DiSH Lab

Dr. T's new research is described by collaborator and former DiSH Lab manager, Erin Standen, as a surprising “GLP-1 paradox”: people using weight-loss medications may face greater stigma than those who don’t lose weight at all. Read more at tinyurl.com/riceglpparadox

We’re proud to celebrate DiSH Lab seniors Katrina Smith (current lab manager) and Laura Wang for presenting their independent research projects at PURC 2026! 🎉 Katrina delivered a 5-minute data blitz and Laura shared her work in a poster session. Great job!!

Why do certain foods feel so comforting🍲? Dr. T explains that cravings are deeply tied to memory and emotion🧠, and that we may even be able to “retrain” what feels comforting toward healthier choices! Read more at tinyurl.com/knowablecomfor…

DiSH Lab Summer Research Intensive alum Puma Buck (third from the left) is UCLA-bound as a Psychology major! 🥳The mentorship, lectures, and hands-on research experience she received during our NSF-funded two-week intensive inspired her to pursue a future PhD. Congrats, Puma!!

Isaac Membreño, DiSH Lab RA alum, will be pursuing a Counseling Psychology PhD at the University of Oregon this fall! His experience carrying out research experiments in our lab sparked a lasting motivation for health research and academia🙌 Great job, Isaac!

Alumna Maddie Preiss is heading to UCLA for a Master of Social Welfare!🥳 In the lab, she built research and clinical skills through outreach, participant coordination, data analysis, and a poster presentation. She’s grateful for the mentorship and excited for what’s next!

People who don’t always have enough food often feel more stressed, which can lead them to eat in less healthy ways, like eating for comfort instead of hunger. Learn more in this journal article by Dr. T and her colleagues: doi.org/10.3390/nu1807…

People are judged both for using weight-loss medicine and for gaining the weight back after stopping. Read more in Dr. T's recently published journal article here: doi.org/10.1038/s41366…

Alumna Namrata Poola is heading to the University of Virginia's Clinical Psychology PhD Program! The DiSH Lab taught her to navigate recruitment/retention challenges and better support marginalized participants, which she’ll carry into future work with underserved communities.

Alumna Laura Wang will be heading to San Diego State University this fall to begin her Master’s in Psychology with Dr. Tristen Inagaki in the Social-Health and Affective Neuroscience (SHAN) Lab! DiSH Lab mentorship and experiences helped to clarify her research interests!

Here’s a roadmap for making research on metabolic health more welcoming for autistic individuals. Read Dr. T and Dr. Hotez’s work in Obesity Science & Practice: doi.org/10.1002/osp4.7…

Dr. T and her colleagues propose a new framework for training graduate students to be leaders in complex contexts like sustainable foods. Read more in Cell Reports Sustainability: doi.org/10.1016/j.crsu…

Moving up to a better-performing high school (also called “striving”) is linked to higher stress in adolescent females, but lower stress in adolescent males. Read more in Social Science & Medicine: doi.org/10.1016/j.socs…

Learn about a new weight stigma intervention that Dr. T has deployed with pediatric residents at UCLA. Read more in Academic Pediatrics: doi.org/10.1016/j.acap…

Check out this recent Daily Bruin article quoting Dr. T about her mentee, KN Ngo, and the importance of NIH grants and scholarships! dailybruin.com/2026/02/10/ucl…

Congratulations to Amy, an alum pursuing her Master of Science in Public Health at Johns Hopkins!🥳She says her time in the DiSH Lab strengthened her research skills and sparked an interest in population health. She’s now begun a practicum at the Center for Immunization Research.

Congratulations to our alumnus, Bita, who will be attending the Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine with a full ride!🎉Beyond invaluable hands-on experience, the DiSH Lab instilled in her a collaborative approach to research. She is excited to use science to uplift communities!

Chip, a longstanding research assistant in our lab, will be starting the University of Illinois College of Medicine MD Program this fall! 🩺 They say that the DiSH Lab has helped them understand how psychology is integral to health and healthcare. Congratulations, Chip! 🥳

Congratulations to this year’s DiSH Lab Summer Research Intensive cohort of community college students! A huge thank you to the National Science Foundation for funding this program and a big shout out to the faculty and graduate students who mentored these amazing students!

Congratulations to Dr. T for winning the 2025 Faculty Award for Excellence in Graduate Student Mentoring! All of us at the DiSH Lab are forever grateful for your guidance 🫶