Our Team
Samantha Joel
Principal Investigator
Samantha Joel is an Associate Professor at the University of Western Ontario. Her research examines how people make the decisions that grow or break apart their romantic relationships, and how those decision strategies are linked to relationship, well-being, and health outcomes. Click for her CV or her Google Scholar page.
Devinder Singh Khera
Graduate Student
Dave is a Ph.D. student at Western University who is currently working under the supervision of Dr. Joel. Dave is an SSHRC Scholar (CGS-D) whose research interests include various aspects of human sexuality and close relationships. Currently, Dave has several projects on the go including research focusing on sexual compatibility, consensual non-monogamy, relational perceptions of bisexual+ individuals, and involuntary celibacy. In his free time, you can catch him escaping into a Sci-Fi audiobook or cheering for his hometown Canucks. Click here for Dave’s CV or his Google Scholar Profile.
Helena Yuchen Qin
Graduate Student
Helena is a master's student at Western University. She is interested in exploring various factors that contribute to the development of a fulfilling romantic relationship and the cultivation of individual well-being within a relationship. Her current research focuses on the cognitive processes involved in evaluating one’s romantic partner and their relationship quality in both daily life and self-report studies.
Amelia Hamilton
Lab Manager
Amelia Hamilton is a Master's student in the Counselling Psychology program at Western. From a research perspective she is interested in relationship decision making, singlehood and the needs of men in therapy.
From a counselling perspective, she seeks to understand effective communication strategies to build strong relationships and navigate through difficult times with a partner. She also has an interest in encouraging more men to engage in therapy and prioritize their mental health, the impact of online dating, attachment styles, love languages, attraction and interpersonal relationships and rejection.
Elisha Cimring
Thesis Student
Elisha is a fourth-year student at Western pursuing an Honours Specialization in Psychology. She is currently working under Dr. Samantha Joel and Devinder Singh Khera to write her thesis. Her research focuses on sexual compatibility and how this affects overall relationship satisfaction. Her current study examines how heterosexual and LGBTQ+ couples differ in being able to accurately report and predict their partner's sexual preferences. She is interested in uncovering what factors affect this relationship and exploring the possible implications that may come from this research. Elisha hopes to enhance her research skills and pursue a Masters of Social Work in the future.
Elaine Liu
Thesis Student
Elaine Liu is a fourth-year student pursuing an Honours Specialization in Psychology and a Major in Sociology. She is interested in the mechanisms underlying social relationships and interactions, such as family dynamics and romantic relationships. Her thesis focuses on the phenomenon of sentiment override, and examining whether self-distancing could be a predictor. She hopes to pursue graduate studies in Counselling Psychology.
Kaila Hinch
Research Assistant
Kaila is a fourth year student studying psychology at Western university, eager to continue into her Master’s. She is interested in the development and progression of relationships, as well as relationship topics within the LGBTQIA+ community. In her free time she enjoys walks with her dogs, yoga classes and reading.
Alli Urbach
Research Assistant
Alli is a third year student in an Honours Specialization in Psychology at Western University. She is passionate about mental health and the psychology of romantic relationships, specifically how relationship dynamics impact well-being. She hopes to continue her studies in graduate school for Clinical Psychology and pursue a career supporting youth mental health.
Kylie Mercado
Research Assistant
Kylie is a recent graduate of the Honours Psychology Program at Western University. She is interested in research that explores how communication styles contribute to healthy relationships and effective conflict resolution, with a particular focus on how these dynamics impact emotional and social development in youth. She aspires to pursue graduate studies in Clinical or Developmental Psychology and build a career promoting the well-being and mental health of youth.
Gabrielle Czichrak
Research Assistant
Gabby is a fourth-year student pursuing an Honours Specialization in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience. She is interested in the roles that attachment styles and conflict resolution play in maintaining relationships, and how a deeper understanding of these dynamics can contribute to more effective interventions. She hopes to pursue graduate studies in clinical psychology, and potentially explore relationship patterns among neurodivergent individuals.
Helena De Mal
Research Assistant
Helena is a third-year undergraduate student pursuing an honours double major in Psychology and French, along with a certificate in Spanish. She is interested in the development of romantic relationships, particularly factors such as culture, perceptual bias, and early experiences, and how they relate to mental health. In the future, she hopes to pursue graduate studies in Counselling or Clinical Psychology. In her free time, she enjoys playing the piano, traveling, and going on hikes.
Janice Huang
Research Assistant
Janice is a second-year student pursuing an Honors Specialization in psychology. She is interested in integrating machine learning into relationship research, particularly in developing algorithms for long-term compatibility. She is hoping to pursue further education to continue research in Social or Educational/School Psychology.
Nicole Krawitz
Research Assistant
Nicole is a second-year Honours Specialization student in Psychology at Western University. She is interested in how early social experiences and family dynamics shape relationship development in children and adolescents and how early interactions impact long-term social outcomes. She aspires to pursue graduate studies in the clinical field, and potentially working with children and young adults.
Angelina Stefanovici
Research Assistant
Angelina Stefanovici is a second-year student pursuing an Honours Specialization in Psychology at Western University. She is interested in how cultural and environmental factors shape individuals’ understanding of love, with particular attention to the role societal norms and media portrayals play in shaping relationship expectations and long-term stability. She aspires to pursue graduate studies in Social or Clinical Psychology to further explore how psychological and social forces impact relationship dynamics. Through her research, she hopes to contribute to strategies for fostering healthier, more resilient relationships. Outside of her studies, she is an avid reader and enjoys discovering new books.
