LAB MEMBERS
Doctoral Students
Simone Boyd
Third-year Clinical PhD Student
Simone is a third year student in the Clinical Psychology PhD Program at Rutgers University. She graduated with a BA in Psychology and Sociology and an MA in Psychology from Stony Brook University. As a graduate research assistant at SBU, she worked with Dr. Daniel Klein in the Klein Developmental Psychopathology Lab and examined the effect of temperament and peer victimization on adolescent psychopathology. Afterward, she worked as a clinical research assistant at Rhode Island Hospital/Brown University Psychiatry with Dr. Mark Zimmerman, investigating treatment outcomes in a partial hospital program. Simone is interested in understanding how self/identity development and social factors are implicated in the generation of self-injurious thoughts/behaviors and aggression. She is also interested in identifying shared causal mechanisms that underlie self-injury and aggression. Simone also enjoys yoga, trying out new recipes, watching Oscar-nominated films, playing video games, and going out to trivia.
Melissa Dreier
Third-year Clinical PhD Student
Missy is a 3rd year Ph.D. student in the Hamilton Lab. She graduated from Harvard University in 2019 and then worked as a research coordinator at Massachusetts General Hospital. Missy is broadly interested in why adolescents do things that are not in their own best interest. Recently, she has been interested in characterizing ‘adaptive’ and ‘maladaptive’ social media use patterns using frameworks from other self-destructive behaviors and emotion regulation. Missy is also passionate about narrowing the research/implementation gap and increasing access to career paths in psychology. Outside of lab, Missy enjoys yoga, running, reading, and learning foreign languages. Her cat, Fiyero, is thrilled his mom is in a musical-themed lab.
Maya Dalack
Second-year Clinical PhD Student
Maya is a second year PhD student in the Hamilton Lab. She graduated from the University of Michigan in 2018 and subsequently worked as a clinical research coordinator at Columbia Medical Center. Maya’s research interests focus on risk and protective factors for suicide in adolescence, specifically through the lens of social media use and how that use is impacted by larger factors like family structure and community. She is also dedicated to communicating scientific findings in an accessible, helpful way. Maya loves singing, hanging out with her family and friends (especially her two nephews and niece!), reading, exploring new restaurants, and watching good TV.
Aijia Yao
First-year Clinical PhD Student
Aijia is a first year Ph.D. student in the Hamilton Lab. She graduated from Stony Brook University with a BA and an MA in Psychology and worked as a Research Program Coordinator at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Aijia is interested in how sociocultural factors impact daily mental health experiences, presentations, and social media use among adolescents. Specifically, she hopes to explore depression and suicidality in minoritized teens, unraveling risk and protective factors unique to their sociocultural backgrounds. Aijia also loves to communicate psychological science by creating culturally-sensitive materials tailored to the audience. Outside of work, she enjoys playing video games of various genres, singing, and trying out restaurants in the area.
Post-Baccalaureate Research Coordinators
Marcus Shipp
Post-Baccalaureate Research Coordinator
Marcus graduated from Rutgers University in 2023 with a BA in Psychology and minors in Sociology, Criminology, and Health and Society. During his time as an undergraduate student at Rutgers, Marcus obtained various experiences as a Neuropsychology undergraduate intern, and as an undergraduate research assistant studying anxiety and substance use. He is generally interested in further studying anxiety, depression, and stress-related disorders, and assessing the various barriers that exist which prevent equitable access to mental health care and resources to all communities. Outside of research, Marcus works with a high school marching band program and loves all genres of music.
Srushti Untawale
Post-Baccalaureate Research Coordinator
Srushti graduated from Saint Louis University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a minor in Visual Communication. Her research interests include risks and resilience factors related to suicidal thoughts and behaviors, accessible community health based interventions, and a specific focus on underserved communities and youth. She is also interested in Asian American research, particularly in the South Asian population, as there is a large gap in suicide research for this community. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies, creating art, making music, listening to jazz and hanging out with friends.
Affiliated Graduate Research Assistants
Xinyi Lin
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Xinyi is a first-year Masters student at Rutgers University-New Brunswick under Addiction Counseling Training program. She graduated from Rutgers with a BA in Psychology and minor in Digital Communication Information and Media. She's interested in developmental psychology, particularly social-emotional development. She enjoys working with youth and wants to promote adolescent mental health as a clinical or school psychologist. Outside the classroom, she likes watching movies and playing video games with family and friends.
Undergraduate Research Assistants
Hiba Babekr
Undergraduate Research Assistant - McNair Scholars
Hiba is a junior at Rutgers University and plans to major in Psychology and minor in Creative Writing. As a first generation woman of color, Hiba is interested in exploring the intersectionality of those identities, and how cultural identity shapes and affects ones mental health. She hopes to be an advocate of mental health and provide accessible therapeutic services and resources within these underrepresented minority communities. In her free time, she enjoys quality time with friends, finding and listening to music, reading, and watching A24 movies.
Bianca Caproni
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Bianca is a senior at Rutgers University-New Brunswick, majoring in Psychology and Cognitive Science and minoring in Data Science. She is excited by topics at the intersection of psychology and technology. After graduating, she hopes to continue research in a post-bacc position and then go to graduate school to continue exploring where these topics overlap. When she is not in class, she is the Co-President of the Organization of Luso-Americans at Rutgers, a Peer Mentor for the College Support Program, a Resident Assistant, and an Undergraduate Intern for the Honors College. In her free time, she loves watching movies, hanging out with her dog, getting iced coffee with friends, trying to crochet and listening to podcasts.
Alejandro Castellanos
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Alejandro Castellanos is a junior Psychology major at Rutgers University. His work at Hamilton Labs is a part of his passion to become a figure for those struggling with mental illness, particularly through owning a private practice of his own and possibly pursuing research as a profession. Alejandro looks to either work as a Psychiatrist or as a Clinical Psychologist. He has a passion to constantly learn and apply, and takes pride in his current work as a Direct Care Professional at Visitation Home where he cares for folks living with developmental disabilities. He is also very interested in artistic self expression, and serves as the Treasurer for the student organization Celebrating Latinx Arts & Works.
Ziva Davis
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Ziva is a sophomore at Rutgers New Brunswick who is majoring in Psychology and minoring in Health and Society. In the future, Ziva hopes to become a Clinical Psychologist who primarily works with adolescents. She is interested in substance use disorders, eating disorders, and anxiety disorders. Outside of the classroom, Ziva enjoys listening to music, journaling, going on walks with her dog, and singing.
Sam Gerry
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Sam is a senior at Bates College studying Psychology with a minor in Digital & Computational Studies. His research interests include the epidemiology of suicidal/self-injurious behaviors and the importance of science communication to suicide prevention initiatives and campaigns. In the future, Sam looks forward to pursuing a career in suicidology. In his free time, he enjoys reading, listening to music, and spending time with his younger siblings.
Shalini Gossain
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Shalini is a senior at Rutgers University majoring in Cell Biology and Neuroscience and minoring in Religion. Her research interests include evaluating impacts of social media on adolescent mental health and identifying the potential factors to prevent adolescent suicide. She is also passionate about mental health policy and raising awareness in minority communities. In her free time, Shalini enjoys biking, baking, and yoga.
Nicole Kane
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Nicole is a senior at Rutgers University who is majoring in Psychology and minoring in Entrepreneurship. Her dream is to become CEO of her own therapy practice as either a clinical psychologist or therapist, providing affordable and accessible care. She wants to specialize in treating children and adolescents and expand her practice throughout New Jersey, in hope to save as many lives as possible. Outside of the classroom, Nicole is Social Chair of the Women’s Club Soccer Team, a Resident Assistant, and an Alcohol and Other Drugs Peer Educator with Rutgers Student Health. In her free time, she enjoys music, eating, jogging, and annoying her black lab, Jessa, whenever she is home.
Randy Luna
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Randy is a senior at Rutgers University-New Brunswick who is majoring in Biology. He finds passion in the biochemical field, and also has deep interest and curiosity in topics related to mental health. He hopes to one day become a physician and provide aid and his services to those who need it the most. In his free time, Randy likes to listen to music, play tennis, read manga, watch TV shows, and most importantly annoy his dog.
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Meher Muzaffar
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Meher is a senior at Rutgers University majoring in Psychology and Information Technology. She is passionate about raising awareness about the importance of mental healthe, specially amongst BIPOC communities. Along with this, she is also interested in learning about the neuroscience of sleep and changes in the adolescent brain. Outside of academics, she enjoys singing, painting, and journaling for fun!
Nithin Ravikumar
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Nithin is a senior at Rutgers University-New Brunswick studying Biology. His goal is to become a doctor in the US military and help veterans and active duty service members who are struggling with depression and thoughts of suicide. In his free time, Nithin also likes to workout, listen to music, and wrestle.
Christian Nicolas
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Christian is currently a sophomore at Rutgers University, planning on majoring in psychology and possibly double-majoring in CBN. He also interns at the Urban Health Collaborative, a non-profit in New Brunswick that aims to serve the various health needs of the surrounding community. He's also a huge plant fan, with his succulents taking up his desk space. Additionally, one of his biggest passions is fitness, with his favorites being biking and weight training.
Mehlika Ozgencil
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Mehlika is a second year undergraduate student majoring in Psychology and minoring in Sociology. She is interested in pursuing a career in clinical psychology with a focus on working with immigrant and refugee communities. She hopes to make mental healthcare more accessible to immigrant and refugee populations through her clinical work but also through research findings and their application in practice! She hopes to study how the developmental process for adolescents and children exposed to racism, war, and displacement is affected and how to improve the long term disadvantages on mental health these factors can produce. She is on the e-board for the Rutgers University Blood Initiative and tutors for the Rutgers Writing Centers!
Jas Sarna
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Jas is a senior majoring in Psychology and minoring in Sociology. In addition to being a research assistant, Jas is a Peer Mental Health Educator through Rutgers Student Health. Her research interests include the relationships between social media use and mental health and suicide, specifically examining sex/gender differences. She is also passionate about the ways we can better communicate research findings and information on mental health. In her free time, Jas likes to bake, paint, read, listen to music, and play with animals.
Athena Thai
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Athena is a junior at Rutgers University majoring in Psychology. She has always been interested in adolescent mental health and mood disorders. Athena aspires to be a clinical psychologist for young adults and to help destigmatize mental health in minority communities. In her free time, she enjoys reading, watching new TV shows, and spending time with family and friends.
Meher Muzaffar
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Meher is a sophomore at Rutgers University-New Brunswick majoring in Psychology and Information Technology and minoring in Biological Sciences. She
Anjali Vijan
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Anjali is a Junior majoring in Psychology and triple minoring in Entrepreneurship, Health & Society, and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. She has always been interested in the mental health effects of adolescents and BIPOC communities. Anjali is interested in becoming a Clinical Psychologist and opening her own mental health clinic in the future, with a focus on marginalized communities. In addition to her academic life at Rutgers, she is the Director of Concerts and Coffeehouses for the Rutgers University Programming Association (RUPA), a Leadership Scholar in the Institute of Women Leadership Program, and is also the Advocacy Coordinator at AdvocacyNJ. In her free time, she enjoys trying new vegan spots, thrifting, hiking, music, and journaling.
Lab Alumni
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Woanjun Lee
Former post-bacc RA
Masters student in counseling at Northwestern University
Zion Crichlow
Former Affiliated
Grad Student
Clinical-Community PhD Student at University of South Carolina
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Saskia Jorgensen
Former Lab Coordinator
Clinical Psychology PhD Student at George Washington University
Jasmine Swanson
Former AffiliatedGrad Student
Research Project Manager at New York University
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Sarah Bregna
Former undergrad RA
Incoming Nursing Student at New Jersey City University
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Ella Diab
Former undergrad RA
Clinical Research Assistant at Bradley Hospital, Brown University
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Adia Moore
Former undergrad RA
Master's student at Columbia University's School of Social Work
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Alea Watson
Former undergrad RA
Master's student at Columbia University's Teachers College
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Emma Knutson
Former undergrad RA
Psychology Technician at the National Center of PTSD, Women's Health Sciences Division, VA Boston
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Chris Damerau
Former undergrad RA
Research Specialist at The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
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Serena Moghaddas
Former undergrad RA
Clinical Research Coordinator at Massachusetts General Hospital
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Ritika Merai
Former undergrad RA
Research Assistant at the National Institute of Mental Health
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