Research Assistants

Niya Kelley, a senior pre-medical student at SMU, is double majoring in Biology and Psychology. On campus, she serves as a teaching assistant in the biology department, tutors physiology, and is a member of AED. Post-graduation, she aims to attend medical school with a specialization in emergency medicine.

Amber Franklin is a junior majoring in Biological Sciences and Health and Society with Chemistry and Psychology minors. In addition to research with the ARC, she volunteers throughout the Dallas area and serves on the Dedman College Student Advisory Board. Her career plans include attending medical school and specializing in psychiatry.

Alex Rabin is a junior studying Psychology with minors in Neuroscience, Spanish, and Business. Her future plans include a PhD program in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in trauma-informed care. 

Saif is a pre-med sophomore who is majoring in Psychology with a minor in Business. He has passion for both psychology and the medical field. After graduation he plans to attend either graduate or medical school. 

Kylie Lodes is a senior pre-medical student studying biochemistry with a minor in neuroscience. Her future plans include attending medical school with a specialization in pediatrics and psychiatry. In her free time, she volunteers as a crisis text line counselor and a reading tutor for elementary school kids. 

Juliana is a senior pre-medical student triple majoring in chemistry, biology, and philosophy with a minor in neuroscience. On campus, she is teaching assistant in both the biology department and the philosophy department. She is considering either graduate school or medical school after graduation.

Neeja is a senior studying Psychology with minors in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science. Post-graduation she will be attending grad school and plans to go to dental school.

Kathleen is a senior pre-medical student studying Biochemistry with a minor in Psychology. Post-graduation, she plans to attend medical school and pursue a career in Psychiatry. Outside of school, she works as an ABA therapist and volunteers at Children's Health as well as with crisis text line.

Faith Bellamy is a sophomore majoring in Psychology and Statistics with minors in Math and Neuroscience. On campus, she serves as a member of the SMU Honor Council, Conduct Council, and a statistics tutor. After graduation, Faith plans to attend graduate school. 

Leoni Mierswa is a senior majoring in psychology with a minor in sports management at SMU. She comes from Germany and runs on both the cross-country and track team. She works on campus as a member of the ticket office while also tutoring German. As her heart lies in both sports and psychology, she plans to pursue graduate education to become a sports scientist following her graduation from SMU.

Victoria is a senior majoring in Psychology and Philosophy with minors in Cognitive Science and Italian. Her future plans are to attend grad school for Counseling or Counseling Psychology.

Miles is an Honor Transfer Scholar majoring in Psychology with minors in Statistical Science and Religious Studies. He has a passion for understanding human behavior through a multifaceted lens. Upon graduation, Miles aspires to further his exploration of the human mind by pursuing graduate studies.

Kenneth Clardy, a senior honors student at SMU, is double majoring in Psychology B.S. and Business Managment B.B.A. with a minor in history. He is a vice president of Psi Chi, the equipment and loading manager for the Mustang Band, and a member of the SMU Drumline. Post-graduation, he plans to peruse both an MBA and his PhD in Clinical Psychology, and has the goals of opening his own practice later in life. 

Elyse Bryant is a junior majoring in Psychology, with minors in Statistics and Sports Performance Leadership. After graduation, she plans on earning a master's degree in Industrial-Organizational Psychology.

Eliana Abraham is a senior studying on the pre-health track with majors in Biology and Health & Society and a minor in Psychology. She has been a Research Assistant with the lab since the Fall of 2019. For the past two years, Eliana has worked on a project related to stress during pregnancy. Now she assists with research focused on positive psychology for college students. She will be begin medical school after graduation and looks forward to coming back to SMU for the traditions that have shaped her time on campus.

Kareena is a senior studying on the pre-health track with majors in Biology and Health & Society and minors in Chinese and Neuroscience. She is a member of AED, Business and Healthcare, and Best Buddies. Outside of school, she works as a scribe. After graduation, she hopes to continue on to medical school. 

Maria is a senior studying Psychology, Sociology, and Human Rights with minors in Statistics and Women’s & Gender studies. Maria has been with the lab since Fall 2019. After graduation, she plans on pursuing a PhD in Clinical Psychology. 

Kristin is a junior transfer student majoring in psychology and potentially minoring in neuroscience, as well. Her future includes getting a masters a degree and becoming a child therapist. After graduation, she plans on traveling for the summer.

Aiden is a junior at SMU majoring in Psychology with a minor in Human Rights. They plan to get a Ph.D. in Social Psychology following graduation.

Finn is a sophomore from Atlanta majoring in Psychology, and plans on minoring in Neuroscience and Philosophy. His future plans include either a PhD program in Psychology or Law School.

Aashna is seventeen years old and a senior in high school. Outside of school, she teaches elementary school kids about the human body through the nonprofit “Youth Passion Project” and math through “intellichoice.” She is excited to pursue a premed track when she goes to college next year to hopefully become a pediatric surgeon.

Isabelle is a junior double majoring in Biology and Psychology on the pre-med track with a minor in Law and Legal Reasoning. She is a member of the University Honors Program, Dedman Scholars, and AED. Outside of school, she works as an EMT. After graduating, she hopes to continue on to medical school. 

Payton is a senior majoring in Psychology and minoring in Cognitive Science. Her interests broadly include investigating the etiological factors and novel treatments for anxiety and depression. Payton plans to further her education by earning a PhD in Clinical Psychology.

Nushah is a junior double-majoring in Health and Society & Psychology and minoring in Spanish & Biological Sciences on the pre-med track. On campus she is involved with MHPS as an RA, Student Foundation, AED, and the University Honors Program. She  hopes to attend medical school after graduating and aim to become an ophthalmologist. She is also pursuing an independent research project examining the relationship between anxiety and self-efficacy.

Chloë Raines, is a current undergraduate (junior) at Bowdoin College, working as a research student for SMU’s Psychology department. She is a dual-majoring in Neuroscience and Law, looking to go to medical school when she graduates. She is particularly interested in research on sleep and its relation to our mental health, and how negative mental health effects may affect the physiology of our brains and bodies.

Michael Reese is a junior working towards a major in Psychology and minors in Art History, Statistics, and Cultural Anthropology. He is interested in novel treatments related to anxiety and depression as well as the role of misconceptions in peoples’ understandings of psychology. Outside of school, he works part time in the digital arts and graphic design. 

Tricia is a sophomore double majoring in Psychology and Health & Society on the pre-med track with minors in Neuroscience and Biomedical Anthropology. On campus, she is a resident assistant in the Upper Division Housing community and is involved with the University Honors Program, Gamma Phi Beta, and Alternative Breaks. After graduating, she plans on attending medical school to hopefully become a psychiatrist. Her research interests broadly include investigating novel treatments for anxiety and depression and connections between anxiety disorders and pulmonary diseases.

Joshua is a senior majoring in psychology at UNT. He hopes to someday be accepted into a Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program where he can continue being a part of research.

Olivia is a senior majoring in Psychology and Philosophy, with minors in Cognitive Science, Neuroscience, and Statistics. Her research interests broadly include novel treatment interventions for depression and anxiety and contributing factors of stigmatization and help-seeking attitudes within athletic culture. She hopes to continue her education and research at a Clinical Psychology PhD program.  ​

Andrew Wright is a senior SMU student from Plano, Texas. He is majoring in Biochemistry and is on the premed track. After graduation, Andrew hopes to continue his education by attending medical school.

Kendall Abbott is a senior getting her Bachelors of Science in Psychology and a Minor in Communications.  After graduating, her plan is to attend graduate school to receive a PhD in Counseling.

Alexandra is a junior pursuing majors in health & society and psychology. She is also minoring in neuroscience. 

Mackenzie Zimmerman is currently a senior at SMU. She is majoring in Psychology and Human Rights with a minor in Women and Gender Studies.

Ashlynn is a junior majoring in biology. She is also minoring in neuroscience and ​Human Rights. 

Lauren is a junior pursuing environmental science, psychology, and geology majors. She is also minoring in religious studies.

Becky junior double majoring in Health and Society and Psychology on the Equestrian team here at SMU.

Samiah is a junior double majoring in biology and religious studies.