Lab Alumni

— Post-Doctoral Scholars —

Natasha Duell, PhD

Natasha Duell was an NSF postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Psychology & Neuroscience at UNC Chapel Hill and former T32 postdoctoral fellow at the UNC Center for Developmental Science. She received her PhD in psychology from Temple University and her BA in psychology and social behavior from UC Irvine. Broadly, Natasha's research applies a strengths-based approach to examining cultural and biopsychosocial correlates of adolescent decision-making and risk taking. She is excited to work with the SNH lab on her NSF-funded project examining the neural pathways of discrimination on self-regulatory functioning among adolescents and protective factors within the home and school. Aside from work, Natasha loves to travel, especially if there's good hiking or a beach involved!

Monica M. Gaudier-Diaz, PHD

Monica M. Gaudier-Diaz was a postdoctoral fellow in the lab. She completed a BS in Biology at the University of Puerto Rico in 2008 and a PhD in Neuroscience at The Ohio State University. Interested in how environmental factors influence health, Monica decided to join the Social Neuroscience & Health Laboratory where she could expand her training in this area. She is now a Teaching Assistant Professor and the Director of Undergrad NSCI Research at UNC.

Julian M. Rucker, PHD

Julian M. Rucker was a Carolina Postdoctoral Program for Faculty Diversity Fellow in the Department of Psychology & Neuroscience at UNC Chapel Hill. He now serves as an assistant professor in the department. Broadly, Julian is interested in the psychological factors shaping perceptions of, and motivations for, reducing racial inequality across several societal domains. His primary research examines how the lay tendency to associate racism with interpersonal biases, or with the structural disadvantage of racial groups, influences beliefs about societal racial inequality. His work also examines the psychological factors underlying misperceptions of racial progress in the U.S. He received his Ph.D. in Psychology from Yale University in 2020, an MA in Psychology from Northwestern University in 2016, and a BA in Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin in 2013. In his spare time, Julian enjoys playing with his dogs, cheering on the Texas Longhorns, and repairing/restoring guitars

— graduate students —

Gabriella M. Alvarez, PHD

Gaby received her doctorate in Social Psychology at UNC. Supported by an NSF GRFP, as well as a Pre-doctoral Ford Foundation Fellowship, she is gaining skills in psychoneuroimmunology and affective neuroscience to study how social contexts affect psychobiological responses to stress. In 2015, she received her A.B. in Psychology and Anthropology at Washington University in St. Louis. Following graduation, she completed a post-baccalaureate intramural research training position at the National Institute of Mental Health. Gaby is now tenure-track faculty at the University of Pittsburgh in the Biological-Health Psychology program in the Department of Arts & Sciences where her study of the social determinants of health not only contributes to advances in biology but also influences health policy and equity. Ultimately, her work aims to improve our understanding of how the social world sculpts biology and will reveal the mechanisms underlying socioeconomic and racial health disparities. In her spare time, she enjoys eating, listening to podcasts, and bonding with her cats Lillith and Tulip. You can read more about Gaby’s work on her website gabriellaalvarez.com.

Tatum A. Jolink, PHD

Tatum received her doctorate in Social Psychology with a concentration in Quantitative Psychology from UNC-CH in 2023. Her research integrates psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) and relationship science to try to understand basic biological and behavioral mechanisms at the root of high-quality relationships. Tatum received a BA in Psychology, History, and Plan II Honors from the University of Texas at Austin in 2015. She is currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Michigan in the WHIRLab. Her goal is to become a tenure-track faculty at a research university studying the bidirectional dynamics between close relationships and health. Tatum loves research and mentorship, but also finds joy in her friendships, moving her body, reading, coffee, television, and getting into shenanigans with her partner and their dog, Birddog. You can read more about Tatum's work here.

Becky Salomon, PHD

Becky received her doctorate in nursing from UNC and is currently a postdoctoral fellow in the School of Nursing at the University of California San Francisco. Her research focuses on a specific subset of depressive symptoms (depressed mood, chronic pain, cognitive dysfunction, sleep disturbance, and fatigue) which is called the psychoneurological symptom cluster in Nursing science. For her dissertation, which is supported by an NRSA Predoctoral Fellowship from the National Institute on Nursing Research, Becky is looking at whether the symptoms are associated with the chronic situational stress experienced by low-income mothers as well as whether the symptoms are associated with maternal function and their child’s behavior. She hopes to follow up this research with an exploration of chronic stress, inflammation, and the development of symptoms. Her long-term research goal is to develop an accessible stress intervention for the dually vulnerable population of mothers and children. Becky received a B.A. in Psychology and English at Wellesley College in 2008. After spending time working with children in a variety of settings, including on a biodynamic dairy farm in upstate New York and at an overnight camp in Western North Carolina, she attended Vanderbilt University and received her MSN in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing across the lifespan. When she’s not wearing her academia hat, she loves to garden, cook, and spend time with her wife and their daughter.

Jennifer K. MaccoRmack, PHD

Jenn received her doctorate in Social Psychology at UNC. In 2013, she received her B.A. in Psychology from NC State University. Before that, she studied Welsh language and literature at Bangor University in North Wales, UK for four years. While at UNC, Jenn studied how bodily changes (e.g., interoceptive awareness, hunger, inflammation, physiological aging) can shift our emotions, social perceptions, and affect-based decisions. To test these connections, she drew on social cognition, peripheral psychophysiology, psychoneuroimmunology, and social affective neuroscience. Her research was supported by an NRSA Predoctoral Fellowship from the National Institute on Aging. She is currently a post-doc working with Dr. Peter J. Gianaros at the University of Pittsburgh. She hopes to become a tenure-track professor at a research university and build a lab that uses social affective, developmental, and interoceptive science to explore the mind-body link.

— Post-baccalaureate staff —

Chloe Newbill, BS

Chloe was a SNH Project Coordinator. She graduated early from UNC Chapel Hill with a B.S. in Neuroscience and a minor in Chemistry in 2022. Chloe is interested in how social inequities impact the mechanisms that make up our neuroimmunological pathways. She is currently working as the very first Laboratory Manager in the Neuroscience for Health Equity (NHE) Lab led by Dr. Gabriella Alvarez (see above ;) ) at the University of Pittsburgh. She plans to apply to MD-PhD/MSTP degree programs in the near future.

Erin Bender, BS

Erin was a SNH Research Coordinator. She graduated with a B.S. in Psychology and minor in Music from Tulane University in 2021. Her research interests focus on how the brain and the immune system respond to social stress. Erin is currently pursuing her music career before applying to doctoral programs.

Nick Fendinger, BA

Nick was a SNH Laboratory Manager. He graduated with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in English literature from Miami University (OH) in 2019. His research interests focus on how social class impacts individuals’ motivation and ability to infer the internal states of others (e.g., theory of mind). He’s also interested in researching how being a target of racial stigma influences health and social cognition. Nick is currently enrolled as a doctoral student at New York University.

Emma Armstrong-Carter, PHD

Emma was the SNH lab's very first Laboratory Manager. She graduated in with a B.A. in Psychology in 2016 from UNC Chapel Hill, and earned her PhD at Stanford University in 2022. Her research interests focus on child and adolescent development, and the social and cognitive conditions that underlie human experiences. Emma is currently an Assistant Professor at Tufts University in the Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Study and Human Development.

— Undergraduate research assistants —

Sarah Barnes, BS

Sarah graduated in 2023 from UNC Chapel Hill with a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Biology. She is interested in the relationships between social experiences, brain functioning, and the immune system; more specifically, to better understand inequities in health, education and general well-being of those with racial or class differences. Sarah currently works at Duke University as a Clinical Research Specialist within the School of Medicine.

Araceli Perez, BS

Araceli graduated with a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Spanish for the Medical Professions from UNC Chapel Hill in 2023. She is interested in studying the health and educational inequities within the Latinx community. Araceli plans to attend graduate school for education.

Manav Patel, BS

Manav graduated in 2023 from UNC Chapel Hill with a B.S. in Neuroscience and a minor in Chemistry. He is interested in learning about how people's lifestyle choices are affected by psychological and physiological trauma. He also intrigued by how new information can impact someone's decision-making process. Manav is currently a Pre-Medical Student.

Tori DeWald, BA

Tori graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in 2023 with a B.A. in Psychology and Anthropology with a minor in Food Studies. She is interested in socioeconomic factors which may impact health behaviors and treatment options. Tori currently works as a Food Systems Intern at the Center for Environmental Farming Systems and plans to attend graduate school for cultural anthropology with a focus in food studies.

Kellyn Schroeder, BS

Kellyn graduated with a B.S. in Neuroscience and minors in Chemistry and Conflict Management from UNC Chapel Hill in 2023. She is interested in studying physical, social, and emotional factors associated with the progression of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s Disease. Additionally, she is interested in studying consumer psychology and what influences consumer habits, behaviors, and decision making. Kellyn plans to continue to gain research experience and then attend graduate school working toward a PhD.

Adaeze Chukwudebe, BS

Adaeze graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in 2023 with a B.S. in Biology and Medical Anthropology and a minor in Chemistry. She is interested in mental health and medicine, especially involving minority and underrepresented communities. Adaeze plans to attend medical school and continue her studies to become a psychiatrist.

Joseph Wenz, BS

Joseph graduated in 2023 from UNC Chapel Hill with a B.S. in Psychology and minors in Data Science and Medical Anthropology. He is interested in the relationship between psychology, physiology, and immune function as they relate to chronic stress, particularly as this concerns racial and sexual minorities. Joseph plans to join the Peace Corps.

Rachel MOLDOW, BS, BAEd

Rachel graduated with a B.S. in Psychology and B.A.Ed. in Human Development and Family Studies with a minor in Neuroscience in 2023 from UNC Chapel Hill. She is interested in the influence of biological and social factors on stress and psychiatric disorders. Rachel is currently working as a Research Assistant at the Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research.

Eric Groves, BAEd

Eric graduated with a B.A.Ed. in Human Development and Family Studies and Child and Family Health in 2023 from UNC Chapel Hill. He is interested in how stress affects the brain and addressing stress in marginalized groups to ensure health care equity. Eric plans to attend medical school and become a physician-scientist.

Fowota Mortoo, BA

Fowota graduated from UNC Chapel Hill with a B.A. in International and Global Studies in 2022. She wants to learn more about the implications of discrimination and race-related stressors for health disparities and chronic diseases. Fowota is currently a PEN America Gap Year Writing Fellow.

Joe Thompson, BA

Joe graduated from UNC Chapel Hill with a B.A. in Psychology in 2022. He is interested in biophilia and horticulture therapy. Specifically, he is interested in how they can be used to improve health outcomes of patients with schizophrenia and other severe mental health disorders as well as monitoring the physiological changes that occur when in nature, or gardening. Before college, he served four years in the United States Marine Corps, deploying overseas twice and attaining the rank of Sergeant. He plans to attend graduate school.

Alex Martinez, BS

Alex graduated from UNC Chapel Hill with B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Neuroscience at UNC Chapel Hill in 2021. He is interested in how peer and familial stressors interact and contribute to both psychopathology and physiological changes. Alex is currently gaining more research experience as the Clinical Research Coordinator for the UCSF Memory and Aging Center before pursuing a graduate degree in Clinical Psychology.

Hannah Tartamella, BA

Hannah graduated from UNC Chapel Hill with a B.A. in Psychology and minors in English and Sexuality Studies in 2021. They are interested in substance abuse and its comorbidity with neurological disorders such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD. After graduation, she plans on pursuing a graduate degree in Social Work.

Katie Fesperman, BA

Katie graduated from UNC Chapel Hill with a B.A. in Psychology and Sociology with a minor in Neuroscience in 2021. She is interested in the psychological and neurological underpinning of social stratification; more specifically, she's interested in the psychological processes intertwined in racial or class differences. Katie is currently a dual-degree candidate for a Master of Social Work and Master of Public Health at the University of Pennsylvania.

Kat Liner, BA

Kat Liner graduated in 2021 with a B.A. in Exercise and Sport Science at UNC Chapel Hill with hopes of becoming a PA in the future. She has thoroughly enjoyed learning about the human body, how it functions, and reacts to changes in environment and is looking forward to continuing this education through research.

Rahul Mehra, BA

Rahul graduated in 2021 with a B.A. in Global Studies and minors in Biology and Chemistry from UNC Chapel Hill. He is interested in the biophysical impacts of stress on the immune system, as well as how socioeconomic status affects stress levels and influences health disparities in America. Rahul is currently a medical student at East Tennessee State University.

Hannah Netschytailo, BA

Hannah graduated from UNC Chapel Hill with a B.A. in Psychology and Human Development and Family Studies in 2021. She is interested in studying resilience, specifically concerning children and adolescents who have experienced trauma. She hopes to help individuals overcome trauma and adversity in the future, and will possibly pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology after graduation. Hannah currently works as a Research Assistant at the UNC Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention.

Catherine Young, BS

Catherine graduated from UNC Chapel Hill with a B.S. in Biology and General Biological Sciences in 2021. She is originally from Charlotte, NC, and is interested in pursuing a career in medicine after graduation. Catherine is currently a Master’s degree candidate in Biomedical and Health Informatics, as well as a Clinical Research Associate for Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist.

Anthony lane, Ms, ATC

Anthony graduated from UNC Chapel Hill with a B.A. in Psychology and Exercise and Sports Science with a minor in History in 2021. He is broadly interested in health psychology and how stress/social factors can affect one's physiological state, which can in turn lead to health implications. He graduated in 2023 from UNC Wilmington with his Master’s Degree in Athletic Training and is currently working at Louisiana State University as an Athletic Training Intern.

Emily Huber, BA

Emily graduated from UNC Chapel Hill with a B.A. in Psychology with minors in Chemistry and Neuroscience in 2021. She is interested in health psychology and the impact of social factors on psychopathology. Eventually, she plans to either attend medical school to build a career in women’s health, psychiatry, neurology, or another related field.

Rachel Musa, BS

Rachel graduated from UNC Chapel Hill with a B.S. in Biology with minors in Chemistry and Medical Anthropology in 2021. She is interested in the physiological response to stress specifically the immune response. Rachel is currently a Research Technician in the Shpargel Lab at UNC Chapel Hill and is set to attend medical school at East Carolina University.

Suhas Dundigalla, BS

Suhas graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in 2021 with a B.S. in Computer Science and Neuroscience. He is interested in the physical manifestations of stress and the underlying biological processes that work together to create these responses. Suhas is currently working as a Software Development Engineer at Amazon.

Ishan Thaker, BS

Ishan graduated in 2021 from UNC Chapel Hill with a B.S. in Psychology and Computer Science and a minor in Neuroscience. In addition to the SNH Lab, he was also a research assistant in Dr. Eric Youngstrom’s Mood, Emotions, and Clinical Child Assessment Lab, where he used evidence based assessment to assess adolescent mood disorders and disseminate psychological resources to the general public through Wikipedia and Wikiversity. Ishan currently works as an Associate Product Manager at The Points Guy.

Luyang Jia, MS

Luyang graduated from UNC Chapel Hill with a B.S. in Economics and Psychology in 2021. She is interested in studying the effects of socioeconomic factors on mental health, especially the stress of people in the workplace. Luyan recently earned a Master of Arts in International and Developmental Economics from Yale University.

Graham Booth, BS

Graham graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in 2020 with a B.S. in Public Health and Nutrition. He is interested in the physiological responses to stress as well as neuromuscular disorders. Graham currently works as a Public Health Analyst at RTI International.

Krista Cannady, MHA

Krista graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in 2020 with a B.A. in Exercise and Sports Science and a minor in History. For research, she is interested in how stress is connected to inflammation in the body, which relates directly to autoimmune disorders. Krista went on to earn her Master’s degree in Health Administration and Management from UNC Charlotte in 2022, now working as a Data Analyst at Centene Corporation.

Varun kasula, BA

Varun graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in 2020 with a B.A. in Psychology and minors in Chemistry and Neuroscience. He is interested in the relationship between mindfulness and motivation, particularly within the field of sports, and also the benefits of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. Varun plans to become a physician who is also actively involved in research.

Xueyang Li, Ms

Xueyang graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in 2020 with a B.S. in Biostatistics and Public Policy with a minor in Mathematics. She is interested in learning more about how environmental factors and demographics works together to influence health and health disparities from a neuroscientific perspective. Xueyang went on to earn her Master of Science in Analytics in 2023 from the Institute for Advanced Analytics and now works as an AVP Data Scientist at Fifth Third Bank.

El Russell, MPH

El graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in 2020 with a B.S. in Psychology and minors in Neuroscience and Hispanic Studies. She is interested in the neurological basis of social interactions, how these changes manifest physiologically, and how this contributes to the health of the overall population. El is earning her Master’s of Public Health at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas and works as a Graduate Assistant for Fitness and Group Fitness.

Victor Catalan, BS

Victor graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in 2020 with a B.S. in Psychology and minors in Neuroscience and Chemistry. He is interested in seeing how social determinants like socioeconomic status may have a biophysical effect. Victor currently is a Master’s of Public Health candidate at UNC Chapel Hill and currently has an internship at the North Carolina Farmworkers Health Program.

Desman Wilson, MS

Desman graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in 2020 with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Neuroscience. He is broadly interested in moral psychology, specifically in how people make moral decisions, moral judgment towards autonomous agents, attitude change, political tolerance and understanding, and the psychology of ethics. Desman earned his Master of Science in Management and Organizations at Northwestern University in 2022 and is currently working as a Research Coordinator at Greener by Default.

Sinclaire Scales, CNA

Sinclaire graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in 2020 with a B.S. in Psychology and a B.A. in Biology. She is interested in the effect of race-related stressors on physiological and psychological processes. Sinclaire currently works as a Certified Nursing Assistant at SearStone Retirement Community.

Sophie Joseph, BS, BA

Sophie graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in 2020 with a B.S. in Geology and a B.A. in Anthropology. Her research interests primarily lie in global health, bioanthropology, and social determinants of human health and disease outcomes. Sophie is a doctoral candidate at Emory University’s Biological Anthropology program.

Kate Giffin, BA

Kate graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in 2020 with a B.A. in Biology and a minor in Neuroscience. She is broadly interested in the neurobiological consequences of behavior, specifically how socioeconomic status affects social cognition, psychobiological systems, and health. Kate is currently a graduate student at the University of Michigan studying Neuroscience and working in the lab of Dr. Benjamin Singer.

Claire Houlihan, BS

Claire graduated in 2020 from UNC Chapel Hill with a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in French. She is curious about how our understanding of psychophysiological variations can be used to promote resilience-building among individuals and their communities. Claire currently works as a Clinical Educator at McLean Hospital.

Anna Wears, BA

Anna graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in 2019 with a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Medical Anthropology. She is interested in topics including health equity, chronic stress, and the presentation and treatment of anxiety and depression in adults, adolescents, and families. Anna is currently a dual-degree candidate for a Master of Social Work and Public Health at the University of Pittsburgh, working as a Research Project Assistant in the Clinical Application of Neuroscience Lab.

Jenah freeman, BS

Jenah graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in 2019 with a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Neuroscience. She is interested in the way events particularly stressful events alter our neural circuit activity and how this activity is altered between different population groups. Jenah currently works as a Recruiter at Compass Group USA.

Alex Haag, MD

Alex graduated with a B.A. in Biology in History from UNC Chapel Hill in 2019. He is interested in the connection between the brain and the body. In particular, he hopes to incorporate the field’s findings on the physiological consequences of this connection, and how it leads to differential health outcomes between populations, into future medical practice. Alex recently earned his medical degree at The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences in 2023.

Steven Vogel, BS

Steven graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in 2019 with a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Gender and Sexuality. His research interests include differences in physiological and emotional responses to different major life stressors, among others. Steven currently works as a Neuropsychiatric Technician at Mindpath Health.

Josh donnelly, BS

Josh graduated in 2019 from UNC Chapel Hill with a B.S. in Psychology and minor in Biology. He is interested in the biological processes that underly behavior and how these processes interact with unique social conditions or environments.

Emmie Banks, BA

Emmie graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in 2018, with a B.A. in Psychology and Neuroscience. Upon graduation, she worked in the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Unit in the Yale School of Medicine for a three-year post-baccalaureate fellowship where she assisted in the research coordination of clinical trials and neuroimaging studies. Emmie is currently a doctoral candidate in Neurobiology and Neurosciences at Emory University.

Saif Mehyar, MS

Saif graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in 2018, with a B.A. in Business Administration and Management and Psychology. He is interested in studying how cognitive dissonance theory can help explain the neural correlates of conflict resolution and dissonance reduction in moral decision making and interracial interactions. Saif earned his Master’s degree in Quantitative Management and Business Analytics in 2019 from Duke University and currently works at Ancestry as a Marketing Analyst.

Arnav Singla, MD

Arnav graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in 2018 with a B.S. in Business Administration and minors in Biology and Chemistry. He is interested in the various socioeconomic factors that trigger stress and the responses, or biomarkers, associated with these triggers. Arnav earned his Doctor of Medicine degree in 2023 from the Tufts University School of Medicine and is currently a Resident Physician at Rush University Medical Center.

Carrie Hamilton, BS

Carrie was an SNH lab programmer. She graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in 2017 with a B.S. in Environmental Science and Geography. She is interested in the intersection of social psychology and geography, and is especially interested in emotional, spatial, and temporal dynamics of bereavement and intimate relationships. Carrie is currently a doctoral candidate in Environmental Studies at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Hasan Mustafic, BA

Hasan graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in 2017 with in Psychology. He is interested in anxiety and neuroscience. Hasan is currently a Clinical Research Coordinator at the Maimonides Medical Center.

Gary Wilkins, BS

Gary was our fMRI data analysis assistant, who constructed a pipeline for human neuroimaging data. He earned a B.S. at UNC Chapel Hill in Mathematics with a concentration in Physics and a minor in German Studies in 2010. He then worked as a research technician for Dr. Eva Anton at the Neuroscience Center for UNC School of Medicine. Gary is currently a doctoral candidate at Carnegie Mellon University in Computational Biology.'

Matthew davis

Matthew Davis is a junior majoring in biology (BS) with minors in chemistry and neuroscience. He is broadly interested in neurological disorders such as ADHD, depression, and OCD and novel/alternative treatments or genetic indicators for these afflictions. He hopes to pursue a career in medicine as a pediatrician. In his free time, he enjoys watching sports, playing sports, talking about sports, and listening to music.

Ellie Wallace, BS, MS

Ellie was an undergraduate honors student. She earned her BS in Psychology from UNC Chapel Hill in 2018, and earned her MS at Georgetown University in 2020. Ellie is interested in looking at self-disclosure as a means of cognitive reward and specifically its role in the formation of relationships. She is a current medical student at the Medical University of South Carolina.