As we count down the days to the beginning of the new academic year, we welcome a new member of staff, Dr Tatiana Lau. Here is what she told us about herself.

Dr Tatiana Lau

What made you choose Psychology at Royal Holloway?

It's a singular academic environment with its resources and support. I think the department itself is friendly and supportive.

Can you tell us a little about the research you will carry out at RHUL?

It is almost cliché to say that our own and/or others' social group memberships (e.g., political affiliation, sports fandom, ethnicity, etc.) affect judgments and behaviours. Broadly speaking, I am interested in (i) how social group information affects our judgments and choice behaviour towards others and (ii) how we come to understand who is and is not a member of our social groups in the first place (which can, in turn, affect our behaviour towards others). For example, how does finding out that someone is a Brexit supporter affect how you perceive them and their actions and/or how you treat them?

What do you think will be the best part about teaching our students?

The best part of teaching for me is seeing how students' views change and how they come to see how science can (hopefully) answer some of their questions about the world. I'm excited to get to know, work with, and mentor students who are curious about how we process the social world. 

Visit Tatiana's website to learn more!