Meet the Team
SLAM Lab values curiosity, rigor, teamwork, and respectful collaboration.
We are committed to creating a supportive environment where students can learn, contribute, and grow as researchers.
Dr. Stephanie Schwartz
Lab DirectorDr. Stephanie Schwartz is the director of the SLAM Lab at UTSC. Her research focuses on how people develop attitudes toward a wide range of technologies and the social, psychological, and moral considerations that influence those attitudes.
She also investigate how people’s perceptions of others’ moral values affect the way they evaluate their actions and character.
Her teaching philosophy revolves around fostering student engagement with social psychological material in an approachable, open classroom environment. She strives to create a multidirectional learning space in which students learn from myself and their peers.
Alfred Wong
Lab ManagerAlfred is in his final year of the Specialist Mental Health Program at UTSC. As the SLAM Lab Manager, he coordinates daily lab operations and supports research activities.
Driven by an interest in clinical psychology, he is currently completing an honors thesis with Dr. Schwartz on moral judgement in ADHD populations. He aims to explore these areas in depth for his graduate studies. Outside of studies, he finds enjoyment in exercising and spending time with his dogs.
Charlotte Hill
Thesis StudentCharlotte is a 4th year student in the Specialist Program in Psychology at UTSC. She is currently completing an honors thesis with Dr. Schwartz on moral judgements towards the use of AI in healthcare decision-making.
Charlotte's interests lie in the area of social cognition, more specifically how individuals develop, maintain, or change attitudes. Outside of the lab, Charlotte enjoys painting, playing guitar, and gaming.
Alex Sesto
Independent Project StudentAlex is a Mental Health Studies student from the University of Toronto Scarborough with a strong interest in clinical psychology. His previous thesis project with Dr. Schwartz examined how moral violations and social relationships shape treatment seeking and public stigma toward individuals with PTSD. He continues to explore the intersection of clinical psychology and morality, particularly how moral judgments influence people with mental health conditions.
He hopes to pursue these interests through graduate studies in clinical psychology. Outside of research, he enjoys mountain biking, soccer, and snowboarding.
Ziyan Xu
Independent Project StudentWhen people judge the morality of an act, Some actions may be judged as moral, they also judge the moral character of the actor. But whoever does it are perceived as less moral as a person—this is act-person dissociation. I am interested in how uncontrollable outcomes (i.e., moral luck) interacts with act-person dissociation in moral judgments.
SLAM Lab Alumni
Former lab members have gone on to graduate study / clinical training / research positions / other exciting paths:
Abigail Tucker - Thesis Student (2025-2026)