People

Jordan is a doctoral student in the clinical psychology program at Yale. Jordan graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in 2020, where he was a member of Dr. Kim Ferguson’s Infant Development and Environmental Analysis Lab, studying biological and cognitive correlates of infant development in largely low-income and racially marginalized contexts. Jordan’s research focuses on identifying psychological and biological factors that contribute to negative mental health outcomes following exposure to traumatic stress in children and adolescents. A current focus of this research is the use of behavioral and brain-imaging techniques to examine how affective learning and memory processes are associated with the onset and treatment of pediatric Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Outside of the lab, Jordan spends his time practicing yoga, dancing, seeing theatre, and engaging in racial justice oriented work.

Lucinda is a doctoral student at Yale. After graduating from Whitman College with a B.A. in Biology, she spent 3 years as a research assistant and lab manager in Dr. Ian Gotlib’s lab at Stanford University. There, she worked on projects investigating how stress during early life affects the developing brain in both infants and adolescents, and how such neurobiological changes may in turn be related to the onset of psychopathology. Lucinda’s current research focuses on how traumatic events may affect brain structure and function, and how individual differences may contribute to a person’s vulnerability to or resilience from adversity. She is also interested in the flexibility of structural and functional networks in the brain, and how they change in response to behavioral changes and interventions.

Hemakshi is a junior in Ezra Stiles College majoring in Psychology and pursuing the Education Studies Certificate. She is interested in the role of family in treating childhood psychopathology, particularly as it relates to communication, stress, and resilience. Outside of the lab, Hemakshi sings and manages finances for Magevet, Yale's Jewish a cappella group. She also enjoys poetry, color-coding anything, and spending time with her dog.

Alex is a rising junior in Silliman College majoring in Neuroscience. She is interested in the neurobiological mechanisms underlying child and adolescent mental health disorders and how these develop, change, and become altered throughout one’s life, especially when faced with adversity. On campus, Alex is a volunteer with both Yale Alzheimer’s Buddies and HAVEN Free Clinic, is the director of membership and inclusion for the Yale College Democrats, and plays for the women’s water polo club team. In her free time, she loves reading all genres of books, watching Formula One Grand Prix weekends, spending time outdoors, and is an avid supporter of New Haven’s various coffee shops.

Emma is a rising senior at Smith College majoring in neuroscience. She is interested in exploring how early life experiences and adversities impact brain and behavioral development as a way of integrating neuroscience with education and community engagement. Building on her research with the Dissociative Disorders and Trauma Research Program at McLean Hospital in 2023, she hopes to further investigate the implications of early life adversity for youth and adolescents, specifically through the lens of learning, neurodevelopment, and the risk of psychopathology. Outside of her studies, Emma helps develop curriculum for a science-meets-art activist team, gives tours to prospective Smith students, works as a House Community Advisor, and dances in various undergraduate and graduate performances on campus. She also enjoys exploring new running and biking trails, spending quality time with friends, crafting homemade greeting cards, and having Just Dance parties.

Alondra is a current sophomore in Silliman College planning on majoring in psychology with a concentration in neuroscience. She is also pre-med, hoping to go into pediatrics in the future. Outside of the lab, she does work for the Yale Scientific Magazine and Matriculate, and is a part of Latina Women at Yale. In her free time, she likes to paint, play NYT games, and spend time with friends and family.

Amara Greenshpun is a sophomore in Silliman College hoping to major in Cognitive Science. She is interested in exploring the intersections of language, music, and cognition and understanding the ways in which these areas are developed. Music has always been a big part of her life, a passion she has continued to pursue through her involvement with the Yale acapella group Shades of Yale. As a New Haven local, Amara firmly believes that New Haven pizza is easily the best.

Wendy is a first-year in Grace Hopper College, planning to major in psychology on the neuroscience track. She is interested in child and adolescent development, particularly how childhood trauma affects mental health and the overall psychological development of adolescents. Outside the lab, Wendy pursues music by being involved in Yale's Precision Marching Band and the Mariachi de Yale. Additionally, Wendy is a member of Christian Union Lux, Yale Student for Christ, and Yale Undergraduate Legal Aid Association. 

Emilie is a junior at Pauli Murray College majoring in History of Science, Medicine, and Public Health. She is interested in how early-life stressors can influence neurodevelopment in children and adolescents. Outside of the lab, she helps teach science to second-graders at the local elementary school. She enjoys running outside and making soap in her free time. 

Grayson (he/him) is a senior in Davenport College, double majoring in Psychology on the Neuroscience Track and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. He is interested in the psychological development of mood disorders and learning how to treat them most effectively. After graduation, he hopes to attend medical school and pursue a career in psychiatry and therapy. Outside of the lab, he is a co-president and co-founder of Yale Athlete Ally (YAA), a research assistant for Dr. Gabe Murchison in the LGBTQ+ Mental Health Initiative Lab, and a volunteer for Camp Kesem at Yale. He was on Yale’s Varsity Softball Team for 3 years and now serves as their team manager. In his free time, Grayson likes hiking, running, going to the beach, and spending time with friends and family.

Alexis graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2020 with a B.A. in psychology. During her time there, she was a member of Dr. Rebecca Waller's Emotion, Development, Environment, and Neurogenetics Lab, where she studied callous-unemotional traits and temperamental deficits related to their development, such as fearlessness and low social affiliation. She also spent a year in Dr. Ayelet Ruscio's Boundaries of Anxiety and Depression Lab studying psychophysiological responses to threat in anxiety and depression. Alexis is particularly interested in exploring the neurodevelopmental origins of aggression and violence, with the ultimate goal of using that knowledge to inform preventative interventions. Outside of the lab, she enjoys traveling, baking, and listening to true crime podcasts.

Alexis is a Susan Nolen-Hoeksema Postdoctoral Fellow at Yale and a member of the CANDLab. She completed her B.A. at the State University of New York at Geneseo and her Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology at Virginia Tech. Alexis’s research focuses on how adversity and social determinants of health shape neurodevelopment and mental health during childhood and adolescence. She aims to identify factors that exacerbate risk for psychopathology, as well as factors that promote resilience and adaptation in youth. Alexis’s work is embedded within a developmental psychopathology framework, and she leverages interdisciplinary approaches, multiple levels of analysis, and longitudinal modeling to understand and mitigate disparities in youth mental health. You can learn more about her work here.

Ka is a Susan Nolen-Hoeksema Postdoctoral Fellow at Yale working in the labs of Dr. Dylan Gee and Dr. Maria Gendron. He received his Ph.D. in Clinical Science and Developmental Psychology at the University of Michigan. His research integrates developmental psychopathology, neuroscience and cultural psychology to understand the development of emotion regulation and related processes (e.g., emotion knowledge) in children. In particular, his research aims to elucidate a) how environments (e.g., early life stress) influence the bio-behavioral mechanisms underlying emotion regulation and risk for psychopathology (i.e., behavioral problems and anxiety) from early childhood to adulthood, and b) socio-cultural factors (e.g., language, cultural contexts and socialization) that shape how emotions are acquired, expressed and regulated across development.

Erik was a NSF-funded Postdoctoral Fellow in the CANDLab 2021-2022. Erik is interested in how language shapes emotion across development. Erik's research investigates how people use words to represent and regulate their emotions, how children and teenagers learn about emotions, how emotions go awry in psychopathology, and how these processes are manifested in the brain. Before joining the CANDLab, Erik completed his undergraduate degree at Columbia University, worked as a lab manager at Stanford University, received his PhD from Harvard University, and completed his predoctoral clinical internship at Weill Cornell Medical College. Erik is now an Assistant Professor in the Psychology Department of Princeton University, where he directs the Logic of Emotion Laboratory.

Beatriz is a sophomore in Trumbull College majoring in Psychology in the Neuroscience track. She is interested in how early-life trauma can affect brain structure, and lead to socio-emotional challenges for children and adolescents. After graduation she plans on going to graduate school and possibly pursuing a PhD in Neuropsychology. On campus, she volunteers with the Community Health Educators, works as a mentor with Project Access, writes for the Scitech desk of the YDN and for Yale Scientific Magazine.

Ashley is a sophomore in Pierson college and is majoring in neuroscience. She is interested in how different environments can affect how children’s brains develop. She hopes to attend medical school after graduation. Outside of the lab, she is a captain of the Yale Women’s Club Volleyball team and a member of the Ultimate Frisbee team, and volunteers with SNUGS, helping kids with disabilities learn how to swim, and at blood drives with the Red Cross. You can also often find her baking, reading a book, or, as a San Diego native, getting a little too excited about New England snow.

Cailin is a 1st year MPH student at Yale.  She completed her undergraduate degree in Communication from the University of Pennsylvania in 2017.  Her interests include exposure to adversity and toxic stress in childhood and adolescence and the development of chronic autoimmune disease later in life, particularly gastrointestinal diseases.  In the future, she hopes to help children in Hispanic communities who are affected by anxiety and trauma.  Cailin enjoys reading, yoga, tap dancing, and Facetiming her dog Hadley who lives in California.

Lauren is a senior in Pierson College, majoring in Psychology on the Neuroscience Track and pursuing a Spanish language certificate. She is interested in how we can optimize treatments and interventions for anxiety- and stress-related disorders, particularly in children and adolescents. After graduating, Lauren plans to attend dental school and pursue a career in orthodontics, pediatrics, or dental public health. On campus, Lauren is a tutor for Bridges ESL and a volunteer for Yale Alzheimer's Buddies. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, reading and writing, listening to music, and spending time with friends and family.

Ioann is a sophomore in Silliman College, planning to major in Neuroscience. He is interested in the relationships between neural structures and behaviors. He is especially interested in the effect of environmental factors on neural circuitry in children. After graduation from Yale, he hopes to attend medical school and become a psychiatrist.  In addition to working at the CAND Lab, Ioann works at the YCBA as a research assistant, is a project manager for the Yale Undergraduate Legal Aid Association and is the assistant conductor of the Yale Russian Chorus. In his free time, Ioann can be found debating on the floor of the Independent Party, playing in online chess tournaments, or reading philosophy. 

Marisa is a junior at the University of New Haven majoring in Community Clinical Psychology. She is particularly interested in neuropsychology and ways in which early life stressors affect brain development. After graduation, she hopes to attend graduate school and ultimately help children as a neuropsychologist. In her spare time, you can find her reading, baking, or spending time with family and friends.

Mikah Covelli is a junior at Yale University from Long Island, New York. She is pursuing a B.A. in psychology, and is also a member of the Yale Education Studies Program. Mikah is interested in the impacts of early trauma and educational experiences on the development of anxiety in children and adolescents. After graduation, she plans to attend graduate school and pursue a career as a clinical psychologist. Outside of the lab, you can find her leading Yale’s American Sign Language club, ASLaY, binge-watching tv dramas, and spending time with her loved ones. 

Zhiliang is a rising senior in Pauli Murray College and a visiting student from The University of Hong Kong. She is majoring in Linguistics and is interested in learning about children’s early development and neuroimaging. In the future, Zhiliang hopes to pursue a career in medicine, focusing on the effects of trauma on pediatric populations and possible interventions in emergency response settings. In her free time, she enjoys making art, being involved in theatre productions, and volunteering in the community. 

Daniella is a rising senior at Quinnipiac University where she majors in Psychology with a concentration in Applied Clinical Science. She is also pursuing minors in Sociology and Spanish. In the future, Daniella hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, specializing in children and adolescents with anxiety and mood disorders. On campus, Daniella works as a student ambassador for the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and holds positions on the College of Arts and Sciences Council, Psi Chi Honor Society, and Honors Leadership Board. In her spare time, Daniella enjoys spending time with friends and family, especially her dogs Papi and Brady. 

I am a junior Psychology major in Silliman College at Yale. I am a pre-med student who is interested in learning more about research methods in neuroscience and psychology related to pediatric anxiety. As a west coast native, my hobbies include surfing, skateboarding, and making avocado toast. In addition to my studies, I am a diver on Yale’s Varsity Men’s Swimming and Diving team.

Olivia is a first-year graduate student in the Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program. She received her B.S. in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology from Emory University where she worked with Dr. Jocelyne Bachevalier to study socio-emotional development in juvenile rhesus macaques. After graduating, she worked at MIT for 3 years with Dr. Guoping Feng and Dr. Bob Desimone to study the typical neurodevelopmental trajectory of wildtype marmosets as well as ASD-like phenotypes in Shank3 marmosets. She is currently rotating in the CANDLab and is interested in studying the neural circuitry underlying typical and atypical emotional development and what factors contribute to resilience to the adverse effects of early life stress.

Gillian is a rising sophomore in Benjamin Franklin College, majoring in Cognitive Science and pursuing a Certificate in Programming. She is interested in using computational approaches to explore the association between stress exposure and brain structure. On campus, Gillian teaches computer science to middle school students in New Haven Public Schools, plans events for a women’s mental health and wellness organization at Yale, and is on the outreach team for Yale’s Women’s Leadership Initiative. In her free time, she enjoys baking, hiking, and exploring coffee shops in New Haven.

Uma is a rising junior at the University of Pittsburgh and is majoring in Psychology. She further wishes to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in Neuropsychology. She is interested in learning about neuroimaging and wishes to acquire a deeper understanding of the interactions between the brain and its behavioral responses. She has been working as a research assistant with Dr. Horton since the past year. Their research is focused on the dysregulation of the heart rate variability (HRV) and stress in first-degree relatives of people with Schizophrenia. In her free time, she loves dancing and is on a dance team at Pitt. She also enjoy watching movies and spending time with friends.

I am a rising Junior in Timothy Dwight College, majoring in Psychology. I am a Yale Education Studies Scholar and have had a great interest in early childhood education and early adversity effects on future outcomes. In the near future, I plan to attend graduate school for a Ph.D. in social psychology or developmental psychology. In the distant future, I hope to work in education policy, altering our current pedagogies to benefit our students and those struggling with mental health. Outside of the classroom, I am very involved in the Education Studies program and my local Boys and Girls Club. I enjoy hiking, gardening, photography, and drawing in my freetime.

Ashna is a sophomore in Trumbull College, majoring in Cognitive Science while fulfilling pre-med requirements. She hopes to obtain an MD/PhD in the future, and pursue a career focused jointly on clinical practice and neuroscience research. She is particularly interested in the neural basis of mental disorders in children and adolescents, and the factors that can contribute to the onset of mental disorders. Outside of CANDLab, she can be found volunteering with Yale Demos, which teaches science workshops in low-income elementary schools, or dancing with Yale Rangeela. She also enjoys reading, painting, photography, and traveling. 

Reta is a sophomore in Ezra Stiles College, pursuing a degree in Psychology on the Neuroscience track with aspirations of attending medical school. She’s primarily interested in the role that early childhood trauma plays in the development of mood and personality disorders. Her main population of interest is victims of war and refugees specifically from regions where mental health is not well understood. Beyond the lab, you can find Reta working in the Ezra Stiles Head of College Office. She also is an Outreach Coordinator and camp counselor for Camp Kesem (a summer camp for children whose parents have cancer) and volunteers at Yale New Haven Hospital.

Valerie is a PhD fellow in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Oslo, Norway, and a Visiting Graduate Student at Yale. She received her B.Sc. Psychology from Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf and her M.Sc. Psychology from Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg. Since 2022 Valerie is part of Christian K. Tamnes’ lab at the University of Oslo and studying the relationship between functional brain circuits underlying emotion perception and regulation and psychopathology in children and adolescents. She is primarily interested in effects of parental psychopathology on the development of emotion-related brain circuits and mental health in children. Outside of the lab, Valerie enjoys traveling, listening to podcasts, painting, spending time with friends, and cross-country skiing. 

Alissa is a junior in Pierson College who is majoring in neuroscience. She is particularly interested in brain development and how environmental factors impact behavior and cognitive function, more specifically the neural mechanisms. She is also interested in learning more about neurodegenerative diseases. This summer, she worked with Neuroethics Canada at the University of British Columbia, researching the neurologic manifestations of COVID-19. After Yale, she hopes to attend graduate school and continue in the field of neuroscience. In addition to her studies, Alissa is also a part of the Yale Women's Field Hockey team. In her free time, she enjoys reading, baking and spending time with friends. 
 

Sumedha graduated with a BA in Psychology from the University of Mumbai in 2022. She finds herself curious about the various long-term effects of childhood maltreatment, interpersonal violence and emotion regulation. In the near future, Sumedha plans to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology to further explore her interests and in the longer run, she hopes to excel as a trauma researcher. Outside of the lab, you can find her cafe-hopping across Bombay, going on long drives and cooking cuisines from around the world!

Mary Margaret, a New Jersey native and member of Berkeley College ’24, is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Certificate of Advanced Language in Spanish. She previously worked in the Yale Memory Clinic studying executive function in geriatric patients with dementia and anxiety. She is especially interested in psychopathology as it relates to children and children with genetic disorders. Outside the lab, Mary Margaret holds leadership positions at the Yale Catholic Center and on the Club Running Team, as well as serving as a Yale Tour Guide, special education teacher at the Cedarhurst School, and member of the Triathlon Team and Club Tennis Team. In her free time, she enjoys catching up with her five siblings, jamming out to Taylor Swift, and raving about Jersey bagels!

Haley is a junior in Jonathan Edwards College, majoring in Psychology. Last year, she worked in the Social Cognitive Development Lab, also known as the Tiger Lab, studying how children conceptualize the social groups around them. She is particularly interested in how psychological disorders emerge in adolescence and what mechanisms can protect them from this. She hopes to one day work as a clinical psychologist for adolescent women. In her free time, Haley helps run Christian Union at Yale, dances with Groove Dance Company, and watches lots of movies at the Bow Tie Criterion.

Ariana is a sophomore in Trumbull College majoring in Psychology. She is interested in child and adolescent development as a function of familial relationships and early life trauma, especially as it relates to affective and anxiety disorders. On campus, she is on the board of the Migration Alliance at Yale and co-leads its direct service women’s group, works as a copy editor for the YDN, and volunteers with SNUGS to provide swim lessons to local children with special needs or disabilities.

Alice is a member of Benjamin Franklin College ’24.5 from Cambridge, Mass. She is a Psychology major on the Neuroscience track. Within the field of Psychology she is interested in psychopathology and the development of psychiatric disorders. In particular she is interested in ADHD and its effect on childhood behaviors and cognitive performance. Outside of academics, she is a captain of the Women’s Club Lacrosse Team and a manager of the Beanjamin Cafe. She enjoys running, hiking, and travel in her free time.

Ashley is a sophomore in Branford College, majoring in Psychology on the Neuroscience track. She is interested in the information that neuroimaging can provide to better understand the onset of anxiety and depression and how that can translate to a clinical setting. After graduation, she hopes to attend medical school and work with children as a pediatrician or neonatologist. Outside of the lab, Ashley is involved in the Christian community at Yale and volunteers as a Crisis Counselor for Crisis Text Line. She also enjoys baking and playing tennis.
 

Madeleine is a third-year undergraduate in Trumbull College who is majoring in Psychology and pursuing a Certificate of Advanced Language in French. She is interested in the development of anxiety disorders in children, adolescents, and young adults, particularly obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Outside of the lab, she is involved in the Jewish and LGBTQ+ communities at Yale. She has featured in several theatrical productions on campus, including Twisted and Much Ado About Nothing. She also enjoys both creative and academic writing.

Rachel is a junior in Silliman College, double majoring in Psychology and English. Her primary interests involve exploring cross-cultural impacts on adolescent cognitive development and behavior. After graduating, Rachel intends to pursue graduate studies in Clinical Psychology. On campus, Rachel is a mentor for Project Access, a college-prep service for low-income students based domestically and abroad. She sings with the Yale Glee Club and the New Blue of Yale. Outside of school, Rachel writes weekly articles for the Arts Council of Greater New Haven’s Arts Paper.

Brandon is a senior in Saybrook College, majoring in Psychology and completing the pre-med requirements. They are interested in preventative measures for psychiatric disorders and the role of parents in the development and treatment of anxiety. After Yale, they would like to pursue a career in child and adolescent psychiatry. On campus, Brandon is involved with groups at La Casa Cultural: Latino Cultural Center and is a Saybrook First-Year Counselor. In their free time, they like to read fantasy novels, cook with friends, and go on runs.

Stephan is majoring in a Bachelor of Science in Psychology as part of the class of 2024 in Trumbull College. Aside from clinical psychology, he is interested in the arts, particularly illustration, writing, and dance. He hopes to pursue graduate school with the intention of being a clinical psychologist with a focus on trauma, psychosis, and personality disorders. An additional interest is intersectional justice for marginalized populations and how the field of psychology has to remedy its practices to accommodate diverse individuals. 

Landon is a sophomore in Timothy Dwight College, planning to double major in Psychology and English. His primary interests involve the impact of childhood/adolescent experiences on behavior and cognitive development. Landon has not yet decided his post-graduation plans; however, he is interested in a variety of fields such as education, law, or of course, psychology. On campus, Landon is involved in Splash, an educational outreach organization that invites middle school and high school students to Yale, where undergraduates teach classes on virtually anything. Outside of school, Landon enjoys creative writing, tennis, and spending time with friends and family.  

McKenna is a sophomore in Jonathan Edwards College pursuing a major in Psychology and Global Affairs. She is interested in the impact of trauma and stress on frontolimbic circuitry and how education responses in refugee camps and immigration centers can be informed by this neuroscience research. After graduation, she hopes to earn an M.Ed. and work as an education officer for an international relief NGO. Outside of the lab, she is involved in the Yale Human Rights Journal, Lowenstein Human Rights Project, Yale International Relations Association, and the Women’s Leadership Initiative. In McKenna’s free-time, you can find her teaching for IRIS or still searching for the best chai latte in New Haven. 

Daphne is a sophomore in Ezra Stiles, majoring in Neuroscience. She is particularly interested in the intersection between social cognition and stress-induced neural pathways to psychiatric disorders and hopes to pursue a career in neuropathology in the future. Outside of the lab, Daphne plays clarinet in various ensembles on campus and volunteers with the Hypertension Awareness & Prevention Program at Yale. In her free time, Daphne can be found taking photographs or watching videos.

Eliya is a sophomore in Trumbull College, planning to major in psychology with a certificate in education. She is interested in social and developmental psychology, with a particular focus on clinical applications and the intersections with social services. Outside of the lab, Eliya is the Chapter President of Circle of Women, a member of the Yale Ultimate Frisbee team, and an intern for the Political Research Associates. In her free time, she likes thrift shopping, playing board games, and going on excessively long walks. Ask her about her gap semester working on a commune with people with developmental disabilities! 

Sarah graduated from Yale in 2018, where she majored in Psychology. Her interests lie in trauma-informed care, child welfare, and the effects of social and familial relationships on development throughout early life and adolescence. In the future, she plans to attend graduate school to pursue a career as a clinical social worker. Outside of the lab, she volunteers at Hall House Early Learning Center, worked at Calvin Hill Day Care Center & Kitty Lustman-Findling Kindergarten, and was a member of the varsity women's soccer team at Yale.

Sean is a rising senior at Masuk High School. Upon graduating in the spring of 2020, he plans to attend college and is not sure what major he will pursue. He enjoys classes in mathematics and social studies and looks forward to having such a wide range of college courses to choose from. Outside of CANDLab, Sean plays on the varsity volleyball team at Masuk and is the captain of his travel volleyball team. He also manages another sports team at Masuk and will be working at several camps during summer 2019.

Aviva is a senior in Pierson College, majoring in Cognitive Science. She is most interested in the societal response to various forms of mental illness, and particularly disorders that impair social behavioral development, such as autism spectrum disorder and anxiety. Over the summer, Aviva studied at the Center for Mind/Brain Sciences at the University of Trento, Italy, through their partnership with Harvard Summer School. She hopes to eventually work on changing public policy to increase widespread access to mental health resources. In her free time, Aviva can often be found in a theater, though she occasionally emerges to give tours of Yale and write articles or work on layout for the Yale Scientific Magazine.

Brittany Clarke is a sophomore in Saybrook College, hoping to major in Psychology in the Neuroscience track. She is interested in how neuroscience and social-behavioral psychology can help make sense of how early life events and environments can affect individuals' brains at differing stages of life. In her post-Yale future, Brittany hopes to explore applied psychology and pursue an advanced degree in this field. Outside of academics, Brittany can be found mentoring for New Haven REACH, having a good time at Danceworks practice, enjoying a savory meal or sweet snack at her favorite local restaurants, taking an energizing nap, or catching up with family and friends.

Clare is a rising senior at Vanderbilt University, majoring in Psychology. At Vanderbilt, Clare works in Dr. Judy Garber’s lab, researching social-cognitive and environmental factors that contribute to the onset of mood disorders. Clare is interested in studying the neural basis of anxiety and depressive disorders. After graduating, Clare hopes to pursue a Ph.D in clinical psychology. She would love to research anxiety disorders through a biological lens and study treatment intervention. Clare is fascinated by the idea that we may tailor treatment based on neural connectivity patterns. Beyond this, Clare is interested in researching the interaction between brain function and genetics in mental health issues like psychopathology and antisocial personality disorder. Outside of the lab, Clare loves to bake, take photographs, draw and spend time with family & friends. 

Juan graduated from Michigan State University (MSU) in 2017 with a B.A in Psychology. Prior to joining the CANDLab, he has been a research assistant to Dr. Jason Moser at MSU and Dr. Ethan Kross at the University of Michigan. Additionally, Juan has gained research experience in Dr. Niall Bolger’s lab at Columbia University in the City of New York. Juan’s research interests involve examining salutary placebo effects in emotion regulatory processes with a primary focus on the influences of placebo mechanisms in affective disorders like anxiety and depression. Looking forward, he hopes to contribute scientific basis for novel interventions. Ultimately, Juan hopes to pursue a Ph.D. Clinical Psychology in the near future to focus on his research interests. 

Rebecca Crystal is a rising senior at Barnard College with a major in Psychology and minor in Education Studies. She is most interested in studying predictors of anxiety disorders in youth populations. Rebecca intends to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and a career in research and/or as a clinical child psychologist.

Ana is a junior at Yale University and a Neuroscience major. She is pre-med and hopes to pursue a career in neurosurgery in the future. In the past, she has done research at Rockefeller University on the molecular mechanism responsible for sex discrepancies in stress susceptibility, and she is interested in continuing work on the effects of stress on the developing brain. She has also worked at a biotechnology startup creating a brain-to-computer interface, and is currently working on a technology for early Alzheimer’s detection. In her free time, she volunteers at Yale New Haven Hospital, and helps to run a women’s mental health and wellness organization at Yale.

Emma is a senior in Saybrook College majoring in Psychology in the Neuroscience track. She is particularly interested in how early life trauma enhances susceptibility to developing psychopathology in children and adolescents. Emma plans to attend medical school after graduation and specialize in psychiatry. Outside of the CANDLAB, she serves as co-president of Mind Matters, Yale’s undergraduate-run mental health organization, where she organizes student panels, speaker events, and other mental health awareness programming. In her free time, Emma can be found playing her ukulele and singing at open-mics, reading Victorian novels, or planning her next travel adventure. 

Nancy is a sophomore in Pauli Murray College, hoping to major in Psychology in the Neuroscience track. Her interests include understanding how early life trauma affects disorders such as depression in adulthood. Her interest in psychology arose from working in an epidemiology lab at the Magee-Womens Research Center at the University of Pittsburgh, where she studied how early life physical and sexual abuse correlated with adulthood disorders such as obesity and depression. Currently, she has a dream of attending medical school and becoming a psychiatrist. She is also a member the Living History Project at YNHH, the treasurer of the New Haven AIDS walk, and an assistant editor of the Yale Journal of Medicine and Law.

Jessica is a sophomore at Emory University majoring in psychology and minoring in Italian Studies. She is primarily interested in how familial relationships and home life can contribute to child and adolescent development, especially related to developing mental health issues and disorders. On campus, she is on the Public Relations committee of Atlanta Pediatric Cancer Outreach club and volunteers for the Young Democrats of Emory. In her free time, she can be found drawing, cooking, baking, or skiing.

Amy is a senior in Pauli Murray College, majoring in Psychology in the Neuroscience track. Her interests include understanding how psychiatric disorders emerge in adolescents and learning about specific adaptations the brain creates to ensure proper function in the presence of stressful stimuli and abused substances, both natural and synthetic. She hopes to attend medical school in the near future and specialize in psychiatry or neurology. Outside of the lab, Amy is a dancer in Dzana, Yale’s premier African dance group, a logistics coordinator for the Black Solidarity Conference at Yale, and a Pre-frosh advisor, as well as a Student Ambassador for the Yale College Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

Jasmyne is a sophomore in Trumbull College, majoring in Psychology in the Neuroscience track. She is interested in the neural mechanisms underlying behavioral changes and psychopathology in children and adolescents, and she hopes to pursue a career in child and adolescent psychiatry. On campus, Jasmyne is on the Women's Center board and involved in groups based out of the Afro-American Cultural Center. In her free time, she can be found reading, knitting, crocheting, or making music with friends.

Sophie is a senior in Branford College majoring in Psychology. She is interested in understanding how childhood adversity, particularly in the medical realm, contributes to the development of anxiety in adolescence and beyond. Last year, Sophie worked in the Fundamentals of the Adolescent Brain lab. Outside of the lab, she is the director of fundraising for Circle of Women, a student-run non-profit organization. She transferred to Yale from Pomona College, and is a counselor for new transfer students at Yale. In her free time, Sophie can be found painting, running, watching cooking shows, or running while watching cooking shows.

Hopewell graduated from Yale in 2018, where she studied English and was pre-med. Her main interest is psychological trauma, and particularly the role that narrative and storytelling can play in helping individuals and communities in the aftermath of violence. Outside of school, she splits time between central Baltimore and rural Florida, but New Haven feels like a real home to her as well. While at Yale, she’s enjoyed an off-campus job as a writer and editor at Love146, a non-profit that serves survivors of child trafficking here in Connecticut and abroad. She also spends time babysitting for kids in the local foster system, workshopping essays with fellow students as a Writing Partner, coming up with food-related study breaks as a Chaplaincy Fellow, watching nature documentaries, and riding her bike to friends' houses in Westville or Beaver Hills.

Mackenzye is a senior in Pierson College, majoring in the Neuroscience track of Psychology and completing pre-nursing coursework. Before joining the CANDLab, Mackenzye participated in the Science, Technology and Research Scholars (STARS) program and worked as a research assistant in Dr. Steve Chang's lab. Her research interests include studying the development of anxiety disorders and its relationship with intellectual and developmental disorders, in particular autism spectrum disorders. Aside from working in the CANDLab, Mackenzye serves as the President of Yale's Special Olympics chapter, volunteers with the Initiative for Girls and Women with Autism Spectrum Disorders at the Yale Child Study Center, is a member of Students for Autism Awareness at Yale (SAAY), and works as a Student Ambassador for the Yale College Office of Undergraduate Admissions. She hopes to attend a Master's of Science in Nursing program in order to become a Nurse Practitioner after graduating from Yale.