My research interests lie at the intersection of clinical, cultural, and developmental areas of psychology. The overarching aim of my research is to examine how cultural and family processes influence mental health and development across the lifespan. I explore this question primarily in under-represented, underserved, and at-risk populations.

One line of investigation seeks to identify the mechanisms shaping the development and well-being of Chinese American immigrant families. These studies have focused on the interplay of three constructs - emotion, language, and self-regulation - in the family context.

A related line of investigation expands ethnic-focused conceptualizations of culture to consider the culture of social status. These studies examine children's developing concepts of social status and social mobility and the effects of social status on socioemotional processes.

My research and teaching are both shaped by my previous experience as a K-12 school counselor and administrator in Shanghai, China. At Wellesley College, my courses include Asian American Psychology, Cultural Psychology, and a seminar on Culture and Emotion. My goal in teaching and mentorship is to guide students in connecting fundamental frameworks of cultural and developmental psychology to implications for Asian American well-being.

I am a member of the Association for Psychological Science (APS), the Society for Research in Adolescence (SRA), and the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD), where I serve on the Steering Committee of the Asian Caucus. I currently serve on the Editoral Boards for Child Development, Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, Developmental Psychology, and the Journal of Research in Adolescence.