About

Emily completed her M.A. in Psychology from the University at Buffalo. Her research interests primarily focus on child socioemotional development within the context of close interpersonal relationships, with an emphasis on the family context. In particular, she is interested in parental influences from the prenatal to early childhood period. Most recently, she has taken an interest in how parent influences impact the development of emotional regulation in children. Outside of the lab, you can catch Emily on the hiking trail, going thrifting, or at home baking in her kitchen.  

Rania recently earned her M.A. (2023) in Psychology from the University at Buffalo. She is actively involved in numerous aspects of psychological research, both clinical and preclinical, with a particular focus on neuropsychiatric disorders. Her academic interests revolve around studying substance use disorder and ADHD, delving deep into the realms of epigenetics and cultural disparity. She is devoted to understanding how these factors impact behavior and cognition, as well as their contributions to the development and comorbidity of various psychiatric and medical disorders. Outside of the lab, she cherishes her time outdoors. You can often find her reading in her hammock, biking, hiking, or planning spontaneous trips with her friends and family.

Isabel completed her B.S. in Psychology and B.A. in Sociology at Saint Peter’s University in 2017 and her M.S. in Mental Health Counseling at St. John Fisher College in 2019. Isabel is now currently completing her second Master’s in School Psychology at the Rochester Institute of Technology as her interests have focused on supporting youth meet their academic, developmental, and emotional goals. Her range of work experiences as a Mental Health Counselor, Opiate Court Clinician, Job Developer, and Parent Observer for non-profit organizations reflect her desire to help and be an advocate to others. In her free time, you can catch Isabel going for walks with her dog, playing the bass guitar at open-mics, or attempting to longboard without crashing.

Emily is a second-year student at RIT, pursuing a B.S. in Biomedical Sciences. She is greatly interested in exploring the effects of substance abuse, particularly how parental substance abuse impacts a child’s mental health and emotional, physical, and cognitive development. Emily aspires to earn her Ph.D. and work in a research lab focused on the biology of cancer and its potential treatments. Beyond her academic pursuits, Emily enjoys cooking, baking, playing the piano, reading, and spending time with her dog, Bennet. 

Sammy is a junior at RIT pursuing a B.S. in Biomedical Sciences. He is concurrently enrolled in the Accelerated Scholars Program with Upstate Medical University, where he plans to earn his M.D. He is interested in studying how environmental factors influence early childhood development, both physically and emotionally. Outside of his research, Sammy is involved in Reporter, Student Government, and community service efforts throughout Rochester.

Helena is a fourth-year at RIT where she is pursuing a B.S. in Psychology. She plans on working toward a master's degree in Clinical Psychology after graduation. Her research interests include the effects of social media on adolescents' diets and attitudes toward gender norms and expectations, as well as how indoor/outdoor play affects adolescents' mental health and self-regulation. Her hobbies include crocheting and knitting for her friends/family, trying out new recipes, reading, and swimming.

Natalie is a Senior at Rochester Institute of Technology, where she is earning her bachelor of science in Psychology. She plans to continue her education after graduation and pursue a master's in experimental psychology. Her research interests include the effects of parental drug use on infant/child development, adolescent development, and the influence of material prenatal substance use on early childhood attachment. In her free time, Natalie likes to work out, read non-fiction novels, and hang out with her cat, Pesto.

Sayyada is a junior at RIT where she is earning a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. She is interested in everything related to Psychology and how research can be used to improve our communities. She plans to continue her education and pursue development psychology. In her free time, she likes to read and explore nature.