MEET THE CURRENT TEAM
Principal Investigator: Dr. Mayra Y. Bamaca
I am an immigrant Latina scholar who emigrated from Guatemala at the age of 16. My research lies at the intersection of developmental (e.g., puberty), cultural (e.g., acculturation) and contextual (e.g., parenting, friendships, neighborhood) influences on the behavioral, academic, and health outcomes of ethnic-racial minoritized youth, with an emphasis on Latino/e/x. I have investigated the experiences of Latine families living in Illinois, Arizona, Pennsylvania, and California. I have implement different methodologies, including ecological momentary assessments (i.e., brief daily surveys), focus groups, and surveys and have collected data cross-sectionally and longitudinally. For example,I followed Mexican origin girls residing in AZ across three waves. My work at UC Merced has focused on Latine college students' experiences across multiple contexts: school, work, and family. In a new project--Tres Generaciones/3G study, we will be recruiting Latine families residing in Merced and surrounding communities and interview parents, 11-17 year old children, and one of their grandparents to examine intergenerational relationships and how these contribute to the wellbeing of each family member. Lastly, I continue to collaborate with Dr. Dawn Witherspoon at Penn State and plan to study Latino families in Merced and how neighborhood dynamics contribute to family dynamics and wellbeing.
The Graduate Students
Emely Covarrubias, PhD
Graduate Student Researcher
Emely is a fifth-year student in the psychological sciences doctoral program at UCM. She received her B.A. in Psychology from UCM. She received her M.A. in Experimental Psychology from CSU Fresno under the guidance of Dr. Rosa Toro. Emely's thesis examined parent-child relationships within immigrant families. Emely’s research focuses on the effects of adverse childhood experiences on mental health and relationship quality. Additionally, she is interested in how familial and friend relationships, along with protective factors such as mindfulness and cultural strengths, help protect Latine children and young adults from adversity.
Elisa Gomez, PhD
Graduate Student Researcher
Elisa is a fifth-year developmental psychology doctoral student. She is a first-generation college student from Ontario, California. Elisa graduated from Scripps College in 2016 with a B.A. in Chicanx/Latinx Studies. She received her Ed.M in Specialized Studies from Harvard Graduate School of Education, with a focus on the ethnic and racial identity development of Latinx youth. Elisa's research interests include the well-being of Latinx grandparents. In particular, she aims to identify how grandchildren can contribute to the positive aging of elders.
Alexis Reimers-Contreras, PhD
Graduate Student Researcher
Alexis is a third-year Developmental psychology PhD student with a background in Health Psychology. Alexis was born in Modesto, California and raised in Turlock, California. She comes from a Mexican-Immigrant household which is what inspires her research now. She attended UC Merced as an undergraduate and studied abroad in Maastricht, Netherlands and is now a PhD student at UC Merced. Alexis' research interests are in emerging adulthood and examining the contextual realities that can impact one's academic outcomes. In her free time, you'll find her in her house or at a cafe reading, writing, coloring, playing video games, or embroidering.
The Undergraduate Students Research Assistants
Rose De Leon
Undergraduate Team Leader
Rose De Leon is a 4th year Psychology and Sociology double major at the University of California, Merced, originally from Sacramento, California. As a first-generation Latina student, she joined the lab to learn more about her community and contribute to its well-being. Rose is particularly interested in how family pressure/obligations can affect outcomes of Latinx college students. She believes this knowledge will guide her in her future career as a therapist working with Latinx youth. Rose values the importance of dedicating time and research into this underserved community and is motivated to better understand and support them. After graduating in Spring 2027, she hopes to use her knowledge and experience from the lab to pursue a master's degree in clinical psychology.
Jakelinne Bocel
Undergraduate Researcher
Jakelinne Bocel is a fourth-year student at the University of California, Merced, majoring in Public Health and minoring in Political Science. Born and raised in Guatemala, she immigrated to Los Angeles at age 11. Her experiences as an immigrant and bilingual student have shaped her passion for education, research, and legal advocacy. Jakelinne joined the IMPACT Lab during her sophomore year, where she has contributed to research focused on Latine families and youth. After graduating in Spring 2027, Jakelinne plans to take a gap year before applying to law school. She is especially interested in family law and hopes to use her research experience to educate and to advocate for children and families navigating difficult circumstances. In her free time, Jakelinne enjoys spending time with her family and her cat named Honey.
Evelyn Martinez
Undergraduate Researcher
Evelyn Martinez Hernandez is a fourth-year student at the University of California, Merced, double-majoring in Psychology with an emphasis in Social Psychology and Sociology with an emphasis in Race and Racial Justice. Originally from Carson, California, she joined the IMPACT Lab because of her strong interest in working with Latinx and immigrant populations. Evelyn first learned about the lab during her first year from a friend and after discovering its focus, knew it was the right fit. She hopes to become a clinical social worker in the future, working with underserved populations, especially teens, making the lab an ideal step toward her goals.
Andrea Campozano
Undergraduate Researcher
Andrea took Dr. Bamaca’s Latinx Youth and Families course and instantly felt inspired to do more for my Latinx community. Learning about ongoing research that specifically studies her demographic gave her a feeling of being seen and understood. From then on, she has felt motivated to contribute to research that focuses on the experiences of Latinx adolescents within the contexts of family and school.
Annie Nieblas
Undergraduate Researcher
Annie is a fourth-year Social Psychology major with a minor in Chicanx Studies at the University of California, Merced. She transferred from Reedley College in Fall 2025 and began her research journey with the IMPACT Lab in Spring 2026. As a first-generation college student who moved to the United States from Mexico at the age of two, Annie is passionate about understanding how migration and adapting to a new country can affect individuals and families within her community, particularly their mental health and well-being. Annie plans to pursue a career as an academic advisor, where she hopes to support first-generation students as they navigate higher education. She hopes to use her experience and knowledge to help students feel supported, confident, and empowered as they pursue their educational goals.
Santiago Rodriguez
Undergraduate Researcher
Santiago is a 4th-year student majoring in Psychology and minoring in Chicano studies at UC Merced. Santiago is a second-generation Mexican American from San Francisco. Growing up, he embraced his cultural community and connection to his Chicano identity and hopes to serve many underprivileged and underrepresented communities suffering from trauma. He is deeply interested in the influence of generational trauma and the lasting impacts that can be passed down from generation to generation in the Latino community, inspiring him to work under Dr. Bamaca in the impact lab studying Latinx Adolescents and families. He aspires to become a clinical psychologist and incorporate indigenous healing practices so that communities feel represented in the mental health field. He plans to pursue sports psychology and has recently created a professional profile connecting with fellow sports agencies and professional psychologists via Instagram.
Kariz Chavez
Undergraduate Researcher
Kariz Chavez is a third year Psychology and Spanish major at UCM. Her future career goal is to become a school psychologist and help younger individuals understand their emotions and overall well-being. Being part of the IMPACT Lab she hopes to gain that in-person experience and also because it resonates with her interest too. She is especially interested in learning more about the Latinx community and the role that family dynamics play in the experiences and well-being of younger individuals. During her free time she enjoys reading, running, and exploring new places with her family, mostly restaurants or mini hikes!
Yuritzel Nieto de Jesus
Undergraduate Researcher
Yuritzel Nieto De Jesus is a fourth‑year Psychology major with a minor in Sociology. She is originally from Guerrero, Mexico and She's a first‑generation student. She deeply motivated to explore the emotional and psychological well‑being of adolescents because she see emotions as meaningful indicators of human experience. She hopes to better understand the factors that shape adolescent well‑being and contribute to efforts that strengthen mental health support.
Tiffany Tinoco
Undergraduate Researcher
Tiffany Tinoco is a third-year Psychology student at the University of California, Merced, originally from Los Angeles, California. She is a first-generation college student and the first person in her family to become a U.S. citizen. Tiffany's mother is from Honduras and father from Mexico, so she grew up with Spanish as her first language. Her upbringing has shaped her appreciation for culture, family, and the importance of representation within psychology and research.
Tiffany joined the IMPACT Lab because of her interest in understanding how children develop within their families, communities, and social environments, particularly within Latino and underserved communities. Her experience working with children and families has further inspired her interest in development, behavior, mental health, and the brain. Through the IMPACT Lab, she will strengthen her research skills while contributing to research that represents and supports diverse families and communities. After earning her bachelor’s degree, Tiffany hopes to pursue graduate education and eventually become a neuropsychologist, combining her interests in the brain, human development, research, and helping others.
Benjamin Garcia
Undergraduate Researcher
Benjamin Garcia received his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from UC San Diego. Originally from Delhi, California, and currently working in Merced, California, he joined the IMPACT Lab as a volunteer due to its focus on Latinx youth, families, and their surrounding communities. From his personal experiences growing up in Merced County to his academic and professional experiences in psychology and the mental health field, he is interested in the various aspects and systems that shape Latinx youth’s development and the community as a whole. Ben looks forward to contributing to the meaningful work and gaining valuable insight from this research as he continues towards his future academic and professional goals.