DiSH Lab

The DiSH Lab at UCLA studies the intersections among eating, not eating (dieting), stress, and health.

[DiSH Lab @DiSH_Lab]

Dr. T and her research were featured in The Atlantic’s “GLP-1s Are Rewriting the Story of Weight Loss and Mental Health.” Read more about the connections between GLP-1 medications, weight loss, and mental health below! 💊 🧠

https://t.co/uVYH2gxUOQ

[DiSH Lab @DiSH_Lab]

Dr. T will be on KCRW’s Press Play with Madeleine Brand at noon and 7 PM today talking about GLP-1 medications and what our research tells us about attitudes toward people who use them!
🎙 Listen on KCRW: https://t.co/rHYfyjCowt

[DiSH Lab @DiSH_Lab]

Congrats to DiSH alum Kadee Pham-Nguyen, headed to VCU School of Medicine! ⚕️🎉

Kadee says, “DiSH Lab was integral to my undergraduate years, strengthening my communication, scientific curiosity, and commitment to addressing social determinants of health as a future provider.”

[DiSH Lab @DiSH_Lab]

Check out the Vox article and original research below:

📰Vox: https://t.co/H7fFRarjNW

🧠Study: https://t.co/J2enTLM0k7

[DiSH Lab @DiSH_Lab]

Excited to see Dr. Erin Standen (@standen_erin), Assistant Professor at Rice and former DiSH Lab research assistant, honors student, and lab manager, featured in Vox discussing a recent DiSH Lab study by Dr. T and colleagues on stigma toward people who use GLP-1 medications!

[DiSH Lab @DiSH_Lab]

Congrats to DiSH Lab RA alumna Amie Adjakple, who will be attending the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University this fall! Amie says her time in the DiSH Lab gave her hands-on research experience that helped prepare her for this exciting next chapter. 🩺 🎉

[DiSH Lab @DiSH_Lab]

Dr. T's Pop Syllabus episode, "GLP-1s and The Death of Body Positivity," with Christiana Mbakwe Medina is now live! We discuss the science behind weight stigma, stress, and eating behavior, and what the research tells us. Check out the full conversation on YouTube or Spotify! 🎧

[DiSH Lab @DiSH_Lab]

Congrats to DiSH alumna Niki Nobahari, who will attend the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA this fall!🎉During her time in our lab, she gained valuable research experience helping with a study from pilot visits through final data collection. Excited for her next chapter!🩺

[DiSH Lab @DiSH_Lab]

Classism, or discrimination based on social class, is linked to poor mental health – and perceived stress helps explain why. Learn more in this recent journal article by Dr. T and her colleagues: https://t.co/4CAoBVbEMT

[DiSH Lab @DiSH_Lab]

A huge congratulations to Dr. Jordan Parker on her PhD! We’re so proud to celebrate this remarkable scholar, who graduates with over 25 publications, NSF and Ford Foundation Fellowships, and more awards than can fit in the character limit! 🎓❤️⭐️

[DiSH Lab @DiSH_Lab]

Big congratulations to our lab manager, Katrina Smith, for receiving the Denise Apcar Award this commencement weekend!🎉 This award honors outstanding undergraduate research achievements, and we are thrilled to celebrate this exciting milestone with her!📚🎓

[DiSH Lab @DiSH_Lab]

Congratulations to former DiSH Summer Research Intensive student Citlalli Martinez-Blas on committing to UCLA as a Psychobiology major! 🎉 She discovered her passion for the field through our NSF-funded summer program and gained valuable research experience. Bruin bound! 💙💛

[DiSH Lab @DiSH_Lab]

Congrats to Katrina Smith, senior and current lab manager, on presenting her research at the 5th annual Psi Chi Research Conference last Friday and receiving the Faculty Choice Award for Poster Session #1!🏆We are so proud of your hard work and this well-deserved recognition!

[DiSH Lab @DiSH_Lab]

Congrats to alum Matthew Phillipi on his commitment to Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine! 🎉 As an RA, Matthew gained hands-on experience in research, participant visits, data cleaning, and IRB approval. He credits DiSH mentorship as central to his journey!🩺

[DiSH Lab @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 https://t.co/yrpHa8BwzR

[DiSH Lab @DiSH_Lab]

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!!

[DiSH Lab @DiSH_Lab]

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 https://t.co/WCJAPi11dI

[DiSH Lab @DiSH_Lab]

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!!

[DiSH Lab @DiSH_Lab]

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!

[DiSH Lab @DiSH_Lab]

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!