Hi, I’m Molly!

I am a 6th year Ph.D. Candidate in developmental psychology at the University of Chicago where I am advised by Dr. Lin Bian. I am currently on the academic job market (2025–26), with a particular interest in a pursuing a teaching-focused position.

My work focuses on the development of beliefs about brilliance to address the continued underrepresentation of women across a variety of academic and industrial positions. My work posits that this pattern is driven by the combined influence of two classes of beliefs: a stereotype that associates exceptional intellectual talent with men over women (i.e., gender brilliance stereotypes), and a set of cultural beliefs that associate success in some fields and careers with brilliance (i.e., field-specific brilliance beliefs).

I am interested in how and when these beliefs develop, and addressing the early sources of these stereotypes, such as parents, teachers, and children’s media.

Prior to attending the University of Chicago, I graduated with a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Chemistry at New York University. There I also worked as a research assistant and then lab manager at Andrei Cimpian’s Cognitive Development Lab.

Professional Goals

I am in my final year of my Ph.D. at the University of Chicago. I plan to graduate in 2026 with a doctorate in Developmental Psychology. My ultimate goal is pursue a teaching-focused position, as I believe these roles uniquely combine my passion for research, teaching, and mentorship.

Current Projects

I am currently exploring the sources of children’s early onset belief in certain fields requiring exceptional intellectual talent for success. I am broadly interested in the implications behind placing value on traits that are viewed as inborn and unchangeable.

Publications

My work has been published in the Journal of Experimental Child Psychology and is under review at Child Development. I have presented my work at scholarly conferences such as the Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP), The Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD), and the Cognitive Development Society (CDS).

Mentorship

Mentoring of undergraduate students is a passion of mine. I have mentored at least 10 undergraduate students during my time in graduate school. Several have gone on to research-focused positions such as lab management, while others have gone on to Psy-D and Ph.D. programs.

Teaching

I believe teaching is a critical skill in academic, one that I strive to constantly improve. Currently, I am a part-time adjunct faculty member at Elmhurst University where I teach Child Development. Additionally, I won the Dewey Prize Lectureship at UChicago, allowing me the opportunity to develop and teach my own course.

Community Outreach

I believe our research is only as important as those who read it. We must strive to share our findings as widely as possible. I have implemented this in my own career by frequently volunteering to speak to audiences of high school students and science museums.