Lab Director
Iván Carbajal, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, School of Psychological Science
Lead, EEG Research Pod
Dr. Iván Carbajal is an Assistant Professor in the School of Psychological Science at Oregon State University, where he has directed the PILAS Lab since 2021. His research sits at the intersection of cultural neuroscience, Latine psychology, acculturation, and psychophysiology, with a focus on how language, bicultural identity, and critical consciousness shape the experiences of Latine communities. He earned his Ph.D. in Behavioral Science and M.S. in Psychology from the University of North Texas and his B.A. from the University of Texas of the Permian Basin.
Dr. Carbajal’s work has been supported by a Google Health Equity Research Initiative Award, and he was selected for the inaugural CASBS Summer Institute on Diversity Science at Stanford University, a Princeton University Psychology Department microsabbatical, and the 2024 APS Editorial Fellowship with Psychological Science. He serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Latinx Psychology and as Early Career Representative for the National Latinx Psychological Association, where he previously served as Secretary.
Google Scholar · Ivan.Carbajal@oregonstate.edu
Graduate Students
Lianelys “Lia” Cabrera Martinez
Doctoral Candidate, Psychology
Vibes Lord (lab community and peer mentoring)
Lia (she/her/ella) is a doctoral candidate in the School of Psychological Sciences at Oregon State University. As a first-generation Cuban immigrant and student, she has always been passionate about the social issues in psychology that affect our community. Her research interests include social and cultural identity development, critical consciousness, and discrimination among Latine communities. At the moment, she is focused on developing the LatiNEXT framework and a Cuban American social identity development model.
Jessica Orea
Ph.D. Student, Psychology
Co-Lead, Survey Research Pod
I am a first-gen and second-year Psychology PhD student at OSU. I grew up in Vista, California and obtained my B.A. in Psychological Science from California State University San Marcos. I aspire to become a university professor and run my own research lab. I’m interested in research exploring how social and cultural factors shape the experiences, identities, and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ Latines. Outside of academics, I enjoy reading, caring for my houseplants, and exploring new places!
Claudia Garcia
Ph.D. Student, Clinical Psychology
Co-Lead, Survey Research Pod
I am a first-gen and second-year Clinical Psychology PhD student at OSU. I grew up in Corvallis, Oregon, and obtained my B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Human Development and Family Sciences from OSU. After graduation, I would like to work in a Latine-serving community that would allow me to equally divide my time between research and clinical work. My research interests include Latine mental health, barriers to care for Latines, and how racism shapes Latine identity. In my free time, I enjoy reading, playing video games, and traveling when I can.
Halima Hussaini
Lead, Behavioral Research Pod
[Bio and photo to come.]
Undergraduate Research Assistants
Michelangelo “Mic” Arriaza-Silva
Lead Undergraduate Research Assistant
Michelangelo “Mic” Arriaza-Silva is an undergraduate researcher at Oregon State University and a Lead Undergraduate Research Assistant in the PILAS Psychology Research Lab. His research interests sit at the intersection of social psychology, cultural neuroscience, racial identity, and psychophysiology, with a particular focus on how implicit racial associations shape social perception and the evaluation of multiracial individuals. His current research examines multiracial bias using behavioral measures and EEG/ERP methods to investigate how implicit associations relate to perceptions of emotional expressions and neural responses.
Within the PILAS Lab, he contributes to study design, behavioral task development, data collection and analysis, literature synthesis, and scientific communication. Mic’s broader interests center on how racial and cultural identity, social environments, and identity-related experiences influence behavior and psychological well-being. He plans to pursue a career in forensic psychiatry, with the goal of integrating psychological and neuroscientific research with medicine and the legal system.
Misael Cortes
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Misael grew up in Woodburn, Oregon, and graduated from Woodburn High School in 2023. He is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Sociology, and wants to focus on the psychology of social issues, politics, and Latin American communities. He’s also a big Club América fan (a very important detail).
