Sara Carrizales, Research Assistant
Sara Carrizales completed her BA in psychology with a double minor in Spanish and biology and a concentration in child development at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. She is currently working towards her master's degree in social work through the DU Graduate School of Social Work with concentration in Children and Youth and hopes to work with underprivileged children one day. Sara is also working towards obtaining the Human-Animal-Environment Interactions (HAEI-SW) certificate. In her free time, she enjoys reading, watching Netflix, taking hikes with Miya (her puppy), exploring her new home, shopping, and hanging out with her friends and roommates.
Rachael Ruff, Research Assistant
Rachael Ruff completed a Bachelor of Arts in psychology at Fort Lewis College in Durango, CO. She pursued a master’s in forensic psychology at the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Professional Psychology. After completing her master’s, Ruff hopes to gain more clinical experience and will decide whether or not to pursue a doctorate. Ruff helped prepare data for analysis for the RISE Project. In her free time, Ruff enjoys reading, writing, hiking and baking.
Daisy Booker, Research Assistant
Daisy Booker pursued a major in psychology with a concentration in cognitive neuroscience and minors in biology and medical physics. With this degree, she hopes to attend graduate school and aims to study neural imaging as a tool for diagnosis of psychiatric disorders. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, playing guitar, singing and spending time with friends.
Isabella Jaramillo, Research Assistant
Isabella Jaramillo completed her bachelor of science at the University of Central Florida (UCF) in psychology. After graduating from UCF in 2015, Jaramillo worked as a behavioral therapist practicing Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) techniques with children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and other special populations/children with special needs.
Jaramillo enjoys working with children and specializes in both clinical and school-based work. She pursued her master's degree in child, family and school psychology at the Morgridge College of Education at the University of Denver. Jaramillo started to work towards her PhD in child, family and school psychology in the fall of 2019. She hopes to continue working in academia and eventually become a full-time faculty member at a university as well as continuing with research.
Her research interests include working with special populations and those with intellectual disabilities (ID) as well as working with culturally and linguistically diverse populations with ID and enforcing culturally competent and responsive practices throughout all neurological and psychological research. In her free time, Jaramillo enjoys photography, running, painting and spending time with her friends.
Brian Bello, Research Assistant
Brian Bello received his bachelor's degree in psychology at Mercy College in New York. While completing his bachelor's, Brian worked at New York Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital as a child life assistant. Brian pursued his master's at the University of Denver Morgridge College of Education in research methods and statistics.
After completing his master's, Bello plans on getting his PhD in clinical psychology and a minor in neuroscience. Bello's current research interests are etiology of mood disorders and finding new non-pharmacological therapies for better brain development. In his free time Bello enjoys football, lifting weights, cooking and traveling.
Marlana Quaill, Research Assistant
Marlana Quaill was in the child and family school psychology EdS program. She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology at Penn State University. After graduating, Quaill worked as research coordinator at Penn State Hershey Medical Center’s child and adolescent eating disorder and gender affirmative therapy clinic. After receiving her certification in school psychology, Quaill hopes to create an inclusive environment, increase family collaboration, and provide resources for social-emotional learning in schools.
Quaill's tasks with RISE involved scoring assessments and organizing data for analysis, and soon will involve running visits with participants. In her free time, she enjoys live music, spending time in nature, practicing yoga and trying new foods.
Julian Alber, Research Assistant
Julian Alber majored in psychology with a minor in business administration. His research was primarily focused around participant family work history. He hopes to attend graduate school after graduating from DU. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with friends, skiing, reading and going to the gym.
Paris Lee, Research Assistant
Paris Lee recently completed her Masters of research in Developmental Neuroscience and Psychopathology from Yale University. She joined the Family and Child Neuroscience Lab. She hopes to conduct a PhD on the influence of adversity on child development, specifically focusing on the pathways by which poverty can get ‘under the skin’. In her spare time, Paris enjoys listening to music, reading and cooking.
Madeline Caruso, Research Assistant
Madeline Caruso recently completed her bachelor of arts at the University of Denver with majors in psychology and biology. She joined the Family and Child Neuroscience Lab this spring, and works on the RISE Project collecting data and conducting interviews.
She hopes to continue working with mothers and their infants in the future, whether that be in research, health care or education. In her spare time she enjoys cooking, making pottery and enjoying the outdoors.
Claire Jeske, Research Assistant
Claire Jeske pursued majors in psychology and biology with a focus on neuroscience at the University of Denver. She hopes to go to medical school and eventually do research on music as it relates to neurology and the efficacy of music therapy. In her spare time, she likes to compete in rodeo, play video games, sing and snowboard.
Asiyah Shabazz, Research Assistant
Asiyah Shabazz pursued a major in psychology with a concentration in cognitive neuroscience and minors in biology, leadership studies and sociology at the University of Denver. She hopes to obtain a PhD in clinical psychology or international psychology. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family, baking, hiking and traveling.
Melissa Hansen, Project Assistant for the RISE Project
Melissa Hansen holds a master's degree in clinical mental health counseling and completed her BA in psychology from Baylor University. She spends time as a play therapist, working clinically with early childhood trauma when she is not in the lab. In her free time, you can find her hiking, mountain biking or snowboarding in the beautiful Colorado mountains!
Collette Hong, Research Assistant
Collette Hong is a biology and French major with a minor in chemistry at the University of Denver. She plans on going to medical school where she will pursue becoming a cardiothoracic surgeon. In her free time, she loves running and spending time with her friends and family.
Akram Ibrahim, Research Assistant
Akram Ibrahim received his bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Following graduation, he spent a year in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, helping build a volunteer program for their school district. He completed his master's in clinical mental health counseling at the University of Denver with a specialization in adolescence and addictions. In his free time, he enjoys boxing, watching basketball games and playing video games.
Samantha Buxbaum, Research Assistant
Samantha Buxbaum completed her BA at Colorado College with a major in psychology and a minor in feminist and gender studies. Following graduation, she taught outdoor education to middle school children and received her yoga teacher certification. She completed her master's degree in sport and performance psychology at the University of Denver and hopes to pursue working with adolescents in the field of performance psychology. In her free time, she likes to ski, cook and do yoga!
Chhorda Vuth, Research Assistant
Chhorda Vuth graduated from the University of Denver. She majored in biology with minors in psychology and sociology. She hopes to go to physician assistant school and work with immigrant populations. In her free time, she likes to travel, read, journal and spend time with friends and family.
Hana Gulli, Research Assistant
Hana Gulli completed her bachelor's degree at the University of Denver. She earned a major in psychology with a concentration in cognitive neuroscience and minors in marketing, biology and Spanish. She is from Minnesota and loves the lake life there, but loves to ski in Colorado. She also loves dogs and you can usually find her walking around campus with her housemate's dog.
Ximena Calderon, Research Assistant
Ximena Calderon completed her bachelor's degree at the University of Denver. Outside of her interest in research and clinical psychology, Calderon is a classical violinist. In her free time she enjoys hiking, rowing, skiing and going to the movies. She is from Costa Rica and in the future she hopes to be a clinical psychologist to be able to work with kids from cultures and backgrounds like her own.
Miriam Nowrouzi, Research Assistant
Miriam Nowrouzi received her master's in forensic psychology at the University of Denver, with a concentration in neuropsychology. Miriam attended Indiana University Bloomington where she earned her bachelor of science in psychology with a concentration in biology and neuroscience. Miriam is passionate about the intersection of forensic psychology, neuropsychology, public service and the environment. For two years prior to joining the forensic psychology master's program at the University of Denver, Miriam worked for City Year Little Rock as a first-year corps member and then as a Team Leader. It was there that Miriam grew and developed her passion for community service that she carries with her today. Outside of school, Miriam enjoys art, spending time in the mountains and traveling.
Mallory Kruse, Research Assistant
Mallory Kruse received her master's degree in counseling psychology from the University of Denver. She previously attended the University of New Mexico where she received her BA in psychology with a minor in sociology. She intends to pursue a PhD in developmental psychology and would like to study the interaction between biological, psychological and environmental factors that contribute to the development of psychopathology in order to inform community intervention programs for at-risk youth. Aside from school, her interests include cooking, Pilates and traveling.
Mathias Smrekar, Research Assistant
Mathias Smrekar received his BA in psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and his master's in research methods and statistics at the University of Denver. His research interests include early childhood development, specifically how early-life environmental factors impact educational attainment in elementary school and evolutionary psychology. In his free time, Mathias enjoys playing basketball, cooking and exploring the Colorado mountains.
Nanxi Xu, Research Assistant
Nanxi Xu is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in developmental psychology at the University of Missouri. She obtained her master's degree in counseling psychology at the University of Denver and holds an undergraduate BA degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her research focuses on children's social emotional development and intervention strategies. Outside of work, Nanxi enjoys reading and traveling.
Cassie Sorrells, Research Assistant
Cassie Sorrells obtained her master's degree in education and human development through University of Colorado Denver and received her BA in multidisciplinary studies, with concentrations in biology, anthropology and linguistics, from West Virginia University. Cassie works as an early childhood educator at Boulder Journey School. Outside of work and school, Cassie enjoys reading, yoga and hiking with her border collie pup.
Rachel Schiff, Research Assistant
Rachel Schiff obtained her master's degree in early childhood special education at the University of Denver. She holds a bachelor's degree in liberal studies with an emphasis on early childhood education from California State University Northridge. She is passionate about her work with infants with special needs and their families. When not teaching infants, Rachel enjoys the arts, cooking and spending time with her family.
Lindsay Blanton, Research Assistant
Lindsay Blanton is currently working as a behavior consultant at GoldStar Learning Options Inc., as well as working on an EdS in school psychology with an emphasis in ABA from the University of Northern Colorado. Lindsay has tremendous enthusiasm for everything outdoors and you can usually find her skiing on the slopes or hiking with her favorite canine companion, Dexter.
Sarah Terrell, Research Assistant
Sarah Terrell holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Virginia Tech. She was formerly a research assistant at Virginia Tech's Child Study Center and a data reductionist at Virginia Tech's Transportation Institute. Her research interests are centered on emotional and neurological development in childhood, as well as aggressive and violent behaviors across the lifespan. In her spare time she enjoys backpacking, kayaking and spending time with her border collie.
Emma Rosenblum, Research Assistant
Emma Rosenblum received a BA from University of Denver, majoring in psychology with minors in marketing and business administration. She plans on pursuing her PsyD in clinical psychology with a focus in pediatrics. In her free time, she enjoys yoga, cooking and hiking around Colorado.
Tanisha Crosby-Attipoe, Research Assistant
Tanisha Crosby-Attipoe completed her BS degree from the University of Denver in biology with a concentration in cognitive neuroscience and specialized minors in chemistry and psychology. She plans on pursuing a doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO) degree in hopes of becoming a pediatrician. In her spare time, she enjoys painting, dancing, traveling to new places and learning new languages.
Naomi Wallace, Research Assistant
Naomi Wallace graduated from the University of Denver, earning a major in psychology with a concentration in cognitive neuroscience. She is currently a PhD student at Washington State University. She plans to pursue research and her interests include sleep and its relationship with emotional development and experience. In her free time, Naomi enjoys cooking and playing the saxophone.
Laura Jeske, Research Assistant
Laura Jeske graduated from the University of Denver with a double major in psychology and international studies. She plans to work in the nonprofit field, specifically with nonprofits that empower women and children in need. In her free time she enjoys skiing, reading and hiking.
Raza Sagarwala, Research Assistant
Raza Sagarwala is a University of Denver graduate with a degree in psychology. He is a current MD candidate at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine. In his free time, he loves to work out and stay active.
Rylie Hansen, Research Assistant
Rylie Hansen completed a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Biological Sciences with a concentration in cognitive neuroscience. She also received minors in chemistry and film. She plans to attend medical school and pursue a career in pediatric surgery. Hansen is particularly interested in studying the neurological activity and behaviors of younger children. Through the RISE project, she has primarily focused on mother-child interactions. In her free time, Hansen loves volunteering through programs like Service for Sight and the DU COVID-19 SPIT Lab. She is passionate about travel, film, playing guitar and singing.
Keely Olson, Research Assistant
Keely Olson completed a Bachelor of Science in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental biology on a pre-med track with certificates in public health and neuroscience from the University of Colorado Boulder. She hopes to go into medicine, potentially in orthopedics with an emphasis in pediatric medicine. Keely enjoys hiking, playing soccer, skiing and photography.
Sabrina Villegas, Research Assistant
Sabrina Villegas has a BS with a double major in Criminal Justice and Psychology from Sam Houston State University. She moved to Denver to pursue her Master's in Forensic Psychology at DU in the Graduate School of Professional Psychology and received her Master's degree in June of 2024. After completing her Master's, Sabrina continues to pursue work in the field of victim advocacy and plans to eventually build up experience to work as a co-responder. In her free time, she enjoys reading, spending time with friends, and hiking.
