Meet The Team

Dr. Tzeng earned her Ph.D. in Psychology from Emory University, where she continued as a postdoctoral scholar prior to joining the Psychology Department faculty at San José State University. Dr. Tzeng’s research explores the dynamic interplay between human cognition and communication. She studies the psychology of language, focusing on the cognitive and social factors that affect how we understand spoken utterances.

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Byonne received her B.A. in Psychology and Education from the University of California, Riverside. As a graduate student researcher in the CLAP lab, she is interested in the role of attention in overcoming perceptual difficulty. Her master’s thesis examines the extent to which explicit attention to non-native accented speech facilitates the ability to understand unfamiliar non-native accented voices. Outside of the lab, Byonne enjoys making complex salads and hoarding sci-fi novels.

Ulises received his B.S in Psychology from the University of California, Davis. He is interested in how listeners process information about who is talking as they listen to speech. For his master’s thesis, he is examining how one's exposure to non-native accented speech affects the kinds of biases listeners form about groups of talkers. Outside of research, he enjoys running, cooking, and spending time with friends.

Sameeha Shafik received her B.S. in Psychology from San José State University. Sameeha is interested in the intersection of human communication and learning. Sameeha's current work explores the extent to which visual cues to speaker ethnicity affect how the listener perceives what they hear. As she continues onto her master's in the field of education and learning design, she hopes her research can be used in the classroom, creating more inclusive support systems for students and teachers.

Taya graduated from San José State University with a B.S. in Psychology. She is broadly interested in how individuals' social biases affect their interactions with others. More specifically, she is interested in how group stereotypes affect speech perception and microagressions. Taya plans to attend a Ph.D. program in Clinical Psychology. Outside of the lab, she enjoys nature by going to concerts and trying new eating places.

Yaquan Rebecca Wang received her B.A of Psychology from Menlo College. She has a general interest in exploring the effect of perceived racial identities on speech perception. For her master thesis, she aims to deepen the understanding of the impact of different Asian American identities on listener's perception of non-native accents. During her spare time, she enjoys reading, journaling, and any other activities that don't require to leave her desk. She is also a handcrafted beverage enthusiast that makes her own tea, coffee, and sometimes cocktails.