Jennifer Barajas

Jennifer Barajas is a social psychologist candidate at UC Irvine, where she is defending her dissertation in October. Her dissertation research examines the transmission of trauma on social media related to racial injustices and health disparities, finding mental and physical health declines from mere exposure to traumatic content. She conducted a 7-day intensive longitudinal study using a phone app for twice-daily assessments. Barajas previously participated in the pre-professorship program at the University of California, Long Beach, where she delivered guest lectures and engaged with administrators. She has served as a graduate ambassador for UCI, mentoring prospective PhD students, and as a teaching assistant for courses including social epidemiology and Psychology of Latino Families, as well as lecturing in social psychology classes. Her publications include work on occupational hazards and their health consequences drawn from the Hispanic Community Health Survey, and an article on racism published in a SAGE Journal focused on anxiety and mood disorders. Barajas is a member of the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI/SPICCI) and the Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP), where she has presented her research and organized panels.