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Meet Our Team

pearl members


Principal Investigator

charlie taylorCharlie Taylor, Ph.D.

Dr. Taylor is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at UC San Diego and the Director of the Positive Emotion & Anxiety Research Laboratory (PEARL). He received his B.Sc. in Psychology at McMaster University (Hamilton, ON, Canada) and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of British Columbia (Vancouver, BC, Canada). He has over 15 years of experience specializing in the assessment and treatment of anxiety and depression. Dr. Taylor directs an active program of clinical research funded by the National Institute of Mental Health and Brain and Behavior Foundation.

Members

Post Doc

  • Amanda J Khan, Ph.D.

    Amanda J Khan, Ph.D.

    Dr. Khan is a licensed clinical psychologist and Postdoctoral Scholar working with Drs. Stein and Taylor in the Department of Psychiatry at UCSD. Dr. Khan completed her clinical residency at the San Francisco VA Health Care System (SFVA) and a MIRECC advanced postdoctoral research fellowship in PTSD at the SFVA and Department of Psychiatry at UCSF. Dr. Khan's program of research aims to better understand how different types of trauma impact the onset, maintenance, and treatment of PTSD, depression/suicidality, and moral injury through multi-level factors (emotion regulation, biology, cultural context). Dr. Khan also has a passion for education on working with LGBTQ+ individuals and provides trainings and workshops on this topic to mental health professionals.

Doctoral Students

  • Samantha Hoffman

    Samantha Hoffman

    Sam (she/her) is a 4th-year clinical psychology Ph.D. student at the San Diego State University/University of California San Diego (UCSD) Joint Doctoral Program (JDP) in Clinical Psychology. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Physiology and Neuroscience from UCSD and earned a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology from the JDP. Sam joined PEARL in 2019 and is passionate about improving treatment outcomes for individuals with mood, anxiety, and trauma-related psychopathology. Her research has encompassed the intersection of emotional processes, social disconnection, suicide, and trauma with the ultimate goal of clarifying the mechanisms behind treatment response and long-term recovery. She is currently a therapist who delivers treatments to PEARL's wonderful participants. In her spare time, she enjoys discovering new coffee shops, restaurants, and eateries.

  • Madeleine Rassaby

    Madeleine Rassaby

    Hi there! My name is Madeleine and I am a second-year graduate student at the SDSU/UC SanDiego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology working under the mentorship of Dr. Charles Taylor and Dr. Murray Stein. My research interests focus on the development and optimization of evidence-based treatments aimed to both reduce negative affect and associated maladaptive cognitive and behavioral processes, and enhance positive emotions. I am particularly interested in the treatment of anxiety, depression, and trauma-related disorders. In my free time I enjoy connecting with family and friends, trying out different coffee shops and restaurants around San Diego, singing and listening to music, being active, traveling, and admiring the beautiful beach sunsets.

  • Isabella Spaulding

    Isabella Spaulding

    Hello! My name is Isabella and I’m a first year doctoral student in the SDSU/UC San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology. Before joining PEARL I completed my B.S. in Clinical Psychology at Tufts University and then worked as a postbaccalaureate fellow in the Section on Development and Affective Neuroscience at the National Institute of Mental Health. My research interests are focused on exploring the cognitive and neurobiological mechanisms underlying mood, anxiety, and trauma disorders, and how these insights might inform the development of novel treatments. I’m also particularly interested in better understanding the impacts (e.g., biological, social) of early adversity on individuals with psychological disorders in adulthood, in an effort to identify potential treatment targets and ultimately improve outcomes for this population. Outside of the lab I love to spend time at the beach, try new recipes, and travel! 

  • Maria Kryza-Lacombe

    Maria Kryza-Lacombe

    Maria is a PhD Candidate at the San Diego State University/UC San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology. Her overarching research focus is clinical translation. To this end, she uses neuroimaging and neuropsychological tools to identify neural, cognitive, and emotional factors that promote well-being. She is currently examining these factors in adults with depression and/or anxiety under Charles Taylor's mentorship at UC San Diego, as well as in youth with varying levels of irritability under Jillian Lee Wiggins’ mentorship at San Diego State University. Her long-term goal is to contribute to mechanism-based prevention and intervention development to foster well-being and resilience across the lifespan.

Research Coordinators

  • Taylor Smith

    Taylor Smith

    Taylor R. Smith is a study coordinator at the Positive Emotion & Anxiety Research Laboratory. She graduated from the University of San Diego, California with a B.S. in psychology and a minor in mathematics. Taylor started as a student volunteer and now has been coordinating in the lab for over 4 years. She is a San Diego native and enjoys swimming in the ocean, rollerblading, and baking.
  • Alex Skupny

  • Alexis Roach

    Alexis Roach

    Hello! My name is Alexis, and I am a research coordinator at PEARL. I graduated from UCSD in June of 2022 with my B.S. in Clinical Psychology. I began my time at PEARL as an undergraduate research assistant, and have loved it ever since!  Some operations I look over at the lab include phone screening, data entry, study recruitment, undergraduate projects, and more. In the future, I plan to attend graduate school to become a licensed clinician. I am particularly passionate about suicide prevention & postvention, and treatment for serious mental illnesses (including efforts toward improvement & increasing it's availability). When not enjoying my time in the lab, I love to practice yoga, hike, and dance. 

  • Kaitlin Latta

    Kaitlin Latta

    Kaitlin graduated from the University of California San Diego with a degree in Clinical Psychology. She started volunteering at PEARL as a research assistant in August of 2019. In October 2020, she began her role as a research associate/coordinator. After getting her B.S. in Clinical Psychology, she hopes to continue on to either a masters program in school psychology or pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology to advance evidence-based treatments currently available for depression and bipolar disorder. She’s a passionate Trader Joe’s crew member, loves walking dogs when she can, and enjoys lifting weights to stay active.

Visiting Scholar

  • Soo-Hee Choi

    Soo-Hee Choi

    Dr. Choi is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Seoul National University. She has been running an Anxiety/Panic/Phobia Clinic at Seoul National University Hospital. Dr. Choi received her M.D. and Ph.D. in Psychiatry from Yonsei University (Seoul, Republic of Korea). Her research interest is in delineating an integrative model of pathologic anxiety using functional neuroimaging and physiology.

Clinical Research Assistants

  • Mylon Kemp

    Mylon Kemp

    Hello! My name is Mylon and I graduated from UCSD in 2019 with a B.A. in Philosophy and a minor in Psychology. I joined PEARL in February of 2021. I became a part of PEARL to better understand novel treatment approaches and positive affect interventions role in treating anxiety and depression. In the lab, I am currently a confederate and responsible for working on various projects with Dr. Taylor. Outside of lab I like to practice Muay Thai, watch the Lakers lose, meditate, binge anime, and casually contemplate the nature of reality. In the future, I hope to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology and better understand the complex neurobiological relationship between the mind and body as well as create holistic evidence-based interventions aimed at reducing anxiety and depression.

  • Elizabeth Stewart

    My name is Elizabeth Stewart and I have been a research assistant at PEARL since August 2021. I am currently getting my B.S. in Social Psychology at UCSD and will be graduating in the spring. My duties at PEARL have consisted of phone screening recruitment, data entry/organization, and website management. I also act as an experimenter for PEARL and help to conduct participant intakes. After graduation, I plan to attend graduate school. In the future I would like to be a therapist specializing in substance abuse disorders and am interested in working for a dual diagnosis recovery clinic. When I'm not at PEARL, I enjoy going to the beach, exploring San Diego, and catching the occasional Padres game. I also enjoy drawing and writing music.
  • Aly Bartolovich

    Aly Bartolovich

    Hi! My name is Aly. I’m a fourth year at UC San Diego. My major is Clinical Psychology and my minors are Chicanx and Latinx Studies and Health Care - Social Issues. I joined PEARL in September 2021. I became a part of PEARL because I was matched with this lab for the PSYC 116 series at UC San Diego, and I had an interest in learning more about treatments for anxiety and depression. In the lab, I am currently the Head of Phone Screening Management, as well as a phone screener and confederate. Outside of lab, I like to go on runs, explore San Diego, and dance. In the future, I would like to pursue a doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology and specialize in researching and administering treatments that target anxiety disorders. In addition, I hope to become fluent in Spanish.
  • Nick Marshall

    Nick Marshall

    Hello! My name is Nicholas. I’m a senior at UC San Diego and am studying psychology with a clinical specialization. I joined PEARL in February of 2022. I became a part of PEARL because I enjoyed learning about psychology and am very interested in clinical treatments. In the lab, I am currently responsible for: FIPD data management and am part of the phone screening team. Outside of the lab I like to workout, try new food places, and watch movies. In the future, I hope to use my degree to help people in need.
  • Shivani Vasanth

    Hi everyone! My name is Shivani, and I graduated from UCSD in June 2022 with a B.S. in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience. I joined PEARL in April 2022 to gain more hands-on experience working in a psychiatry research lab – specifically, to learn how to interact with research participants and to learn more about how neuroimaging research is conducted. Currently, I am the lab’s Head of Experimenter Management and Head of fMRI Brain Images; I’m also a phone screener, help with SRP and EMA data entry, and shadow MRI scans. Outside of the lab, I love baking, cooking, and most importantly, eating. I’m also obsessed with tea, and I watch a lot of anime and YouTube. In the future, I hope to pursue a Ph.D. in clinical psychology or neuropsychology, and eventually conduct my own research into anxiety and substance use disorders. I also hope to travel the world and experience as many different cuisines as possible.

  • Kaye Han

    Kaye Han

    Hey everyone! My name is Kaye. I’m a 2nd year clinical psychology and cognitive science major at UCSD. I joined PEARL in April 2022 to gain more hands-on experience working in a research lab, specifically one specializing in novel treatments for mood and anxiety disorders. In the lab, I am currently the Head of Behavioral Data Management and SRP Data, as well as a phone screener and confederate. Outside of the lab, I like to sing, play Genshin Impact, and watch sunsets. In the future, I hope to pursue a P.h.D. in clinical or developmental psychology and specialize my field of research in musicality and music therapy. In addition to picking up Japanese as my third language, I would love to travel around the world to learn more about different cultures and potentially conduct cross-cultural research.

  • Kari Siu

    Kari Siu

    Hi! My name is Kari, and I’m a 3rd year general psychology major at UCSD. I joined PEARL in June of 2022 to get my first lab experience and contribute to the really great research on unique treatments for anxiety/depression being done here. In the lab, I am currently the Head of Recruitment, as well as a phone screener and confederate. I also help with data entry/management and website design :) Outside of lab, I love to spend time outdoors while hiking or going to the beach. I also love to read, thrift, and upcycle clothes! In the future, I hope to become a clinical psychologist and work with clients in the legal system. I'd also love to live somewhere on the east coast or abroad at some point :)

  • Tom Bowers

    Tom Bowers

    Greetings! My name is Tom and I am 4th year general psychology major at UCSD. I joined PEARL in June of 2022 to gain more research experience in the field of clinical psychology in order to figure out what I want to do in graduate school. In the lab I am currently the Head of Information Technology (IT), as well as a phone screener and confederate. I also help with data entry/management of SRP. Outside of the lab I like to surf, travel, read, and play video games. In the future I intend to pursue a master’s degree in counseling psychology with hopes of eventually becoming a private practice therapist who specializes in helping military veterans with PTSD and other anxiety and depression related disorders.

  • Jonny Brekke

    Jonny Brekke

     Hello, my name is Jonny. I’m currently a senior here at UCSD majoring in clinical psychology. I joined PEARL back in July of 2022 in hopes of expanding my knowledge in the field of clinical research while also gaining some meaningful experience along the way. As a research assistant in the lab, I screen potential study participants, help with data entry, and work as a confederate in our ongoing studies. Additionally, I oversee and support other fellow confederates in the lab as the Head of Confederate Training. When I am not working in the lab, I enjoy reading, drawing, and surfing when the waves are good. As for my future ambitions, I would like to continue my education into graduate school for clinical psychology and eventually work as a psychotherapist specializing in anxiety intervention.

  • Maggie Satchwell

    Maggie Satchwell

     Hi there! My name is Margaret (Maggie) Satchwell and I am a 4th year clinical psychology student at UCSD. I joined PEARL in June of 2022 to embark on my honors thesis and to get experience working in clinical trials research. I am also very interested in novel treatments for adult anxiety disorders, so PEARL was a great fit for me. At PEARL, I am a phone screener, confederate, and work on SRP data entry. I am also working on a qualitative study examining client experiences with our positive affect treatment for my honors thesis! In my freetime, I enjoy hiking, yoga, trying new foods, reading, and writing. In the future, I hope to obtain my PhD in clinical psychology and have a balanced career consisting of research, teaching, and private practice!

  • Damian Tapia

  • Angie Gross

    Hello! My name is Angie, I am a fourth year Psychology major at UCSD. I joined PEARL in September 2022 in order to gain clinical experience while working on my honors thesis. I am currently the Head of EMA Data Management, as well as a phone screener and an experimenter. Outside of the lab, I like to do yoga, spend time outside, and read! Ultimately, I aim to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology, and work in a combination of roles as a researcher and clinician. 
  • Juliana Himawan

    Juliana Himawan

    Hi! My name is Juliana, and I’m a second year student at UC San Diego. My major is Cognitive Behavioral Neuroscience, and my minor is General Biology. I joined PEARL in November of 2022. I became a part of PEARL to gain research experience and to learn more about mental health. Everyday at PEARL, I am proud to be part of a team that works towards making medical advancements in the psychiatry field. In the lab, I am currently responsible for: SRP data entry, phone screening, and being a confederate. Outside of lab, I love going to the beach, traveling, and spending quality time with my friends and family. In the future, I hope to pursue a career in medicine as a practicing physician.

  • Amanda Bruse

    Amanda Bruse

    Hi! My name is Amanda. I’m a third year clinical psychology student at UCSD. I joined PEARL in November of 2022. I became a part of PEARL because I wanted to gain more knowledge about treatments for anxiety and depression, specifically how positive emotions can be utilized in this setting.  In the lab I am currently a research assistant, and have roles as a confederate and phone screener. Outside of lab I like to train Jiu Jitsu, hike, and travel. In the future, I hope to become a clinical psychologist who is able to use my knowledge to help athletes, as well as have my own private counseling practice! I also aim to spend a lot of time traveling and exploring new places and cultures!

  • Cameron Hicks

    Cameron Hicks

    Hello everyone! My name is Cameron, and I am a 3rd year psychology major at UCSD. I just recently joined the PEARL team at the beginning of 2023. I joined this lab to continue my knowledge of the research process as it relates to the field of psychology. This lab grabbed my attention as I am specifically interested in affective neuroscience and applying the learnings from this field to clinical treatments. Right now, my responsibilities include phone screening and doing intakes as an experimenter as well as helping out with data entry and other general lab duties. Outside of the lab I am involved in a tight rock climbing community. I use this sport as an outlet for keeping myself mentally and physically healthy. I find that climbing (as well as surfing) keep me connected with nature in a mindful way. My future goals are to continue to graduate school where I can get the certification necessary to teach cognitive science both in a clinical setting and as a college professor.
  • Angela Chin

    Angela Chin

    Angela is a fourth year undergraduate at the University of California, San Diego with a major in Clinical Psychology. After graduation, she plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and to research social networks, social anxiety, and diversity in psychology research. She joined PEARL June 2019 and is currently working on her honors thesis with Charlie. Outside of school and PEARL, she enjoys working out, spending quality/chaotic time with family, reading young adult novels, and obsessively rewatching Avatar: The Last Airbender.
  • Maya Cooper

    Maya Cooper

    Maya is a 3rd year majoring in Psychology with a concentration in human health. After graduating she wants to get her medical degree so she can become a Psychiatrist. She joined PEARL in January of 2021 and volunteers as an experimenter. Outside of her role in the lab, she loves serving as a leadership member for UCSD's only all-women's dance team on campus called 4N01. She is a peer guidance leader at the Black Resource center, and she works as a campus tour guide.
  • Victor Fu

    Victor Fu

    Victor is a fourth year undergraduate student at the University of California San Diego. He is majoring in Psychology with a minor in Global Health. He plans to pursue medicine in the future after graduating in 2021 to practice psychiatry. Currently, he volunteers as a research assistant at PEARL where he is working to gain experience in research of positive and negative affect. During his free time, Victor enjoys playing tennis, watching movies, and spending time with his friends and family.
  • Manmeet Kaur

    Manmeet Kaur

    Manmeet graduated from the University of California San Diego in June 2020 with a major in Psychology with a specialization in Clinical Psychology. After graduation, she plans to attend graduate school. She currently volunteers at Pearl as a research assistant. She also works as a mentor in OASIS as well at Roger’s Market. During her free time, she enjoys walks in nature, watching the sunset and being with friends.
  • Paige Klein

    Paige Klein

    Paige is a third-year undergraduate at San Diego State University with a major in Psychology and minor in Counseling and Social Change. After graduation, she plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology to research anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder in victims of traumatic events as well as coping and resiliency. She joined PEARL January 2021. Outside of PEARL, she enjoys hiking, sunsets at the beach, cooking and failing at cooking, as well as hanging with friends.
  • Ivory Ku

    Ivory Ku

    Ivory is a fourth year undergraduate student at the University of California San Diego. She is majoring in Cognitive Science with a specialization in Clinical Aspects and minoring in Chemistry. She plans to attend Pharmacy school after graduation. Her research interests include the effects of psychiatric drugs and natural diets on human brain and mood. She is currently volunteering as a research assistant in PEARL, working with physiology data, MRI data, and being an experimenter. She is also a Wellness Peer Educator in CAPS and the production manager in the Deejays and Vinylphiles Club in UCSD. Ivory enjoys taking pictures with vintage polaroid, DJing for fun, and exploring exotic food places with her family and friends!
  • Nana Pearson

    Nana Pearson

    Nana is a fifth year undergraduate student at the University of California San Diego. She is majoring in Cognitive Science, and she plans on pursuing further education in cognitive science or clinical psychology. As a research assistant at PEARL, her primary focus and interest is neuroimaging and processing fMRI data. She is very passionate about promoting mental wellbeing and health and is considering becoming a therapist, clinical psychologist, or getting further into research. During her free time, she loves to read books on psychology and the brain, watch ASMR/cute dog videos, go to the beach, and spend time with close friends and family.
  • Bianca Pomar

    Bianca Pomar

    Bianca is a third year undergraduate student at the University of California, San Diego majoring in Human Biology and minoring in Psychology. After college, Bianca intends to attend medical school in order to pursue a medical degree to become a physician where she will focus mainly on psychoneurobiology. She became apart of the PEARL team in January 2021. Aside from school and work, Bianca enjoys exploring San Diego and trying new foods, watching the sunsets, painting, and playing soccer/volleyball.

Alumni

  • Staff

    Alison Sweet

    Alison graduated from University of California San Diego in June 2019 with a B.S. in Psychology with a specialization in Clinical Psychology. She currently attends graduate school in Boston in order to pursue her research interests in anxiety and depressive disorders and to become a licensed clinician. During her time at PEARL, she worked as a staff research associate. While she was a research assistant, she completed an honors thesis to study the effects of a computerized behavioral activation program and approach/avoidance training on participants with major depressive disorder. In her free time, Alison enjoys spending time with friends and family, volunteering, cooking, baking, and reading.

    Tommy Tsai

    Tommy graduated from UCSD with a B.S. in Biochemistry and Cell Biology and a minor in Psychology. He worked at PEARL as a research associate and a part-time research assistant. Tommy currently attends graduate school in Florida. He is interested in learning about the relationships between psychosocial processes (e.g. positive affect, resilience) and health outcomes of people coping with chronic illnesses. He wishes to use research findings in this field to improve our community and our healthcare system. In his free time, Tommy enjoys spending time with family and friends, going outdoors, playing board games, and trying new foods.

    Matt Boland

    Matt had his PhD and was a post doc at PEARL.

    Sarah Dowling

    Sarah had a B.A. in Psychology was a coordinator at PEARL.

    Sarah L. Pearlstein, Ph.D.

    Sarah worked at PEARL as a Ph.D. student at the SDSU/UC San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology. She graduated from Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania with a major in Psychology and a minor in English Literature. Before joining PEARL, she lived in New York where she worked as a research assistant at Columbia University Medical Center. There, she coordinated studies in several research areas including the neural circuitry and treatment of individuals with OCD. Her current focus is on understanding the factors that contribute to positive social interactions, social approach motivation, and the formation of social relationships in individuals with low mood and anxiety. In her spare time, she enjoys listening to short story podcasts and making artwork for friends.

    Kim Potter, M.A.

    Kim served as a clinical coordinator. She joined PEARL in January 2018 after graduating with an M.A. in Psychology from San Diego State University. Her background is primarily in alcohol research and she has been involved in clinical as well as pre-clinical work during her career. She is originally from Georgia and her alma mater is the University of Georgia (go dawgs!). Part of her role at PEARL included managing psychophysiological data acquisition and maintenance. She is a trained fMRI operator and conducted neuroimaging for the lab. In her free time, she likes to ride all kinds of bikes from road bikes to mountain bikes.

    Karalani Cross

    Karalani’s research focused on the neural mechanisms of anxiety and mood disorders using fMRI technique. She worked on projects examining how computerized attention training affects neural pathways, specifically in areas of the brain that process social and reward cues. In addition to being a research coordinator at PEARL, she also assisted in a project at the Multimodal Imaging Laboratory at UCSD examining the relationships between lifestyle, cognitive function, and healthy and pathological aging using structural MRI and diffusion tensor imaging. Karalani intended to pursue a graduate degree to continue studying how mental health contributes to cognitive functioning and structural changes in the brain throughout the lifespan. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, traveling to new places, and spending time with her cat, Bali.

    Research Assistants

    Felipe Guerrero

    Felipe recently obtained his B.S. degree in Physiology and Neuroscience from the University of California, San Diego. He plans on pursing a career in medicine and joined the PEARL team to gain exposure to the nature of clinical research studies. As an avid sports fan, he has taken special interest in the mental processes of the "championship mentality" of sports legends and wishes to understand how to extrapolate this to everyday living, especially with regards to anxiety. In his free time, he enjoys hopping on his bicycle and just going, hanging out with friends, catching up on sports highlights, daydreaming, eating, and taking long melancholic walks by the beach after the Padres lose.

    Kate Elizondo

    Kate attended University of California, San Diego with a major in Physiology & Neuroscience and a minor Psychology. After graduation, she plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Neuroscience and to research the effects of neurodegenerative diseases on movement and other motor functions. She joined PEARL February 2020 and volunteered as an experimenter.

    Anna Gruszka

    Anna attended University of California, San Diego majoring in Clinical Psychology and minoring in Cognitive Science. After graduation, she plans to pursue a Ph.D. in either Clinical Psychology or Neuropsychology to study anxiety and developmental disorders in children and their neurological basis. She joined PEARL June 2020 and volunteered there as a research assistant. Previously, she worked in Early Learning and Cognition Lab focusing on the developmental process of learning and reasoning in children.

     

    Sumire Lundell

    Sumi attended the University of California, San Diego with a major in Human Biology. She plans to join the military after graduation and pursue a MD to become a Field Surgeon and assist injured soldiers on the battlefield. She joined PEARL in September 2019 and volunteers as a Research Assistant.

    Chris Kagoo

    Chris graduated from the University of California San Diego with a B.S. in Cognitive Science with a specialization in Clinical Aspects of Cognition in June 2020. He volunteered as a research assistant at PEARL where he is a confederate. In his free time, Chris enjoyed singing a capella with The Beat @UCSD, playing basketball, and watching Netflix.

    Shaira Cruz

    Shaira graduated from the University of California San Diego in June 2020 with a degree in Psychology with a specialization in Clinical Psychology, along with a minor in music. After graduation, she plans to continue her education in a master’s program for either clinical psychology or counseling. If not music therapy, she desires to pursue music from audio engineerin­g—specifically within the studio industry as she also currently works for Stage Crew at UCSD. As a research assistant at PEARL, she gained experience in both research and in interaction with various individuals and participants. During her free time, Shaira enjoys listening to music, watching YouTube and basically any other form of visual media, being involved in community service, and spending time with her friends.

    Gage Chu

    Gage was a fourth year undergraduate at the University of California San Diego and will graduate in June 2021 with a B.S. in Psychology with a specialization in Clinical Psychology. She joined PEARL in March 2019 where she is an experimenter and head of face coding. In her free time, she likes spending time with her dog.

    Chris Heyman

    Chris was a third-year undergraduate at the University of California, San Diego. He received his A.A. in General Science from Santa Monica College and expects to graduate with his B.S. in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, with a minor in Biology, in Spring of 2021. After graduation, he plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Neuroscience with the aim of conducting translation research to better understand neuronal mechanisms behind mental health and cognitive disorders, identify biomarkers of said conditions, and in turn, increase efficacy of their diagnosis and treatment. Specifically, he is interested in investigating these subjects through functional neuroimaging. He joined PEARL October of 2019 and worked primarily with fMRI scan and related task data. In his time off, he enjoys mountain biking, meditating, and listening to podcast’s.

    Natalie Dalton

    Natalie graduated from UCSD with a business psychology major and has over 10 years of project and people management experience in a diverse range of industries. In addition to the management skills she has developed, her career path has given her an opportunity to cultivate excellent people skills, and it is within her studies in business psychology that she is able to marry these two passions.

    Melea Thomas

    Melea graduated from the University of California San Diego with a B.S. in Physiology and Neuroscience and a minor in Global Health in June 2020. Her research interests include neuro- and psychophysiology. She currently volunteers at PEARL, working closely with physiology data and interaction with participants. She also manages Triton Outfitters and works at Draft Republic in La Jolla. After graduation she plans on applying to MPH and MD programs. In her free time, Melea enjoys spending time with her puppy, going to fun brunch spots with her friends, and going to concerts.

    Zoë Siddall

    Zoë received her A.A. in Psychology from MiraCosta College and graduated with her B.S. in Psychology with a Specialization in Clinical Psychology in June 2020. After graduation, she plans to get a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in order to pursue her research interests in developing a treatment for sexual dysfunctions resulting from sexual assault in people with PTSD and understanding the etiology of paraphilias and paraphilic disorders. She volunteered as a research assistant at PEARL where she completed an independent research project to study the relationship between childhood trauma and attachment styles in adults with depression and anxiety. In her free time, she enjoys making Halloween costumes, practicing and teaching yoga, and working as President for UCSD Psi Chi and Psychology Club.

    Jenifer Dorsett

    Jenifer graduated from the University of California San Diego with a B.S. in Psychology with a specialization in Social Psychology and minoring in Human Development in June 2019. She plans on going to graduate school to earn a Master’s in either Clinical Psychology or Counseling to achieve her goal of wanting to help children with mood disorders. She volunteered as a research assistant at PEARL because mental health has always been an important topic to her, and she feels that the experience in this lab is invaluable and that it will help her reach her career goals. In her free time, she enjoys singing, playing tennis, hiking, reading, watching movies of any kind of genre, and spending time with her friends and family.

    Shayna Quach

    Shayna graduated from the University of California San Diego in June 2019 with a B.S. in Psychology with a specialization in Developmental Psychology. She joined PEARL during her first year at UCSD because she was interested in research and learning more about mental health. She plans to apply to a Master’s program in Occupational Therapy. During her free time, she likes to hang out with her family and friends as well as explore new places for food.

    Maya Bunyan

    Maya graduated from UC San Diego with a major in Public Health and minor in Math in 2019.
    After graduation, she began attending Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, where she hopes to get her MPH in Epidemiology with a certificate in Biostatistics. Maya volunteered as a research assistant at PEARL because she was interested in looking into the public health aspects of mental health as it is often overlooked. In her free time, she likes to play the trumpet, watch TV, spend time with friends, hike, travel to new places, and learn new languages.

    Iliana Favila-De La Trinidad

    Iliana graduated from University of California San Diego in (June 2019 with a B.S. in Psychology with a specialization in Clinical Psychology and a minor in Cognitive Science. Iliana got involved in PEARL during her third year because she was interested in learning more about depression and anxiety. At PEARL, she ran experiments, conducted phone screens, as well as assisted at fMRI scans. She will be continuing her education at California Lutheran University pursuing a Psy.D. During her free time, she enjoys running, playing with her dog, and reading a lot of books!

    Jasmine Ramirez

    Jasmine graduated from University of California San Diego in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. She worked as a research assistant at PEARL and was an active member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. She planned to get a Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy or Clinical Psychology to become a licensed therapist. In her free time, Jasmine loves hanging out with friends and family, working out, and exploring this beautiful city.

    Sarah Knapp, M.A.

    Sarah earned her M.A. in Psychology from Pepperdine University. Her research interests include anxiety disorders and anxiety-related issues. In her spare time, she enjoys volunteering on the Anxiety and Depression Association of America’s Public Education Committee, traveling, and walking her three dogs.

    Sarah Huang

    Sarah graduated from San Diego State University in 2011 with a B.A. in Psychology. Sarah got her start as a research assistant for the Anxiety & Traumatic Stress Disorders Research Program, headed by Dr. Murray Stein, while completing her undergraduate degree and, after graduation, assumed the position of research coordinator. She was, thus, introduced to the Positive Emotion and Anxiety Research Lab where she assisted with research coordination. In her spare time, Sarah enjoys listening to local live music and spending time with her family and friends.

    Mercy Lopez

    • Education: Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from University of California, San Diego
    • Experience: RA in the Developmental Cognitive and Social Neuroscience Lab, RA at PEARL, therapist at the Center for Autism and Related Disorders
    • Academic interests: clinical and behavioral psychology
    • Future directions: attend graduate school

    Atiyeh Samadi

    • Education: B.S. in Human Biology and a minor in Humanities from University of California, San Diego
    • Experience: RA at PEARL
    • Academic interests: different facets of human behavior, positive emotion

    Angelica Estrada

    • Education: B.S. in Biophysics and a minor in Math from University of California, San Diego
    • Experience: RA in V.S. Ramachandran’s lab, RA at PEARL, ABA Behavioral Tutor at Novata CARES, part of the Trauma and Intervention Program (TIP) of San Diego

    Gregory Pak

    • Education: B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Business from
    • Experience: RA at PEARL, waiter at a local restaurant
    • Future directions: pursue a graduate degree in psychology, career as a psychologist

    Allison Endo

    • Education: AP Psychology at La Jolla High School
    • Experience: RA at PEARL
    • Academic interests: psychological disorders such as depression and anxiety, accepted to study psychology at Tufts University, pursue a graduate degree in psychology

    Eleni Kapoulea

    • Education: B.S. in Cognitive Science with an emphasis in Neuroscience and a minor in Theatre from UC San Diego
    • Experience: RA at PEARL, Co-Cultural Coordinator of the Cambodian Student Association

    Sanskruti Kakaria

    • Education: B.S. in Psychology from University of California, San DiegoEducation: B.S. in Psychology from University of California, San Diego
    • Experience: RA at PEARL, Autism Volunteer Association
    • Future directions: graduate school for psychology, open up own clinical practice as a psychologist

    Aaron Tay

    • Education: B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Cognitive Science from University of California, San Diego
    • Experience: RA at PEARL, involved with UCSD’s Psi Chi/Psychology Club
    • Future directions: gather more research experience, apply to graduate school for clinical psychology

    Vivi Dang

    • Education: B.S. in Physiology of Neuroscience from University of California, San Diego (2015)
    • Experience: RA at PEARL Lab, worked in labs researching autism and Alzheimer’s disease
    • Academic interests: physical and mental health, holistic approaches to healing outside of traditional Western medicine
    • Future directions: work with children

    Stephanie Zepeda

    • Education: double majors in Psychology and Human Development at University of California, San Diego
    • Experience: RA at PEARL, worked at the bookstore on campus, site-leader for Alternative Breaks
    • Academic interests: psychopathology and personality disorders
    • Future directions: obtain a Ph.D. in clinical psychology with a track in forensics

    Joanna Chen

    • Education: Psychology at University of California, San Diego.
    • Experience: RA in an implicit learning cognitive psychology lab at UCSD, member of the Psychology Honors Program through, conducted an independent research project in her senior year, RA at PEARL
    • Future directions: pursue a PhD in clinical psychology

    Carl Bolano

    • Education: B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Statistics from San Diego State University
    • Experience: PEARL as a summer intern through the Sally Casanova Pre-doctoral Fellowship and UCSD STARS Program, instructor of SDSU’s Pre-MARC Learning Community for Psychology students, research associate at SDSU’s Child and Adolescent Anxiety and Mood Program
    • Academic interests: evidence based intervention programs for anxiety and depression, their dissemination and implementation in community settings
    • Future directions: pursue a PhD in clinical psychology

    Anna Chen

    • B.S. in Cognitive Science with a specialization in Neuroscience from University of California, San Diego
    • Experience: RA at Kutas Cognitive Electrophysiology Laboratory, RA at Clark Memory Laboratory, RA at PEARL
    • Academic interests: the brain in both health and disease
    • Future directions: career involving radiology and neuroimaging science, either by earning a Ph.D. in neuroscience or obtaining an M.D.

    Michelle Chang

    • Education: B.S. in Clinical Psychology with a minor in Cognitive Science from University of California, San Diego
    • Experience: RA at PEARL
    • Future directions: graduate school, become certified as a marriage and family Therapist

    Sarah Tran

    • Education: Psychology with an emphasis on Human Health and a minor in General Biology at University of California, San Diego
    • Experience: RA at PEARL, part of the Policy Subcommittee of a UCSD organization called Active Minds
    • Academic interests: mood, anxiety, and personality disorders, relationship between mood and neural pathways
    • Future direction: pursue a medical degree in psychiatry, destigmatize the topic of mental health

    Jennifer Alcalde

    • Education: Clinical Psychology with a minor in Human Development at University of California
    • Experience: RA at PEARL
    • Future directions: pursue a masters or Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, become a practicing therapist, destigmatize mental health, change the disparity of mental health treatment in minority communities

    Nora Asi

    • Education: B.S. in Psychology with a focus in Human Health and minor in Theatre from University of California, San Diego
    • Experience: certified as a medical assistant, RA at PEARL
    • Academic interests: social anxiety and depression, how positive emotions can help those who suffer from it
    • Future directions: become a physician’s assistant

    Melissa Perez-Ruan

    • Education: B.S. in Clinical Psychology with a minor in Business from University of California San Diego
    • Experience: RA at PEARL in addition to the Pines Dining Hall at UCSD
    • Future directions: pursue a doctoral degree in clinical psychology, work with patients with eating disorders

    Jessica Foster

    • Education: Psychology at San Diego State University
    • Experience: RA at PEARL

    Dina

    • Education: Psychology at the University of California San Diego.
    • Experience: RA at PEARL
    • Future directions: graduate school

    Joelle

    • Education: B.S. in Human Biology with a minor in Psychology from University of California, San Diego
    • Experience: RA at PEARL
    • Academic interests: clinical psychology
    • Future directions: becoming a psychologist and/or researcher

    Alexis Andom

    • Education: Public Health major and Cognitive Science minor at University of California, San Diego
    • Future directions: become a researcher or clinical research coordinator

    Katie Price

    • Education: Communication with an emphasis in Public Relations at University of California, San Diego
    • Experience: RA at PEARL
    • Academic interests: effects of social anxiety on communication skills

    Katie Socha

    • Education: Psychology from San Diego State University (2014)
    • Experience: interned at the Institute for Behavior and Community Health, a branch of SDSU’s Research Foundation, RA at PEARL
    • Future directions: attend graduate school, become a clinical psychologist, work with children with mental disorders

    Lucia

    • Education: double major in Psychology and Cognitive Science at University of California, San Diego
    • Experience: RA at PEARL
    • Future directions: graduate study in clinical psychology, both conduct research and work with mentally ill patients

    Tiara Alvarado

    • Education: Psychology from San Diego State University (2014)
    • Experience: RA the Infant and Child Development laboratory at SDSU, RA at PEARL
    • Academic interests: abnormal psychology and counseling
    • Future directions: career in neuropsychology

    Deborah May

    • Education: B.S. in Psychology from University of California, San Diego (2015) with concentrations in Neuroscience and Behavior, Cognitive Psychology, and a minor in Cognitive Science, transfer student from Sacramento, CA
    • Experience: RA at PEARL
    • Academic interests: neuroscience, behavior, and cognition
    • Future directions: attend graduate school

    Robyn

    • Education: psychology for a year at University of California, San Diego, international exchange student from University College Dublin, Ireland
    • Experience: RA at PEARL
    • Academic interests: psychopathology, specifically anxiety disorders

    Ethan Averbukh

    • Education: B.S. in Cognitive Science from University of California, San Diego
    • Experience: RA at PEARL
    • Academic interests: human behavior and their triggers
    • Future directions: attend medical schoo, pursue a career in pediatrics, surgery, or psychiatry

    Gabby Arellano

    • Education: B.S. in Psychology and minor in Educational Studies from University of California, San Diego
    • Experience: RA at PEARL
    • Future directions: obtaining a MFT and/or master’s in education studies

    Megan

    • Education: B.S. in Psychology from University of California, San Diego
    • Experience: RA at PEARL
    • Future directions: teach English abroad, apply to physician assistant school

    Ari Goodman

    • Education: B.A. in Psychology from University of California, San Diego
    • Experience: RA at PEARL
    • Future directions: teach English through music in Israel

    Alyson Johnson

    • Education: B.A. in Psychology from University of California, San Diego
    • Experience: RA at PEARL
    • Academic interests: anxiety and mood disorders, specifically PTSD and trauma in veteran populations
    • Future directions: Ph.D. in clinical psychology

    Elizabeth Tran-Nguyen

    • Education: B.A. in Human Development from University of California, San Diego
    • Experience: RA at PEARL
    • Future directions: attend graduate school, career in medical field

    Lina Choi

    • Education: B.A. in Psychology from University of California, San Diego
    • Experience: RA at PEARL, RA at a biomedical laboratory at UCSD’s School of Medicine
    • Academic interests: psychological disorders
    • Future directions: master's degree in social work, become a licensed clinical social worker

PEARL Pets

  • Coco

    Coco

    Coco is Alison's female beagle! Coco is a very active girl! She has lots of energy; hence, she is loco Coco. She is also quite smart and figures out how to get into anything and everything. Most of all, she is sweet and loves being with others.

  • Aden

    Aden

    Aden is Amanda's 14-year old Siberian Husky who loves bacon, zucchini, and orange toys. His favorite pastimes are breathing heavily on people, being woken up by own farts, bringing his favorite toys to guests to play fetch with, and resisting being cuddled.

  • Bruiser

    Bruiser

    One of Charlie's two dogs.

  • Fern

    Fern

    One of Charlie's two dogs.

  • Jax

    Jax

    Jax is Bianca's 2 year old maltese! Given that he's still young, Jax is very active and loves to run around the house. His favorite toys are his toy duck and taco, and he loves to cuddle and eat treats!

  • Deagol and Smeagol

    Deagol and Smeagol

     Deagol and Smeagol are Amanda’s two cats! They are half-brothers who share the same Bengal dad. Their favorite hobbies are playing fetch, knocking over glasses of water, and hiding pens underneath the couch!

  • James

    James

    James is Kaye’s 9-year-old Scottish Fold. His favorite hobbies are sleeping (honestly, same), keeping his family members company, and enjoying his favorite treat. 

  • Eve

    Eve

    Hi! My name is Eve, and my mom is Alexis. I get a bit sad when she leaves for work, but I've heard PEARL does some very important work. Mom did rescue me from the engine of a big scary car, so I guess it's fair she helps some other people too. When mom isn't home, I like to break things all around the house! When she is home ... I love meowing very loudly until she has no choice but to pet me :)