Research Experience

Graduate

Ray Lab | UCLA Addictions Lab, Department of Psychology

Since January 2019

Graduate Student Researcher| Advisor: Lara A. Ray

  • Use human functional neuroimaging (fMRI), psychoneuroimmunology (PNI), behavioral economics, and quantitative methods to study addiction neurobiology and behavior in clinical populations

  • Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (F31) Predoctoral Fellow (NIH/NIAAA)

Drug Outreach, Promoting Awareness (DOPA) | UCLA Brain Research Institute

Since January 2021

Graduate Outreach Coordinator and Researcher | Advisor: Chris J. Evans and Rafael Romero-Calderón

  • Develop and collect pre- and post- outreach surveys on effectiveness of peer-led substance use education

  • Analyze data and present findings comparing virtual vs. in-person outreach

Leuchter Lab | UCLA Neurostimulation Clinic

January - March 2019

First-year Rotation Student | Advisor: Andrew F. Leuchter

  • Studied effect of TMS treatment on executive function in depression patients

Feusner Lab | UCLA Department of Psychiatry

September - December 2018

First-year Rotation Student | Advisor: Jamie D. Feusner

  • Studied reward and anxiety network activity (task-based fMRI) in anorexia nervosa

Undergraduate

Kuhn Lab | Duke Department of Pharmacology

January 2017 - May 2018

Independent Study Researcher | Advisor: Cynthia M. Kuhn

Undergraduate Thesis: Conditioned food aversion: A strategy to study disordered eating?

  • Studied the development and neurobiological mechanisms of conditioned food aversion (CFA) in rats as a potential food-based model of disordered eating.

  • Received Duke Summer Neuroscience Program Research Fellowship.

  • Received Neuroscience Departmental Distinction.

Groh Lab | Duke Department of Neuroscience

January - July 2016

Independent Study Researcher| Advisor: Jennifer M. Groh

  • Studied macaque monkeys’ localization of audiovisual stimuli by tracking saccades and observing neuron firing in the superior and inferior colliculi.

Interim Lab Manager (Summer 2016)

  • Cared for seven rhesus macaques, scheduled lab business, maintained inventory, upheld lab safety and chemical hygiene standards, served as liaison between lab and regulatory organizations.

Duke Vestibular Disorders Clinic | Duke Medical Center

January - December 2015

Clinical Research Assistant | Advisor: Erin G. Piker

  • Collected lab norms for the commonly-used vestibular bithermal caloric procedure to measure order effects inherent in the test.

Herschlag Lab | Stanford Department of Biochemistry

June - August 2014

Research Assistant | Advisor: Daniel Herschlag

  • Studied functional connections (D101 and Mg2+ coupling) in Alkaline Phosphatase enzymes via mutant E. Coli constructs.