Meet the Team
Faculty
Hannah Clark is a licensed clinical psychologist and researcher studying risk and resilience in families affected by adversity. She is particularly interested in finding ways to optimize intervention by identifying and targeting transdiagnostic and, where indicated, specific processes that link early adversity to psychopathology across the lifespan.
In two complementary lines of research, Amanda Faherty examines:
- Parenting practices in relation to emerging adult well-being and adjustment, and;
- Identifies microlevel cultural foundations of the parent-emerging adult child relationship in order to tease apart the construct of “culture.”
Together, her research foci aim to clarify the impact of parenting practices on emerging adults as a function of both broader and microlevel socio-contextual influences in order to delineate protective and risk factors for adjustment and well-being.
Xiaodong Liu's main interest is in applied statistics (modeling in particular) and in the methods related to research on development (broadly defined) and child development, in particular. Dr. Liu received his EdD from Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Ellen Wright is currently working on predictors of different forms of emotion regulation and self-focused attention, particularly rumination, reflection, mindfulness, distraction and how those forms of emotion regulation are related to depression and anxiety and responses to trauma. This research is undertaken using a developmental framework.
Graduate Students
BA, Psychology, University of Vermont
Carolyn is interested in studying how traumatic childhood experiences and childhood relationships impact children's mental health and wellbeing. Her master's thesis focuses on the effect that children with mental health or behavior problems (CMBPs) have on family dynamics, with a focus on sibling wellbeing. She is also studying effects on sibling bullying, parental stress, and attachment security between parents and siblings of CMBPs in the home.
MA, Music Composition, New York University
Noam is a master's student working with Professor Ellen Wright. He is broadly interested in clinical psychology and is currently researching gender transition and reproductive care. After completing this masters, I hope to continue studying, with the ultimate goal of working as a psychologist.
BA, Psychology, Lyon College
Cindy’s research interests focus on understanding how early adversity and resilience shape development, particularly in the context of childhood neglect. Before starting at Brandeis, she worked as a research assistant on clinical trials for substance use disorder treatment at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Psychiatric Research Institute (UAMS PRI). She plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, with the goal of conducting research that informs effective, evidence-based interventions.
BA, Psychology, Bates College
Ellie is interested in child and adolescent research, with a particular focus on understanding the mechanisms that underlie school motivation and academic achievement. Currently, she works as a behavior interventionist using ABA principles to foster effective communication, self-advocacy and adaptive growth. Her long-term goals include pursuing a career in mental health counseling or school psychology, where she can translate her research insights into compassionate, evidence-based support for children, adolescents and their families.
Supervised by Professor Ellen Wright, Zara’s research examines how interoceptive processes contribute to depression, with particular attention to the impact of early life stress. She is especially interested in bridging biological and experiential models of mental health. After completing her master’s degree, Zara plans to pursue doctoral training in clinical psychology, with the goal of integrating research, clinical practice and trauma-informed care.
Undergraduate Students
Honors Students
Major: Neuroscience, Psychology
Minor: Journalism
Khimaya is currently serving as lead investigator for an honors thesis examining how decision fatigue affects inhibitory control and subsequent financial risk-taking, with gender as a key moderator. Her research interests lie at the intersection of clinical research, behavioral economics and affective neuroscience. After college, she plans to pursue graduate training that will allow her to integrate experimental research with clinically meaningful applications, with the long-term goal of contributing to translational mental health science.
Major: Psychology, Biology
Joshua is a research assistant in the CAARD Lab and is interested in mindfulness-based interventions and the mechanisms which underlie their efficacy. After college, Joshua plans to gain further research experience before pursuing a PhD in psychology with an ultimate goal of working in clinical research.
Major: Psychology, HSSP
Minor: Journalism
Ella is a senior pursuing an honors thesis in the lab. Her primary areas of interest include adolescent development and behavioral health, with a particular focus on harm reduction and strategies to promote mental health and well-being. She is passionate about advancing health equity and expanding access to mental health care for historically underserved communities. After graduation, Ella plans to pursue graduate training in psychology or public health, with the goal of conducting community-engaged research that strengthens mental health outcomes and addresses persistent gaps in care.
Major: Psychology, Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Minor: Anthropology
Isaac is leading a study looking at improving sexual violence prevention among undergraduate men. On campus, Isaac is the president of the Brandeis Mountain Club and a Confidential Peer Advocate for PARC. After college, Isaac plans to pursue a PsyD in clinical psychology, with the ultimate goal of working on alternative therapeutic techniques for people with trauma, such as climbing and wilderness based therapies.
Research Assistants
Major: Psychology
Minor: Computer Science
Jacob is assisting with the Child, Adolescent, and Adult Research in Development (CAARD) lab, and is interested in exploring mindfulness, and effects of technology on development. After college, Jacob plans on continuing his education in a PsyD program with an ultimate goal of working in clinical psychology.
Major: Psychology
Minor: Sociology
Fernando is assisting with a study on fatigue and is interested in exploring how a child's upbringing influences their development. After undergraduate studies, Fernando plans to pursue a MSW with the goal of working in counseling.
Major: Psychology
Minor: Hispanic Studies
Allegra is assisting with a study on the interaction between interoception and depression. Her research interests include development, cultural differences and risk factors. She plans to gain some more experience before pursuing a graduate degree.
Major: Neuroscience, Psychology
Grayson is assisting with prevention research on masculinity norms and bystander decision-making, and is interested in how neural processes and social factors influence behavior. After college, Grayson plans to pursue a PhD focused on cognitive and social neuroscience.
Major: Psychology, Philosophy
Minor: Studio Art
Some of Cate's research interests include how early relational experiences and sociocultural context shape emerging adults’ emotional regulation and risk-related behaviors. For now, she hopes to investigate further how trauma and early attachment experiences contribute to patterns of emotional dysregulation and personality development across the lifespan.
Major: Psychology, Buisiness
Esther is interested in understanding how stress impacts the body and brain, particularly during child and adolescent development. She is especially curious about how early stress exposure shapes overall health and long-term mental health outcomes, and hopes to continue exploring these questions through future graduate study.
Major: Psychology, Biology
Lauren is assisting with a study on gender transition and reproductive care, and is interested in many areas of psychological and biological research. Some of these interests include: stress systems, disease pathways, risk factors/interventions, health disparities, medical accessibility, empathy, in-group out-group perceptions, altruism, early childhood, cognitive development, language acquisition, learned behaviors and neuron activity. After college, Lauren plans to pursue a PhD and conduct biomedical and psychological research as a career.
Major: Psychology, Health: Science, Society, Policy (HSSP)
Minor: Hispanic Studies
Elenna is assisting with a senior honors thesis exploring the relationship between stress and well-being among mental health professionals supporting children and adolescents. With a keen interest in understanding the underlying layers of child behavior, she aims to work in clinical settings with pediatric populations.
Major: Psychology, Creative Writing
Vivekka is assisting in the Brandeis CAARD Lab in order to further her interest in early childhood and adolescent psychology. She is particularly interested in research about parenting's effects on adolescent psychopathology. After college, Vivekka plans to pursue a Masters in Mental Health Counseling with the ultimate goal of working as a therapist.
Major: Psychology, Business
Asa is assisting with a study on interoception and its bridge between early life stress and depression, and is interested in early life stress and development. After college, Asa plans to work and pursue a higher degree in healthcare administration
Major: Psychology, Theater
Daniella is assisting research on bystander intervention in sexual violence. She plans to pursue a master's degree in engineering psychology and explore the impact of technology on people.
Major: Psychology
Minor: Philosophy
Mia is assisting a graduate student in the Brandeis CAARD Lab with their research in the functioning of siblings of children with significant psychopathy. After college, Mia plans to pursue an LCSW with an ultimate goal of working in clinical child psychology.
Major: Psychology, English
Rogerio is assisting with Bagla’s research on decision fatigue and inhibitory control, and is interested on the differing psychological effects across group identities . After his undergraduate studies, Rogerio plans to pursue a research and clinical career with a focus on multicultural psychology.
Major: Psychology, Education Studies
Mary is assisting with senior honor thesis in the CAARD Lab, and is interested in exploring the mental illness among young teenagers. After college, Mary plans to pursue master degree with the goal of working in educational psychology.
Major: Psychology
Jolene is interested in how emotion regulation and attachment-related differences shape effort allocation, academic persistence and interpersonal functioning in emerging adulthood. She focuses on how individuals adapt to stress and social evaluation, and how these processes relate to resilience or vulnerability over time.