Through her work in the Psychophysiology, Intersectionality, Latine, and Acculturative Science (PILAS) Lab, Lianelys Cabrera Martinez challenges one-size-fits-all models and uplifts the diverse identities, struggles, and strengths within Latine communities
Lianelys Cabrera Martinez
By Hoku Tiwanak, CLA Student Writer - February 17, 2026
Lianelys “Lia” Cabrera Martinez, a fourth-year Ph.D. student in School of Psychological Science at the College of Liberal Arts, is driving research that explores bicultural identity development, social cognition, and discrimination within Latine communities. Her work, conducted through the Psychophysiology, Intersectionality, Latine, and Acculturative Science (PILAS) Lab, led by Dr. Iván Carbajal, challenges existing psychological models that often overlook the diversity within Latine identities.
“My research highlights the nuance of the Latine experience,” Martinez explained. “There are so many differences within our communities in terms of assimilation, legal status, racism, and cultural identity that we can’t generalize them all under one model.”
As an undergraduate student studying psychology at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, (UNLV) she wasn’t sure what she wanted to specialize in until she joined her first research lab. “That experience opened my eyes to the social justice and cultural sides of psychology,” she recalled. “It made me realize psychology could be about people’s lived experiences, not just traditional mental health.”
Through a mentor’s connection at UNLV, Martinez discovered Dr. Carbajal’s lab at OSU. She now describes her relationship with Dr. Carbajal as the “perfect match.” “It’s the healthiest mentor-mentee relationship I've had,” she said. Martinez explained that connections throughout education, especially in grad school, are so important when you are navigating it alone. “Having a mentor who understands what it means to be a minority in academia has been life changing,” she said.
Last year, Martinez received the Thurgood Marshall Graduate Fellowship, awarded to graduate students whose accomplishments and activities demonstrate leadership, service, and commitment to fostering a just community. Her upcoming dissertation proposal will focus on community-based, mixed-methods (qualitative and quantitative) research centered on the Cuban diaspora. She hopes to challenge traditional research frameworks by diving further into the nuanced experience. “There’s still hope in academia,” Martinez said. “Even as some topics and language face restrictions, researchers continue to find ways to amplify marginalized voices. That’s what keeps me going.”
Despite her accomplishments, Martinez admits imposter syndrome remains a challenge. “It’s something that never really goes away.” To help others that share the same feeling, Martinez took part in developing a graduate student support group within the School of Psychological Science. The initiative connects students with resources, union stewards, and peers navigating similar struggles.
As she continues her studies, Martinez remains committed to ensuring that the next generation of scholars sees themselves reflected in the research and institutions that shape academia. “Getting to be part of that small percentage who reach higher education is powerful,” she says. “It’s difficult, but we have to keep going, for ourselves and for those who come after us.”