People

Zehra Gülseven

Principal Investigator

Dr. Zehra Gülseven is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Virginia Tech. Dr. Gülseven received her B.S. in Psychology from Abant İzzet Baysal University, in Turkey, and her M.S. and Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Science from the University of Missouri with an emphasis in Human Development and a collateral specialization in Statistics. Then, she completed her postdoctoral studies in the School of Education at the University of California, Irvine.

Her research primarily focuses on positive social development during childhood and adolescence. She is particularly interested in prosocial behavior and moral development with individual, parental, cultural, and contextual correlates in culturally diverse children and adolescents.

gulseven@vt.edu

Bengisu Nisa Aras

Graduate Research Assistant

Bengisu is a second-year PhD student who received her B.S. in psychology from Middle East Technical University in 2019. She also received her MSc degree in Developmental Psychology from the same institution in 2023. Her research interests include prosocial behaviors, parenting, culture, and emotion regulation. Outside of the lab, she enjoys listening to podcasts, watching sitcoms, practicing yoga, and reading.

bnaras@vt.edu

Kennedy Kreidell

Graduate Research Assistant

Kennedy is a second-year Ph.D. student in the PSD Lab. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2023 with Bachelor's degrees in Psychology and Exercise and Sports Science. She has been involved in developmental research at both UNC and Boston College. Her primary research interests explore culture, parenting practices, and youth prosocial behavior. In her free time, Kennedy likes to read, dance, crochet, and hang out with her dog, Goldie.

kkreidell@vt.edu

Undergraduate Research Assistants

Jaya Powell

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Jaya is a senior double majoring in psychology and HNFE (human, nutrition, food, and exercise). She is interested in researching/learning more about neuropsychology and social psychology. Outside of the lab, she loves to hike, play basketball, and make chocolate covered pretzels. She has been with the PSD Lab since Fall 2023.