Meet the
Team
Dr. Nicole Wen
Lab Director
Dr. Nicole Wen is a Lecturer in Psychology at Brunel University in the Centre for Culture and Evolution and Department of Life Sciences. Dr. Wen received her Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin and was a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Psychology at the University of Michigan.
Dr. Wen studies how culture influences children’s learning, development, and social connections. Her research explores how cultural practices — such as rituals — influence children’s development of imitation, innovation, conformity, creativity, group cohesion, and cooperation across different cultures. She also investigates the role of parenting and educational contexts in shaping these behaviors and how these insights can be applied in classrooms to foster social inclusion and create more supportive, collaborative learning environments. For more information, please visit Dr. Wen’s personal website.
Dr. Natalie A. Russell
Lab Affiliate & Community Partner
Dr. Russell completed her Ph.D. at Brunel University. Her research focuses on intersectional and intergenerational approaches to studying adolescent relationships and violence against women and girls. Natalie also has extensive experience in youth and teaching roles. Natalie's deep commitment to improving the well-being of young people and families led her to starting Nu Know, an organisation delivering education and support to young people and parents and carers of adolescents.
Mariam Wahab
MSc Student
Mariam graduated from Loyola University Chicago in 2022 with a B.S. in Biology and a B.A. in French. She is currently pursuing an MSc in Psychological Sciences at Brunel University. Having grown up at the crossroads of three cultures, she is interested in the way cultures influence a person’s view of the world from a young age and how this applies to one’s perception of self.
Harleen Dhami
MBBS Student
Harleen earned her B.S. from the University of British Columbia and is in her second year of medical school at Brunel University. Before medical school, she worked at the UBC Centre for Stigma and Resilience Among Vulnerable Youth, contributing to a 10-year CIHR-funded study on public health challenges in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. She also collaborated on a community initiative to share brain health research during COVID-19.
Harleen is passionate about improving access to care for vulnerable populations and advancing culturally sensitive mental health support.