People — Boykin Lab

Lab Director

Dr. C. Malik Boykin is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Cognitive, Linguistic, and Psychological Sciences (CLPS) at Brown University. Malik received his doctorate in Social and Personality Psychology from UC Berkeley, his M.A. in Social-Organizational Psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University, and his B.S. in Psychology from the University of Maryland University College (UMUC) – after first attending Howard University. He was a Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow for two years at Brown in the Department of CLPS before his current faculty appointment. His research focuses on intergroup relations, hierarchy, prejudice, mentorship, and racial identity. Several of these themes inform his research on attitudes toward HBCUs and bias in decision-making algorithms. He has affiliate appointments with both the Center for the Study of Race and Ethnicity in America (CSREA) and the Data Science Initiative (DSI). He has previously secured funding from the Ford Fellowship Foundation, the Greater Good Science Center, and the Society for Multivariate Experimental Psychology to conduct his research. Dr. Boykin is a member of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP), the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP), and the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.

Visiting Scientists

Lisa Covington, PhD.

Dr. Lisa Covington is a sociologist and cultural worker with specialization in Digital Humanities and African American Studies. She brings over seven years of experience of applied sociology in industries of television, film and education. With a PhD from the University of Iowa, where she earned eight prestigious fellowships, Lisa’s research explores the cartographies of Black girlhood across the elements of schooling, social movements and media. The most recent projects examine the progression of Black girl characters to better understand the role of film and social institutions. In addition to Lisa’s many scholarly accomplishments, she also has a strong track record of applied scholarship and community engagement. As a Visiting Scientist at RISE, Dr. Covington’s intersectional research aims to build on her sociology of media scholarship while investigating the role of AI across various landscapes such as film and education. In bridging scholarship and application, Dr. Covington is co-founder of The Global Institute for Black Girls in Film & Media where she works with scholars, policy makers, artists, youth, elders and creatives to create just media practices.

Stephanie Taravez, PhD.

Dr. Stephanie Tavarez is an I/O psychologist with seven years of applied industry/experimental research and higher education experience. Her applied and collaborative work addresses the following topics: diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I), training program development and evaluation, personnel assessments, and higher education and employability. Dr. Tavarez is proactive and professionally committed to developing individuals in diverse populations and building workplace capacity to achieve business outcomes. In her daily work, she leads organizational development initiatives that contribute to facing organizational challenges for private and federal clients. She received her Ph.D. in I/O Psychology at Capella University in June of 2020. Ms. Tavarez earned both her Master of Science in Organizational Psychology and a Bachelor's in Psychology from the University of Hartford. She is passionate about teaching at her alma mater and building students’ learning profile through critical thinking and creativity.

Taiwo A. Togun, Ph.D. – CEO, SeqHub Analytics

Taiwo has over twelve years of experience as a data scientist and an educator. With a Ph.D. in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics from Yale, Taiwo’s research focused on ensemble recursive partitioning methods for integrated analysis of high dimensional genomics and clinical data to identify genomic biomarkers of cancer. As Co-founder of SeqHub Analytics, a data science consulting company, Taiwo’s experience extends from interdisciplinary academic research to data strategy consulting for start-ups and small businesses. Currently a Visiting Scientist with the R.I.S.E lab at the Department of Cognitive, Linguistics and Psychological Sciences at Brown University, Dr. Togun’s research aims to elucidate fairness perceptions in machine learning algorithms. As an educator, Dr. Togun is the architect and head of the Computer Science (CS) program of a private K-12 school, Pierrepont School, where he enjoys the challenge of making CS courses accessible to students at all levels.

Visiting Scientist Emeritus

Venkat Lakshminrayanaan (1982-2022) – Chief Data Scientist, SeqHub Analytics

Venkat Lakshminarayanan obtained his B.A. in Economics (2004) and his Ph.D. in Psychology (2012) from Yale University, where he developed novel methods to investigate the evolutionary origins of decision-making biases by measuring economic preferences in ancestrally-related non-human primates. He has held postdoctoral appointments at Yale's Department of Cognitive Science and Yale's Department of Comparative Medicine. Until his untimely passing, he served as Chief Data Scientist at SeqHub Analytics and a researcher at Brown University's Department of Cognitive, Linguistic, and Psychological Sciences, where he studied human attitudes toward algorithmic fairness using empirical methods. Central to Venkat’s vision for the future, was a commitment to investing in young people and their pursuit of data science as a way to positively impact society. The RISE Lab carries this commitment into the future for our fallen brother.

Graduate Students

Skyler Gin - PhD Student

Skyler Gin is a third-year Ph.D. student in Psychology at Brown University in the CLPS department. Growing up in San Francisco, she developed a deep appreciation for diverse perspectives, shaping her research. She earned her B.S. in Child Development from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and an M.S. in Psychology from the University of Oregon. Skyler’s research combines social and developmental psychology to explore how race, ethnic, and gender identities influence children’s and adults’ STEM interests, engagement, and persistence. She focuses on how role models and identity formation impact STEM identity development across different life stages, aiming to inform interventions that address gender and racial disparities in STEM. Skyler is dedicated to promoting inclusivity in academia and advancing diverse, impactful research.

Victor Ojewale - PhD Student

Victor is a PhD student at the Center for Tech Responsibility, Reimagination and Redesign(The CNTR) at the Brown University Data Science Institute where he is advised by Prof.Suresh Venkatasubramanian . His research interests lie in understanding the impacts of algorithmic systems, particularly through the lenses of algorithmic (un)fairness and algorithm audits. He is a member of the RISE Lab at Brown University where he also works with Prof.Malik Boykin . Previously, he studied Computer Science at the University of Ibadan.
He was the Lead Data Scientist at SeqHub Analytics LLC and also a research assistant with The Mozilla OAT Project. With a passion for exploring the ethical implications of emerging technologies, Victor is hoping to contribute to the development of more responsible and accountable technology systems. Outside the lab, he enjoys watching anime and travel vlogs.

Staff

Julia Ryan – Lab Manager

Julia, BA, is passionate about addressing inequalities and access barriers in the mental healthcare system through the development of culturally sensitive diagnostic and intervention procedures. She has formerly worked on projects exploring emotion regulation and sleep bruxism, emotion regulation and breast cancer treatment decisions, perceptions and mental health treatment endorsements, combining CBT treatment protocols for co-morbid disorders and work involving embodiment and linguistics. In her free time, she enjoys volunteering, surfing, going to comedy shows, reading, and spending time with her dog, Conor.

Research Assistants

Paola Alvarez - Undergraduate RA

Paola is a sophomore at the University of Nevada, Reno pursuing Psychology and Human Resource Management. She is interested in studying contemporary forms of prejudice and discrimination in educational settings and the workplace. Specifically, she aims to research racial attitudes toward minorities and their implications on both individual and collective performance. During her free time, Paola enjoys reading, watching Ghibli movies, watercolor painting, and playing with her cat Zuko.

Isabelle Florent - Undergraduate RA

Isabelle is a sophomore at the University of Pittsburgh, majoring in Psychology, minoring in Social Work, and also in the American Sign Language certificate program. She is interested in studying racial and ethnic minorities and how sociocultural factors shape and influence individuals’ experiences, learning processes, and development. She is particularly interested in examining the dynamics of parent-child interactions, their influence on child development, and how sociocultural factors can shape these interactions. In her free time, Isabelle enjoys cooking, baking, playing volleyball, and spending time with her dog, family, and friends.

Raima Islam - Undergraduate RA

Raima is a senior at Brown University double concentrating in Computer Science and International and Public Affairs. She is interested in understanding the social implications of technology and how data science impacts society. She hopes to research how algorithms can impact both marginalized and privileged communities while advocating for more equitable uses of programming. In her free time, Raima enjoys dancing, baking, and finding new cafes!

Jo Gasior-Kavishe - Undergraduate RA

Jo is a sophomore at Brown University planning to double concentrate in Computer Science and International and Public Affairs. She is extremely interested in the ethical implications that technology has in our society and how to utilize it for social good. In her free time, Jo enjoys working out, painting, all things music, and collecting jewelry!

Kainoa Maruoka - Undergraduate RA

Kainoa is a sophomore at Brown concentrating in Public Health with a second concentration in English. He is interested in researching community inequality and racial bias, especially concerning healthcare. His past research experiences have been with how healthcare policies and racial discrimination affect access to healthcare for minority communities in Hawaii. Outside the lab, he enjoys playing the viola, running, and spending time with friends.