👋Hi! I am Arshiya.

I study how do people build and maintain a coherent sense of self as life changes around us? How does that coherence shape our ability to connect with others? And how are both processes molded by the societal structures we live in?

To answer these questions, I use theories and methods from social psychology and cognitive science.

I am a Ph.D. student at the University of California, Riverside, and work under the mentorship of Dr. Brent Hughes. Previously, I worked alongside Dr. Hughes as a lab manager, focusing on studying the mechanisms through which individuals learn and generalize intergroup biases. My academic journey in psychology began when I joined Dr. Molly Crockett's lab as a research assistant. There, I assisted Drs. Adam Morris and Ryan Carlson in developing measures of introspective accuracy in judgment and decision-making. Before shifting to psychology, I completed a Bachelor's degree in Technology, specializing in Electronics and Communication Engineering, at Manipal University in India.

Outside of work, I enjoy engaging in artistic pursuits, reading books, watching movies, listening to music, and caring for my houseplants. I have also started writing what I think, explore, and live here.