research Assistant
Yihan is a sophomore at Wellesley College majoring in Media Arts & Sciences and Mathematics. She is passionate about combining analytical thinking with design principles and creativity to build user-centered technology solutions. She plans to pursue a career in software development or product management.
Her favorite boba drink is jasmine milk tea.
Cindy Liu
Fordham University
Undergrad Research Assistant
Cindy Liu is a junior at Fordham University Rose Hill majoring in Psychology and double-minoring in Mandarin Chinese and Computer Science. She is interested in studying racial discrimination, child and adolescent development, and working to provide culturally competent interventions for youth in the modern context. After graduating, she hopes to pursue her doctorate in clinical psychology.
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Her favorite boba drink is grapefruit green tea with lychee jelly.
Angel Xing
Columbia University
Graduate Research Assistant
Angel Xing is a first-year Ed.M. Mental Health Counseling student at Teachers College, Columbia University. She is passionate about applying Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) with cultural competence in therapeutic settings. Angel’s research interests center on the acculturation and coping experiences of Asian individuals—issues she aims to address as a prospective counselor to promote mental health and well-being within underserved communities.
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Her favorite boba drink is lychee green tea with coconut jelly.
Yutian Li
Harvard College
Undergrad Research Assistant
Yutian Li is a freshman at Harvard College, studying Psychology and Economics. Outside of school, Yutian is a human rights activist and public speaker who advocates for racial justice, medical equity, and more. She is passionate about how the model minority myth and discrimination impact Asian American youth's mental health.
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Her favorite boba drink is brown sugar milk tea with boba and aloe jelly.
Consultants
Richard Lee, PhD
University of Minnesota
Consultant
Richard Lee, Ph.D. is a professor of psychology and Asian American studies at the University of Minnesota. He is interested in the ways in which race, ethnicity, and migration relate to the development, well-being, and mental health of Asian American individuals and families.
Russell Jeung, PhD
San Francisco State University; Stop AAPI Hate
Consultant
Russell Jeung, PhD is a Professor of Asian American Studies at San Francisco State University and is the author of several books on race and religion. He co-founded Stop AAPI Hate, a coalition that addresses anti-Asian racism and xenophobia.
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His favorite boba drink is taro milk tea.
Shirley Yen, PhD
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Consultant
Shirley Yen, PhD is an Associate Professor in the BIDMC Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, and the Psychology Training Director at the Massachusetts Mental Health Center. She is a clinical psychologist who is interested in identifying risk factors and developing interventions for suicidal behaviors in adolescents and adults.
Her favorite boba drink is lychee green tea with grass jelly.
Linda Juang, PhD
University of Potsdam, Germany
Consultant
Linda Juang, PhD is a Professor in the Department of Inclusive Education at the University of Potsdam, Germany. Her work focuses on how experiences of immigration relate to minoritized adolescents’ development and adjustment in school, family, and community contexts. She is especially interested in understanding youth experiences of discrimination and ethnic-racial socialization.
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Her favorite boba drink is lychee green tea with jelly.
Heang Rubin, EdD
CHIC Community Engagement Consulting LLC
Consultant
Heang Leung Rubin has twenty-five years of experience with the Asian American community as a researcher, teacher, and community advocate. She is a national expert on stakeholder and community engagement and has worked to build authentic research relationships between academics and underserved communities.
Her favorite boba drink is passionfruit green tea with lychee jelly.
Albert Lo, PhD
Cambridge Health Alliance
Consultant
Albert Lo, PhD is a child psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at Cambridge Health Alliance. He has research and clinical interests in parenting and adolescent development in families with immigration backgrounds.
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His favorite boba drink is black milk tea.
Alumni
Finneas Wong, Research Assistant
Ava Lu, Graduate Research Assistant
Melanie Chernin, Research Trainee
Pei Wang, Graduate Research Assistant
Michael Zhang, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Vivian Wang, Research Trainee
Gia Wang, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Qingyu Jiang, Postdoctoral Fellow
Connie Gu, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Elizabeth Kiel, Undergraduate Research Assistant
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