Meet the Lab

Tomas Ståhl, Assistant Professor, Director of the Rationality and Morality Lab

I was born and raised in Stockholm, Sweden, and received my PhD in Psychology from Leiden University, the Netherlands in 2006 (Advisors: Dr. Naomi Ellemers and Dr. Riel Vermunt). I have been at UIC in various positions since 2012. My current research interests center on reasoning and belief formation. I am particularly interested in how epistemic and moral values shape the processes through which beliefs are formed. When I’m not doing research or teaching, I enjoy food of all varieties, progressive rock, football, and going for walks with my wife (Jacqui) and dog (Henri).

Email: tstahl@uic.edu

• Personal Website

Sinem Yilmaz, PhD Student

I am a first-generation college student and current third-year Ph.D. student at the University of Illinois Chicago. I received an M.A. in Social Psychology from Bogazici University, and an M.Sc. in Clinical Psychology from Utrecht University. I am interested in reasoning, morality, and false beliefs; specifically the influence of epistemic and moral values and group motivations on reasoning. When I am not doing research, I like reading, going to concerts, and playing Tetris.

Email: syilma2@uic.edu

• Twitter
• Linkedin

Nathan Digby, PhD Student

I am a third-year PhD Student in social psychology.  I am interested in moral psychology and in how our intensely held beliefs, particularly in religion and politics, bind and divide us. I received my undergraduate degree in mathematics from Clemson University before joining the lab, and am passionate about leveraging statistics to deepen our understanding of human behavioral patterns.  Outside of the lab, I enjoy dystopian fiction, musicals, and eating all the wonderful cuisine Chicago has to offer.

Email: nmcdow2@uic.edu

Philip Stasko