Exploring Interests in Work

Lab Director

Dr. Daphne X. Hou is an Assistant Professor of Industrial Organizational (I-O) Psychology at the University of South Florida. She earned her Ph.D. in I-O Psychology from Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, and is a proud triple Boiler Maker!

Dr. Hou’s research centers on how people navigate careers and find fulfillment in the rapidly evolving world of work. Her interests span career development and vocational interests, with a focus on career choice, transitions, and adaptability. She is particularly interested in how emerging technologies, such as AI, automated interviews, and virtual reality, are reshaping employee selection, training, and development, and what these changes mean for the aging workforce and those in gig or precarious work arrangements. Additionally, Dr. Hou’s work involves methodological investigations and innovations.

At the heart of her work is a commitment to understanding how individuals can pursue meaningful careers while maintaining well-being in the face of technological, demographic, and economic change.

EDUCATION

Ph.D. in Industrial Organizational Psychology, Purdue University, 2025
M.S. in Industrial Organizational Psychology, Purdue University, 2023
M.S. in Human Resource Management, Purdue University, 2015
B.S. in Financial Planning, Purdue University, 2014

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Current Members

Iren Hernandez is a first-year student at the University of South Florida and a research assistant of the iCRAFT lab. She earned her Associate of Arts degree from Polk State College before continuing her studies at USF. Iren has always been fascinated by human behavior and the ways psychology can be applied to improve people's lives at work. Her interests revolve around how individuals choose their careers, adapt to change, and find balance and meaning within work. Iren plans to pursue a graduate path in Industrial-Organizational Psychology and hopes to contribute to helping others find fulfillment and success in an evolving world of work.

Kania is a 4th year psychology student with a concentration in Advanced Research. Her experiences in human resources and organizational research sparked her interest in how AI is shaping the future of work and the employee experience. Her hobbies include traveling, vlogging, and exploring new restaurants. After graduation, she plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology and conduct research that helps people thrive at work.

The Crafting Team 2026

Leticia Milbourne is an international student from Brazil in her second year at the University of South Florida. She is pursing a B.A. in Psychology, and minors in Applied Behavioral Sciences and Nutrition, and currently serves as a research assistant at the iCRAFT Lab. Human thought and behavior have always been among her biggest interests and, recently, she has started focusing more on how psychological knowledge is used to help people in the workplace. Leticia is planning to continue her studies in Industrial-Organizational Psychology with a graduate degree and hopes to help others find balance between work and life, find purpose and evolve inside and outside of work.

Maria Paula Pena Razuri is an international student from Peru. She earned her A.A. from Broward College and is currently a senior pursuing her B.A. in Psychology at the University of South Florida, with a minor in Communication. She is currently a Research Assistant at the iCRAFT Lab. She is mainly interested in how different work cultures and environments affect employee satisfaction and self-perception. Maria Paula wants to build a career in Industrial-Organizational Psychology and plans to pursue a graduate degree in this area, hoping to develop research that contributes to the field.

Scott Florez is a fourth-year senior at the University of South Florida. He is currently working on a B.A. in psychology with a minor in ABA (Applied Behavioral Analysis), while joining the iCRAFT lab as a research assistant. Scott has an interest in learning and understanding human emotions and behaviors, including the root causes and underlying factors. He is currently planning on pursuing higher education in the field of school psychology. He wants to use the knowledge from this lab to help better inform young adults about the future of the workplace and how to best navigate an ever-changing landscape.

Lab Alumni

Jason Maldonado is a senior studying psychology at the University of South Florida. He served as a research assistant in the iCRAFT Lab during Spring 2026, before starting his current position as a Talent Acquisition Intern with Evolution Parking & Guest Services. In the future, he looks forward to helping workplaces prioritize both performance and people.