Alumni Lab Managers
Hannah Apostolou: Lab Manager
Hannah graduated from the University of Michigan in 2017 with a B.S. in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience. After graduation, Hannah worked as the lab manager of the Zahodne lab for two years before going on to pursue her Ph.D. at the University of Alabama. She currently studies clinical psychology with a concentration in geropsychology at UA where she conducts research examining the aging brain through the use of neuroimaging techniques. Outside of psychology, Hannah enjoys swimming, baking, traveling, and playing with her dogs.
Alexa Martino: Lab Manager
Alexa received her M.A. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Wayne State University and her B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Communications from Eastern Michigan University. Research interests include understanding how neuropsychological functioning and mental health outcomes are influenced by different biological, psychological, and social factors. Alexa is applying to PhD programs in Clinical Psychology and hopes to pursue a career in cultural neuropsychology.
Alumni Post Doctoral Research Fellows
Dr. Ji Hyun Lee is a postdoctoral research fellow working with Dr. Zahodne. She received her Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) from Michigan State University with a concentration on lifespan human development and family diversity. Guided by the bioecological framework, life course perspective, and family systems theory, Dr. Lee’s research is driven by the question; what are the intra-personal, inter-personal, and contextual factors that are the foundation for resilience and thriving as we age? She is particularly interested in exploring these questions in the realm of close social relationships and social network characteristics.
Currently, her research is investigating the patterns and mechanisms in which marriage and close friendships affect cognition in a diverse population. Prior to joining the lab, she gained professional experience as an aging policy researcher at Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs and postdoctoral training from Florida State University. Dr. Lee can be reached at leejihy@umich.edu.
Dr. Neika Sharifian: Post-Doctoral Research Fellow
Dr. Neika Sharifian is a Research Scientist for Leidos at the Naval Health Research Center. Dr. Sharifian received her Ph.D. in Lifespan Developmental Psychology at North Carolina State University in 2017. Her doctoral work focused on how internal (motivation, future time perspective, aging attitudes) and external (social support, social participation) resources influenced socioemotional aging processes such as well-being and emotion regulation.
Dr. Sharifian’s postdoctoral work focused on the dynamic relationship between socioemotional and cognitive aging processes. Specifically, her postdoctoral research focused on how social experiences and/or resources, such as social network characteristics, social media use, and early life social experiences, may explain individual differences in cognitive functioning across the adult lifespan.
Alumni Clinical Science Doctoral Students
Afsara was a fifth year in the Clinical Science PhD program. Her primary research interest was in cognitive aging and understanding how different biological, psychological, and social factors influence late-life neuropsychological functioning and trajectories. In addition to studying biopsychosocial risk and protective factors, she was also interested in identifying modifiable determinants of late-life disparities in cognitive functioning across different racial and ethnic groups. Afsara was investigating whether sleep mediates racial and intersectional disparities in cognition. Afsara graduated from the Clinical Science Doctoral Program here at LSA University of Michigan.
Zarina’s research interests were wide-ranging and include the relationships between inflammation, vascular and metabolic function, and neuropsychological functioning across depression, bipolar, and schizophrenia spectrum disorders. She was also interested in neuropsychological performance and functional outcomes in psychiatric disorders and chronic health conditions. She was especially interested in examining how factors such as resilience and coping mediate these relationships.
Alumni Research Assistants
Sally was an undergraduate at the University of Michigan studying Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience and Cognitive Science with a philosophy focus. Her research interests included consciousness, artificial intelligence, and developmental psychology. Sally graduated from University of Michigan in 2023 and currently is attending graduate school at John Hopkins University.
Jingqi was a senior studying Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience (BCN) at the University of Michigan. Her research interests include neurological disorders and neuropsychological outcomes in brain injury. She plans to take gap years before starting graduate school. Outside of academics, she wrote for The Michigan Daily and volunteered at the hospital. She is passionate about storytelling and writes creative nonfiction and poetry.
Olivia was a senior at the University of Michigan. She was double majoring in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience and Biology, Health, and Society with a minor in Applied Statistics. Her research interests include neurological disorders, psychopathology, and health psychology. After undergrad, she is pursuing graduate studies in biostatistics.
Ariana was a fourth-year undergraduate student, majoring in Neuroscience at the University of Michigan. Her research interests include a variety of topics related to neuroscience and psychology. Such topics include neurological disorders, as well as factors that affect neurodevelopment and memory. After graduating, she hopes to continue her studies and eventually enter the medical field. Outside of academics, Ariana is a member of the Armenian Students’ Cultural Association and UM Special Olympics.
Erica is an undergraduate at the University of Michigan majoring in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience and Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity. Her research interests include cognitive aging, evolutionary psychology, and epidemiology. Outside of research and classes, she enjoys baking, reading, and gardening.
Ruchisree was a sophomore majoring in Biopsychology, Cognition and Neuroscience. She is very interested in learning more about the influence of culture on psychology and aging, with a greater focus on trauma and its effects across different cultures. After graduating, she hopes to get into a clinical psychology PhD program to become a clinical psychologist, continuing to do research. Outside of studying, Ruchisree loves dancing and has fun crocheting stuffed animals.
Morgan Palmer: Research Assistant
Morgan graduated in 2022 with a degree in Psychology and a degree in Spanish. She is passionate about increasing access and improving the quality of mental health care for rural communities, like the one she came from! In the Fall, she plans to attend Western Michigan University to pursue a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology. She hopes to one day be a clinician and provide therapy sessions fully in Spanish for Spanish speaking patients. As long as one life benefits from her work, Morgan’s life is complete. Go Blue and Go Broncos!!
Brianna Kenar: Research Assistant
Brianna graduated in 2022 with a degree in Biopsychology, Cognition and Neuroscience with minors in Crime & Justice and Music. Her research interests include understanding the role cultural differences play in cognitive aging, as well as psychopathology and mental health. Outside of academics, Brianna plays piccolo in the Michigan Marching Band and Basketball Band. After graduation, she hopes to attend law school with the eventual goal of helping underserved communities.
Lindsey Meister: Clinical Science Master’s Student
Lindsey graduated from the University of Michigan with an M.S. in Psychology with a focus in Clinical Science, a B.S. in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience, and a minor in Medical Anthropology. Her research interests are cognitive aging, dementia, and healthcare conditions for older adults and she is currently looking into the relationship between social network and cognition in older adults. Lindsey is applying to PhD programs in Clinical Psychology and hopes to pursue a career in geriatric neuropsychology.
Jonathan Xi: Research Assistant
Jonathan graduated in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience at the University of Michigan. His research interests include studying the impacts of neurodegenerative disease, the socioeconomic disparities that impact cognitive aging, and mental health. He is currently in a gap year working as a medical assistant at Michigan Medicine with the goal of attending medical school while continuing research.
Gabrielle Lincoln: Research Assistant
Gabrielle graduated from the University of Michigan in 2022 with a B.S. in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience. Her research interests include analyzing mental health disorders, neurodegenerative disorders, and cognitive aging. She is also passionate about eliminating health inequities. Gabrielle has accepted a position as a research technician associate at Michigan Medicine’s Research Program on Cognition and Neuromodulation Based Interventions. She will be working to identify and provide effective treatments for those suffering from neurologic injury and disease. In the future, she will pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology with a specialty in neuropsychology.
Julia Smith: Research Assistant
Julia recently completed her BA in Psychology and BA in Sociology of Health and Medicine at the University of Michigan. She joined the University of Michigan’s Department of Psychiatry as a study coordinator for the Michigan Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience (MiSCAN) Lab in May of 2022. In the future, Julia hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology focusing on exploring disparities in mental health resources and increasing support for those with serious mental illnesses. During her free time, Julia enjoys spending time with her friends, working out, and listening to music.
Olivia Robinson: Research Assistant
Olivia graduated in 2021 with degrees in Biopsychology, Cognition, & Neuroscience and Women’s & Gender Studies. She is continuing her journey at Michigan with the MEDPREP Post-Baccalaureate program, where she is preparing for medical school and continuing her practices as a doula. Olivia hopes to pursue her M.D. in Neurology and continue expanding upon the knowledge she gained from MCAP.
Sydney Wilhoite: Research Assistant
Sydney graduated in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience, with a minor in Applied Statistics. Her research interests are primarily in cognitive aging and neurodegenerative disease and include understanding how life course biopsychosocial factors influence cognitive trajectories in later life. While working in the lab, she completed a senior honors thesis entitled “Mechanisms Underlying the Association Between Childhood Adversity and Later-Life Cognition”. Sydney has accepted a position as a clinical research coordinator at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in their Memory & Alzheimer’s Center. In the future, she hopes to attend a Clinical Psychology PhD program and specialize in clinical neuropsychology.
Gabrielle Hooper: Research Assistant
Gabrielle Hooper graduated in 2021 with a dual degree in Cello Performance and Biopsychology, Cognition and Neuroscience. She has a wide array of research interests that focus on the intersection of music and psychology especially in ways we can use music as a tool to combat anxiety, improve or enhance memory, and stimulate learning. Gabrielle really enjoys both working with and performing for the elderly population as they can tell us a lot about our own functioning cognition. She hopes to pursue a PhD in either Neuropsychology or Cognitive psychology while fulfilling a rich career in chamber music with the Arbor Quartet.
Payton White: Research Assistant
Payton is a 2021 graduate of the University of Michigan with a B.S. in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience. Her research interests include traumatic brain injury and neurodegenerative diseases. Following graduation, Payton went on to work as a Research Data Associate at NYU Langone Health’s Brain Aging and Sleep Health Center. She plans to pursue a Ph.D. program in Neuropsychology in the future following her time at NYU Langone Health.
Nicole Fraija: Research Assistant
Nicole graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.A. in Psychology and Political Science, along with a minor in Business Administration in the Fall of 2020. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Education with a specialization in children with disabilities while working at a school in the South Bronx teaching 4th-grade. Upon the completion of her master’s degree, she hopes to continue her work with underprivileged communities in her home country, Colombia.
Priscella Holland: Research Assistant
Priscella earned her Bachelor’s of Science in General Biology from the University of Michigan in 2018. She is currently attending Wayne State University’s M.D. program. Priscella hopes to become a geriatric specialist with a focus on minority populations. Priscella’s research interests are grounded in gerontology. She is interested in the socioeconomic and racial disparities that impact the progression of aging as well as the physiological mediators of aging.
Shreya Chandra: Research Assistant
Shreya is a 2020 graduate majoring in Biopsychology, Cognition and Neuroscience and has been a part of the Zahodne Lab since September 2017. She is interested in how social determinants impact cognitive aging and the long term affects of these determinants. In the future she hopes to attend medical school and continue doing research.
Jessica Springstead: Research Assistant
Jessica graduated from the University of Michigan in 2020, double majoring in Psychology and Spanish with a minor in Religion. Jessica plans to attend a Clinical Psychology PhD program. Her research interests include intersectionality and cross- cultural psychology, specifically in culturally-competent diagnostic testing and treatment. She is currently working on an independent research project evaluating the relationship between religiosity and depression in a sample of Hispanic participants from the Health and Retirement Study.
Claudia Rosas: Research Assistant
Claudia is an undergraduate in the Honors Program at the University of Michigan majoring in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience, while following the Pre-Med track. She is interested in developmental psychology, abnormal psychology, behavioral psychology, and the underlying effects of aging on cognition. Outside of academics, Claudia is on a dance team on campus called Pure Dance, tutors latino students through PALMA, and works as a behavioral technician with kids with autism. After graduating, she hopes to either attend medical school or a clinical psychology PhD program.
Abbey Hamlin: Research Assistant
Abbey is a 2020 graduate with a Bachelors in Psychology and Spanish minor. Her research interests include studying the effects of interpersonal relationships and social support on cognitive aging, racial disparities in health, and the improvement of interventions for patients with Alzheimer’s disease. She wrote a senior honors thesis entitled “Social Engagement and Episodic Memory in Black and White Older Adults,” which used data from the Michigan Cognitive Aging Project. Abbey has accepted a position to work as the lab coordinator for the Michigan Neural Distinctiveness Project in the Polk Cognition and Cognitive Neuroscience lab at the University of Michigan. She plans to apply to Clinical Psychology PhD programs in the fall of 2020.
Kayla Gallant: Research Assistant
Kayla graduated in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience, with a minor in Medical Anthropology. Following graduation, she plans to volunteer and work for a year before applying to Medical School. Research interests include: cognitive aging and decline, mental health, and neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases.
Brooke Huizenga: Research Assistant
Brooke graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience and a minor in biology from the University of Michigan in 2020. While working with MCAP, Brooke completed an honors thesis examining how main lifetime occupations may affect late-life cognition and whether this differs by gender. Currently, she is looking to work as a full-time research assistant before continuing her education in a Clinical Psychology PhD program. Her research interests include antisocial traits, childhood development of psychopathology, lifespan cognitive development, and behavioral genetics.
Valerie Teng: Research Assistant
Valerie is a third-year student studying Psychology. She is very passionate about mental health and therapy. She wants to pursue a professional career in Clinical Psychology, potentially in pediatric care. Her research interests are focused on the impact of culture on the diagnosis and prevalence of mental illnesses, particularly in the Asian American community. Outside of academics and schoolwork, Valerie has been figure skating for over a decade and is apart of a cultural organization called Asian American Association. She also enjoys taking care of her houseplants and her cat.
Natalie Wojcik: Research Assistant
Natalie is a senior studying Psychology, Linguistics, and Spanish. Her research interests include language, cognition, and the impact of aging on communication. After graduation, she plans to attend graduate school to pursue a career in Speech-Language Pathology. She is on the University of Michigan Gymnastics team and enjoys volunteering in the Ann Arbor community in her free time.
Riya Prasad: Research Assistant
Riya is currently attending the University of Michigan and planning to study public health. She is really interested in understanding health disparities and factors that play a role in health decline in order to one day, influence health policy. Riya’s research interests include cognitive aging, chronic disease, and social determinants of health.
Eliza Bourke: Research Assistant
Eliza graduated from the University of Michigan in 2019, studying Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience. Eliza is interested in neurodegenerative disorders, specifically Alzheimer’s and Dementia. Future research interests include cell biology as well as neural imaging in Alzheimer’s and Dementia patients.
Daisy Noriega: Research Assistant
Daisy graduated from the University of Michigan in 2019, studying Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience. Her research interests include the neurobiology and neuropsychology of developmental disorders in both children and adults. After graduation, she hopes to take a year or two to work in a lab full time as well as a psychometrist in a clinic part-time. Afterwards, she is excited to go to graduate school to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in neuropsychology.
Angela Yoon: Research Assistant
Seayoung (Angela) is currently studying BCN at the University of Michigan. She is interested in the cognitive processes in both adults and children and what happens within the brain when people think and act. She is interested in challenging herself to try new things and experiencing a variety of research opportunities to help her develop a future career that she can genuinely enjoy.
Tate LaFrenier: Research Assistant
Tate is an undergraduate in the Honors Program at the University of Michigan, studying for a career in clinical psychology. He is interested in abnormal psychology, psychological resilience and intervention techniques. He hopes to continue research throughout his undergraduate career, expanding his interests and gaining lab experience. Outside of academics, Tate writes for the Michigan Daily and has also trained in martial arts for over a decade. He hopes to eventually attend a clinical psychology PhD program.