Undergraduate Research Assistants

Akshara Koottala

Research Assistant

Akshara is double majoring in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience as well as Sociology with a minor in Community Action and Social Change. She is interested in exploring how environmental conditions and adversity influence brain development. She hopes to work with and serve children and families coming from marginalized communities. In her free time, Akshara enjoys spending time with friends and family, discovering new music, and reading.

Amy Tan

Research Assistant

Amy is an undergraduate student studying neuroscience. She is particularly interested in research that analyzes how unhealthy familial relationships affect adolescents’ cognitive and neurological development. Amy hopes to deepen her understanding of the brain’s response to adverse environments and pursue a career in psychiatry. Outside of academics, Amy enjoys creating art, watching true crime documentaries, and promoting mental health awareness.

Byain Ghannoum

Research Assistant

Byain is an undergraduate studying Psychology planning to minor in Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences. After graduation, she plans to attend graduate school for Clinical Neuropsychology. Her research interests include neuropsychology, neuroplasticity, and how individual neural and environmental differences impact the development of psychopathologies. In her free time, she enjoys crocheting, playing chess, cooking/baking, and spending time with family and friends.

Emily Huang

Research Assistant

Emily is an undergraduate student studying Psychology with a minor in Statistics. She is interested in researching how sociocultural factors can influence the development of internalizing disorders as well as the neuropsychological differences between children with a higher and lower emotional resilience. She plans on obtaining a PhD in Clinical Psychology in the future. In her free time, Emily enjoys painting, hiking, and spending time with friends.

Jiayou Shen

Research Assistant

Jiayou Shen is a current psychology major and Sweetland writing minor. She is interested in emergent adults and mental health. Her hobbies include writing and drawing.

Kaitlyn (Katie) Elliot

Research Assistant

Katie is an undergraduate student studying Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology with a minor in Gender and Health. She is particularly interested in neurodegenerative diseases, neurology, and the stigma surrounding mental health. After graduation, she plans to attend medical school. In her free time, she enjoys crocheting, reading, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

Kendyll Klingensmith

Research Assistant

Kendyll is an undergraduate studying Psychology and English. They are interested in clinical and psychopathology, as well as the psychology of gender, sex, and sexuality. In the future, they are looking to attend graduate school for clinical psychology, with a focus in the intersectionality between psychopathology and gender and sexuality. In their free time, Kendyll enjoys creative writing as well as D&D, miniature painting, board games, and video games.

Kevin Wang

Research Assistant

Kevin is an undergraduate student with an interest in understanding how people learn and develop. He is particularly fascinated by cognitive development, the ways in which different environments shape learning and development and how neuroscience can change how we approach education. In the future, he hopes to attend medical school. Outside of academics, Kevin enjoys playing chess, trying new restaurants in Ann Arbor, and spending time with friends.

Noah Morales

Research Assistant

Noah is an undergraduate student majoring in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience, with a minor in Latina/o Studies. His research interests include Developmental and Cultural Psychology, and he is interested in how adversity within the Latin American community influences development. After graduation, he plans to pursue a career as an adolescent clinical psychologist. Outside of academics, Noah enjoys listening to new music, taking walks around nature, and spending time with friends

Omosiuwa Enakpene

Research Assistant

Omosiuwa is a junior studying Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience. She is particularly interested in adolescent psychopathology, neurology as well as mental health awareness and hopes to attend medical school in the future. In her free time, she enjoys trying new foods, working out, reading, and watching reality TV with friends.

Roger Briddick

Research Assistant

Roger is an undergraduate studying Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience. His interests involve furthering scientific understanding of how adverse upbringings and educational experiences affect later-life success, and how this information can inform better policy. He hopes to pursue a PhD in developmental psychology and a career in research. In his free time, he enjoys running, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.

Savannah Christian

Research Assistant

Savannah is an undergraduate student majoring in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience, with a minor in entrepreneurship. Her research interests include neurology and development psychology. After graduation, she intends on going to PA- school to purse a career in medicine. Outside of the lab, she enjoys trying the Ann Arbor restaurants, going to football games, and spending time with friends.

Seth Yaziji

Research Assistant

Seth is a sophomore currently studying Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience and minoring in Religion. They are currently interested in developmental psychology, language acquisition, and neurogenesis and hope to attend medical school in the future with a focus in psychiatry.