Assistant Lab Director (she/her/hers)

I graduated from the University of Utah in 2019, where I double majored in Psychology (with Honors) and Musical Theatre. For my undergraduate thesis, which was selected as the top departmental thesis, I studied whether maternal sensitivity could serve as a moderator of the relationship between maternal depression (during pregnancy) and early childhood problem behavior. I’m particularly interested in learning about potential interventions during the prenatal and early childhood-rearing stages. In the future, I plan to pursue a Ph.D. in Developmental or Clinical Psychology.

Fun Fact! When not working in the lab, I can be found in a dance class, voice lesson, or acting class. I also have passports from 3 different countries!

Team Leader, Nurse Family Partnership + Mechanisms of Intergenerational Transmission (she/her/hers)

My personal background has instilled in me a deep sense of purpose. Growing up as the daughter of a single, hardworking mother in a low-income circumstance, I have witnessed firsthand the challenges many families endure, including domestic abuse. Now, as a recipient of a full-ride scholarship at Soka University of America, where I am pursuing a major in Liberal Arts with a concentration in Life Sciences, I am working towards my dream of supporting vulnerable women and children facing circumstances similar to my own. While at Perinatal RISE, I aspire to use the skills and knowledge I gain to live a contributive life as a physician-scientist (MD-PhD), focusing my PhD in Public Health.

Fun Fact! I am an artist, I have a blog, and I am currently studying abroad in Seville, Spain!

Team Leader, Trauma-Informed Care (she/her/hers)

From a young age, I have been my mother's health advocate, helping out as her Spanish translator during her medical appointments. It is this desire for a more inclusive and comprehensive approach to healthcare that led me to the lab. The lab's emphasis on maternal ACES and addressing social inequities that has far-reaching effects that span across generations deeply resonates with my family's medical experiences. In the future, my plan is to attend medical school and serve underrepresented communities by lessening the language barrier for Spanish-speaking patients.

Fun Fact! In my spare time, I love to blog about my fun and educational experiences as a first-generation college student and beginner dance on “DaeCamino!”

Research Assistant, Mechanisms of Intergenerational Transmission (she/her/hers)

I'm passionate about accessible and equity-based healthcare which is what drew me to the lab in the first place! I hope to be a gynecologist one day and use the knowledge I've gained from this lab to improve health outcomes particularly for women/mothers of color whose health concerns are often ignored.

Fun Fact! I grew up between Nigeria and England and I really like crocheting (and saving extremely complex patterns off Pinterest even though I'll probably never make them)

Research Assistant, Trauma-Informed Care (she/her/hers)

I am passionate about medical humanities and clinician-patient communication, especially in Latino health, so I am excited to learn and help the lab with studies that advocate for people of color and their underserved communities. I look forward to applying our trauma-informed research to my career as a doctor, illuminating the importance of patient communication within trauma-informed care, and furthering the movement to help women and their children on a local and global scale.

Fun Fact! One of my hobbies is playing the saxophone. A fun fact about me is when I used to work on a farm, I accidentally let a goose outside its cage and had to chase it back in.

Research Assistant, Trauma-Informed Care (she/her/hers)

I am really interested in doing research that correlates very closely to my experiences growing up. I grew up in a predominately low-income neighborhood and witnessed and experienced a lot of barriers with accessing quality healthcare. I was interested in working alongside a lab that focuses on a community like my own. I was also drawn in by the mother and child component as I am interested in overall family wellbeing and breaking cycles for the future generations. I would also like to primarily work with children as a pediatrician or child psychiatrist.

Fun Fact! I have never eaten hot cheetos.

Research Assistant, Mechanisms of Intergenerational Transmission (she/her/hers)

Previously, I have had the opportunity to separately engage with public health initiatives and wet lab based biomedical research. While I enjoy both areas, I am very interested in how these two realms might be connected to facilitate solution-oriented projects. Thus, the Mechanisms of Intergenerational Transmission team is a perfect fit! I hope to use my time with the lab to prepare myself for a career as a physician-scientist.

Fun Fact! I love to be outdoors, whether hiking, skiing, or occasionally skydiving.

Data Manager (she/her/hers)

Driven by a passion for addressing social inequality, particularly gender disparities, I've conducted quantitative research on women's representation in politics and volunteered with an NGO aiding overseas Chinese women facing domestic violence. Joining this lab excites me as it offers an opportunity to explore social inequality through a public health lens, delving into the intersectionality of social adversity and maternal and child health in marginalized communities. In the future, I aspire to contribute to tangible solutions, such as policy reforms and intervention programs, to combat social inequality.

Fun Fact! I'm an enthusiastic foodie, always eager to explore new restaurants in the city. Also love to watch the sunset!

Research Assistant, Nurse Family Partnership (she/her/hers)

I am a second-year Clinical Psychology Master's student at Teachers College, Columbia University, driven to a commitment of advocacy in all areas of my work: teaching, research, and clinical practice. I received my undergraduate degree from the University of Utah, graduating in 2023 with a double major in Psychology and Criminology and a double minor in Political Science and Sociology. My research interests center on perinatal mood disorders (i.e., premenstrual dysphoric disorder and perinatal depression and anxiety), reproductive identity, and severe personality pathology in mothers (i.e. postpartum psychosis and borderline personality disorder). I plan to apply to doctoral programs with the goal of becoming a clinical psychologist dedicated to integrating research with clinical care to support individuals in the perinatal period.

Fun Fact! I am a certified Vinyasa yoga instructor.

Research Assistant, Trauma-Informed Care (she/her/hers)

I am passionate about maternal and child health, along with advocacy for underserved populations and communities of color. I hope to become a physician's associate in the future and the knowledge that I am gaining from this lab will help me become a trauma-informed healthcare professional who empowers patients and encourages health literacy and autonomy when it comes to health. 

Fun Fact! I love to play guitar and sing in my free time. 

Research Assistant, Mechanisms of Intergenerational Transmission (she/her/hers)

I graduated from Agnes Scott College in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and minors in Public Health and Spanish. I am interested in examining the mechanisms by which environmental factors work, both independently & together, to promote or delay healthy developmental outcomes in children. I plan to become a physician-scientist, focused on research within the intersection of global health, maternal-child health, and cognitive development.

Fun Fact! I have been writing songs since I was a child. I hope to share a few of them someday!

Research Assistant, Nurse Family Partnership (she/her/hers)

I am a student at Columbia College, majoring in Neuroscience and Behavior with a concentration in Biology, on the pre-medical track. Growing up in Los Angeles, I witnessed firsthand the impact of inequitable, low-quality health care on my community and the people around me. These experiences have driven me to pursue work that addresses such disparities. As a member of the Perinatal RISE Lab, I am eager to explore how interventions like the Nurse Family Partnership can establish equitable standards in prenatal and maternal care and help break cycles of trauma affecting infant development. I aspire to become a neurosurgeon, dedicated to improving outcomes for communities in need. 

Fun Fact! I write and direct short films.