Lab Manager
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 . She is planning on applying to Clinical Psychology Ph.D. programs in the near future. Research interests include social determinants of health and how they impact the barriers minority groups experience in receiving mental health services.
Post Doctoral Research Fellows
Dr. Neika Sharifian: Post-Doctoral Research Fellow
Dr. Neika Sharifian is a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Michigan in the Department of Psychology. 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.
Currently, Dr. Sharifian’s postdoctoral work focuses on the dynamic relationship between socioemotional and cognitive aging processes. Specifically, her postdoctoral research focuses 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.
Dr. Ketlyne Sol: Post-Doctoral Research Fellow
Dr. Sol is a postdoctoral research fellow working with Dr. Zahodne. She earned her PhD in clinical psychology from Loma Linda University where her clinical training emphasis was in rehabilitation psychology, which focuses on the holistic assessment and treatment of individuals with acquired, chronic, or progressive disabling illness. Trained within a scientist-practitioner framework, Dr. Sol is interested in evaluating positive psychosocial factors, such as social support, that buffer against risk factors such as low literacy and low educational attainment to help reduce racial and ethnic disparities in cognitive aging and Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders (ADRD). Dr. Sol is further leveraging her clinical training and research experiences to develop her skills in using large epidemiological datasets for multivariate modeling of longitudinal data to inform culturally relevant points of intervention and policy changes to reduce this disparity in aging.
Clinical Science Doctoral Students
Afsara Zaheed: Clinical Science Doctoral Student
Afsara is a third year in the Clinical Science PhD program. Her primary research interest is 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 is also interested in identifying factors that may contribute to late-life disparities in cognitive functioning across different racial and ethnic groups.
Zarina Kraal: Clinical Science Doctoral Student
Zarina’s research interests are wide-ranging and include the relationships between inflammation, vascular and metabolic function, and neuropsychological functioning across depression, bipolar, and schizophrenia spectrum disorders. She is also interested in neuropsychological performance and functional outcomes in psychiatric disorders and chronic health conditions. She is especially interested in examining how factors such as resilience and coping mediate these relationships.
Emily Morris: Clinical Science Doctoral Student
Emily is a first year in the Clinical Science PhD program. She is interested in understanding health disparities and cultural differences in Alzheimer’s disease and dementia and how stress and inflammation may influence these relationships. She is also interested in cultural neuropsychology and its applications to working with diverse racial and ethnic groups.
Research Assistants
Priscella Holland: Research Assistant
Priscella is a postgrad research assistant. She earned her Bachelor’s of Science in General Biology from the University of Michigan in 2018. She is currently applying to M.D. programs. 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.
Nicole Fraija: Research Assistant
Nicole is a sophomore majoring in Psychology and Political Science. She is interested in exploring how risk factors such as socioeconomic status may lead to a faster cognitive decline in the aging population. Upon the completion of her undergraduate studies, she hopes to earn a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. She then hopes to work with underprivileged communities in her home country, Colombia.
Brianna Kenar: Research Assistant
Brianna is a sophomore studying Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience and with minors in Crime & Justice and Music. Her research interests include cognitive aging, mental health and psychopathology. Outside of academics, Brianna is a member of the Michigan Marching Band where she plays the piccolo. In the future, she hopes to attend law school.
Riya Prasad: Research Assistant
Riya is currently a freshman at the University of Michigan 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.
Sydney Wilhoite: Research Assistant
Sydney is a third year undergraduate student pursing a Bachelor of Science degree in Biopsychology, Cognition, & Neuroscience, with a minor in Applied Statistics. Some of her research interests include neurodegenerative disease, cognitive aging, and the effects of stress on cognitive function. Outside of academics, she skis for the Michigan Alpine Ski & Snowboard Team and is a barista at Starbucks. In the future she hopes to attend a Clinical Psychology PhD program and specialize in clinical neuropsychology.
Olivia Robinson: Research Assistant
Olivia is an undergraduate majoring in Biopsychology Cognition, and Neuroscience and Women’s Studies with a minor in German. She hopes to pursue a Masters of Public Health Administration. Olivia is interested in researching the varying inequalities, biases, and struggles that impact people’s health. Outside of schoolwork, she is extremely passionate about advocating for women’s rights to healthcare.
Gabrielle Hooper: Research Assistant
Gabrielle Hooper is a junior at the University of Michigan pursuing 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. After undergrad, she hopes to pursue a PhD in either Neuropsychology or Cognitive psychology while fulfilling a rich career in chamber music with the Arbor Quartet.
Jonathan Xi: Research Assistant
Jonathan is a sophomore currently majoring 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. After graduation, he plans to attend medical school while continuing research.
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.