As the recipient of the St. Michael’s Student Travel Grant, Sehyun Justin Jeong had the opportunity to present his research at the 2026 Society for Affective Science (SAS) Annual Conference, held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. For the past three years, he has been the lead researcher on a project examining how personality shapes the way people regulate the emotions of those they love, conducted under the supervision of Professor Brett Ford and Dr. Yitong Zhao at the University of Toronto’s Department of Psychology. He carried out this research while completing his undergraduate studies in psychology and philosophy, graduating in June 2026.
How would you describe your research?
My research looks at how a person’s personality influences the way they regulate a loved one’s emotions. We ran four studies to answer this question, using questionnaires as our main method. Romantic partners, friends, and parents of young children completed surveys about how they regulate the emotions of the people close to them. We also gathered personality data from two angles: loved ones described the personality of the person doing the regulating, and that person described their own personality as well. We collected this data at multiple times to see how strong the link is between personality and emotion regulation over time.
How did you get involved in this project?
When I came to U of T, I knew I wanted to go into research. I had always been curious about how people regulate their emotions. I noticed that some people manage even in the most difficult circumstances, while others struggle, and I wanted to understand what predicts that difference. Self-regulation matters in interpersonal relationships because how you manage others’ emotions affects their mental health and the quality of your relationship with them. Because I was interested in this question, I searched online for researchers at U of T working on it. I found Dr. Brett Ford and emailed her about my interest and she and Dr. Zhao were happy to bring me on.
I worked closely with Dr. Ford and Dr. Yitong Zhao, who was a graduate student at the time and has since defended her thesis. Together we brainstormed research questions and how to analyze them. I became heavily involved in the data analysis, using RStudio to write the code and then presenting the results back to my supervisors. That work eventually led to the opportunity to present at international conferences. I first attended SAS in 2024, and returned in 2026. In 2025, I presented at the Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP) annual convention.
Can you describe the experience of presenting at these conferences?
The first time I presented at SAS in 2024, I was nervous. I was speaking in front of distinguished scholars and other students in the field. But I found everyone supportive and welcoming. Critical questions were asked constructively, and people were genuinely interested in the work. Several attendees asked for my email so we could discuss the research further. I received valuable feedback each year that helped improve our studies.
By 2026, some of the same people I had met in 2024 and 2025 came up to hear about our latest findings. That was a real moment for me, realizing I was part of this community and that people were actually reading and remembering my research.
What were some of your takeaways from the conferences?
One of the biggest takeaways was realizing how important it is to build relationships in science. There are too many open questions for anyone to answer alone, and the scientific community relies on sharing resources and supporting one another. Meeting new people means you might find someone working on a similar question, or someone with resources you don’t have access to on your own. I also came away inspired by how many intellectually stimulating presentations I saw.
How has St. Mike’s supported you in your studies and research?
The academic advising I received through the Registrar’s Office helped me stay on track and graduate on time. St. Mike’s also gave me the financial support to attend the 2026 conference through the St. Michael’s Student Travel Grant, which covered my flight to Pittsburgh. I found out about the grant through a web search while trying to figure out how to afford the trip, since conferences can be expensive. The St. Mike’s website has a helpful list of awards and opportunities for students, and the Principal’s Office, which facilitates the grant, was very supportive throughout the process.
What advice do you have for students interested in presenting at a conference or following a similar path?
One of the biggest challenges students face is figuring out what they’re interested in, and that takes experience. Not just real-life experience but reading widely. If you’re not taking in new ideas, it’s hard to find what excites you. Pay attention to real world issues, read the news, and notice what phenomena genuinely pull your interest.
Once you find that interest, don’t let it stay dormant. Reach out. Go to the Registrar’s Office or academic advising and ask what opportunities exist. Find out which professors are working in that area and email them directly. That’s how you get involved in research.
As for conferences and travel grants, communication matters. Tell your supervisor or research team that you want to go. If you don’t say it, they may not know you’re interested. Being proactive and speaking up about what you want is one of the most important things you can do.