Lab Alumni

Alexandra Sawczak / Undergraduate Research Assistant

Alexandra Sawczak is an undergraduate student at Florida International University, majoring in Biological Sciences. She is the president and founder of Be The Match On Campus, where she fundraises and registers donors for the National Bone Marrow Registry in order to save lives of patients with blood cancers. She is an executive board member of Alpha Epsilon Delta Pre-Health Honor Society and a member of Phi Delta Epsilon Pre-Medical Fraternity, where she enhances her knowledge and skills in the medical field and raises funds for the Children’s Miracle Network. She is also a Chemistry 1 and 2 Learning Assistant and member of FIU’s Honors College. She is very passionate about furthering her education in medicine and pursuing a career in pulmonology.

Jamile Gonzalez (she/her) / Undergraduate Research Assistant

Jamile Gonzalez was an undergraduate student at Florida International University who was majoring in the field of Psychology. She wants to pursue a career in Clinical Psychology in order to help assess and diagnose those with mental disorders and be able to treat them with the proper care they deserve. With licenses such as Registered Medical Assistant and Basic Life Support, Jamile has both the knowledge and hands-on experience in treating and helping those who required medical attention. She is passionate about helping others and wants to continue furthering her career in the medical field.

Byron Pena (he/him) / Undergraduate Research Assistant

Byron Pena was an undergraduate student at Florida International University who majored in Psychology, as well as an inducted member of the Psi Chi International Honors Society. With strong interests in psychopathological studies and intervention methods, as well as his passion for helping others, he plans to attend graduate school so that he can pursue a career as a Clinical Psychologist, with a focus on child and adolescent health. Byron’s eventual goal is to make a strong impact in the world of research and to provide effective treatment for people of all age groups and backgrounds.

Nasreen Hidmi, M.S. (she/her) / ACE Project Program Coordinator

Nasreen Hidmi was the Program Coordinator for the Antecedents and Consequences of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems Use (ACE) Project. Nasreen attended graduate school at Florida International University in which she received a Master of Science in Psychology degree through the Professional Counseling Psychology Master’s Program. During her internship programs at the Center for Children and Families at FIU and the College Reach-Out Program at Barry University, Nasreen received clinical training in treating children, adolescents, and their families with a variety of internalizing and externalizing disorders. Nasreen also received experience in research and data collection during her undergraduate studies as a research assistant in the legal psychology lab at FIU.

Nasreen’s interests are in expanding the availability of mental health resources for adolescents and their families through field work and research and hopes to later further her education in the field of psychology.

Michelle Villar (she/her) / ReACH Lab Manager and Research Assistant

Michelle Villar was the ReACH Lab manager and a Post-Bac Research Assistant. She received her B.S. in Psychology from Florida State University. She has previous research experience as an undergraduate research assistant in two labs; she worked in Dr. Joiner’s suicide research lab, where she assisted a graduate student with her dissertation looking into the relationship between eating disorders and suicide and also worked in Dr. Folstein’s cognitive attention lab, where she assisted a graduate student with his electroencephalogram (EEG) study. 

Miguel Perez / Undergraduate Research Assistant

Miguel Perez was an undergraduate Pre-Medical student majoring in Biochemistry BS, with a minor in Psychology. He is passionate about being able to help people better their lives, doing so by pursuing a career in the medical field, and strives to become an M.D. with a specialty in orthopedic surgery. He is also passionate about the causes and factors that compel people to commence drug and/or substance use, as well as the implications of substance use in the physiology of the teenage brain. Also a member of the pre-medical fraternity Phi Delta Epsilon, he helps support and fund the Children’s Miracle Network through Nicklaus Children’s Hospital.

Kevin Leiva / Undergraduate Research Assistant

Kevin Leiva was an undergraduate student majoring in biological sciences with a minor in business. Kevin is a QBIC scholar and a member of the international medical fraternity, Phi Delta Epsilon. Being a part of these organizations has allowed Kevin to spend more time helping others and bringing joy to those in need, and in the future, plans to attend medical school and become a physician in order to better serve the people in this community, focusing on minorities.

Odette Manresa, M.S. (she/her) / ACE Project Intake Specialist

Odette was the Intake Specialist for the Antecedents and Consequences of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ACE) Project. Odette received her Master of Science in Psychology degree through the Professional Counseling Psychology program.

Through her internships at FIU’s Center for Children and Families and Jewish Community Services of South Florida, Odette has received clinical training and experience treating children, adolescents, and adults with internalizing and externalizing disorders. Odette also acquired research experience during her undergraduate studies as a research assistant and as the assessment coordinator for the Program for Attention, Learning, & Memory (PALM) at FIU. Odette’s interests are in learning more about and treating internalizing disorders with adolescents and young adults.

Katherine Rivas / ACE Project Research Assistant

Kat is an undergraduate student majoring in psychology with a minor in social welfare and a certificate in human rights and political transitions. She is interested in pursuing a career in mental health counseling working with young adolescents or human trafficking victims after earning her bachelor’s degree. Kat is also a member of the Psi Chi Honor Society in addition to volunteering for her community. She hopes to gain more insight about young adolescents as a research assistant and overall gain more experience about youth development. 

Betsy Alas / ACE Project Research Assistant 

Betsy graduated from Florida International University with a B.A. in Psychology. Her interests in cognitive and biological fields led her to acquire research experience as an undergraduate research assistant for the ACE Project at FIU to conduct behavioral and neuroimaging assessments. She was later promoted to a staff member on the project. With the overall clinical experience she has obtained through numerous volunteering opportunities in the medical field, Betsy hopes to apply the insight she has attained in minority health disparities research when she pursues her goal of attending medical school.

Maria Zapata / Post-Bac Research Assistant

Maria received her B.A. in Psychology from Florida International University. She aims to reach graduate education in clinical psychology to specialize in addiction. Her passion to help people has been shaped by her CNA, EKG, and CPR licensing and experience. As a HIP alumnus, she continues to advocate health education to adolescents by providing neighborhood resources. Due to her everlasting interest in the risk factors of addiction, she hopes to develop effective intervention methods through her targeted graduate education. 

Luis Diaz Carrasco / Post-Bac Research Assistant

Luis received a B.S. in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from Florida International University. Volunteering and working as a medical scribe at Baptist Health confirmed his passion for the field of medicine, especially preventive medicine, which focuses on promoting health and preventing disease in individuals and communities. Luis plans to attend medical school, obtain his M.D. degree, and combine his skills and experiences to help build a healthcare system based on the prevention of diseases.

Aileen Abreu / Post-Bac Research Assistant

Aileen received her B.S in Biological Sciences at Florida International University. She is part of an organization- Medical Missions Abroad Corp., where she attended a medical mission trip to Colombia and assisted in routine clinical examinations of Venezuelan refugees, Colombian citizens, and children alongside colleagues and general practitioners. Aileen has solidified her passion of becoming a physician, with an interest in pediatrics, and hopes to attend medical school, complete an MD, and be a leader and a voice for patients on their road to better health.

Brigitte Madan / Senior Research Assistant for the ACE Project.

Brigitte received her Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill and her Associates in Psychology from the Honors College at Miami Dade College (MDC). Brigitte previously worked at the Center for Health Equity Research at UNC as the PYD Lead designing positive youth development programs for high school students for Nash and Edgecombe Counties in rural North Carolina in partnership with the University of Chicago’s MAPSCorp Program. In addition, Brigitte interned at the Simmons House Adolescent Unit in London, England. While there she worked with adolescents with mental health disorders. While at MDC, she founded a series of workshops called Beauty for Ashes Seminars (BFA) to help young women and men redefine beauty. Her workshops explored the multiple influences that impact body image and self-esteem, including perspective, media, gender, and culture. Brigitte is hoping to continue her education and obtain her PsyD in Clinical Psychology.

Victoria De Barros / Post-Bac Research Assistant

Victoria De Barros majored in Biology with a minor in Business from Florida International University. She is passionate about the medical field as well as helping children and teens. Her goal is to attend medical school and specialize in Pediatrics. As a member of the organization Phi Delta Epsilon, she participated in supporting and fundraising for the Children’s Miracle Network. She has also traveled to Jamaica with UNICEF where she worked on youth development and assisted in school and orphanage reform projects.

Nathalie Delvalle / High School Intern

Nathalie graduated from Doral Academy Preparatory School. She was accepted in the Capstone program at her school which allowed her to gain research experience, such as collaborating on papers and attending seminars. She hopes to pursue a degree in Neuroscience. She is particularly interested in the research side of psychology and hopes to gain insight on the factors and consequences of addictions in youth. 

Mari Kumar / High School Intern

Mari is a high school student at Fort Myers High School. She is in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program, which allows her to go in-depth in subjects that interest her like Biology and Psychology. She has research experience both in and outside of school and is particularly interested in research that pertains to mental health concerning adolescents. Through various efforts at school, Mari spreads mental health awareness in hopes of normalizing mental health and breaking the stigma. Beyond high school, she hopes to pursue a degree in Biomedical Engineering since the medical field has always been on her radar.

Michelle Rodriguez / Post-Bac Research Assistant

Michelle Rodriguez was a Post-Bac Research Assistant that graduated from Florida International University with a degree in Biology. She was in the FIU Teach Program which allows STEM majors to graduate with their B.S. in their field and certification to teach secondary schools. She was a teaching assistant for the FIU Teach Program as well as for the Mathematics Department. Michelle will be pursuing a career in Epidemiology after getting accepted to Columbia’s Public Health in Epidemiology Master’s program. 

Sheila Dizayee / Post-Bac Research Assistant

Sheila Dizayee is an international student from Germany. She got her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from FIU and is currently finishing her prerequisites for medical school. She is interested in the risk factors in the development of substance use in adolescents and the underlying cognitive processes, and is also interested in exploring the relationship between eating disorders and substance abuse disorders. Sheila is a proud member of the pre medical fraternity Phi Delta Epsilon. 

Lisa Rodriguez / Undergraduate Research Assistant 

Lisa Rodriguez is a student majoring in Psychology. Her goal is to attend graduate school and specialize in child/adolescent clinical psychology for children and teens with abnormal behaviors. She is driven by her want to help children and teens as well as learn more about the processes involved with research in psychology. She has worked with preschool aged children as a teacher’s aide, aiming to learn and experience children in an educational setting. She has also taught self-defense and martial arts to teens, gaining experience through interaction and communication. 

Alexander Rodriguez / Undergraduate Research Assistant 

Alexander Rodriguez is an undergraduate student majoring in Biochemistry with a minor in Psychology, and was part of the early admissions program at FIU. He has always dreamed of growing up to work in the medical industry as he has a passion for medicine and assisting others when it comes to their health. He is part of an organization—Phi Delta Epsilon, where he gives back to the community and participates in several community service outreach programs that fundraise for the Children’s Miracle Network. He recently participated in the MedX program where he went to Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic and gave medical attention to those who could not afford to visit the doctors. After graduating from FIU, he hopes to go into medical school and complete an MD to continue giving back to patients and his community in general.

Maynela Quiñones / Undergraduate Research Assistant 

Maynela Quiñones is an undergraduate student majoring in psychology with a minor in chemistry. She is passionate about helping her community and contributing to the medical field. She is part of the organization Phi Delta Epsilon where she participates in community service events to support the Children’s Miracle Network. Maynela’s ultimate goal is to be a physician that can hopefully contribute to research in her designated specialty.  

Ruben Castellon / Undergraduate Research Assistant 

Ruben Castellon is an undergraduate student majoring in chemistry with a minor in psychology. He is part of the honors college and enthusiastic about research and the way that multiple disciplines can overlap to create a holistic solution. He has experience volunteering in a medical clinic, administrative duties, and teaching children about science and math. Passionate about the pursuit of knowledge and information, he hopes to continue his education onward to learn, educate, and discover new boundaries to science, psychology, and beyond. Ruben currently hopes to attend medical school once he graduates with his undergraduate degree. 

Valentina Satizabal / Undergraduate Research Assistant 

Valentina received her Bachelor’s in Psychology from Florida International University and has been accepted to the Urban Education Master’s Program at FIU to begin in Fall 2020. Valentina hopes to eventually conduct research on how educational policies affect marginalized communities, specifically black and brown students. She also has interest in the school-to-prison pipeline, as it stems from current school and municipal policies in place; Valentina hopes to advocate for the children, and their families, that are affected by these policies.

Chabeli Cardenas / Undergraduate Research Assistant 

Chabeli received her Bachelor’s in interdisciplinary studies from Florida International University. She is passionate about public health, minority populations, and intervention methods to minimize disparities within these populations. She was part of the FSTAR Fellowship with the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine and performed house visits to underserved patients through the NeighborhoodHELP program, which has further fueled her interest in this type of work. After graduating from FIU, she hopes to pursue an MPH and later on a DrPH degree and continue to serve communities in South FL as a culturally competent physician, as well as stay involved in research aimed at prevention and intervention of vulnerable groups.

Paige Goldman / Post-Bac Research Assistant 

Paige received her Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of West Florida. Paige is currently enrolled at the University of Washington to obtain certificates in data analytics, expanding on the skills she practiced during her time in the lab. 

Sandra Guerra Perez / Post-Bac Research Assistant 

Sandra majored in Psychology with a minor in Chemistry. Her interests lie in psychological disorders and mental illness. She worked at a neuropsychology lab in the past collecting data for learning and memory in rats. She is passionate about community service and volunteers at Niklaus Children’s Center. She aspires to become a medical doctor specializing in the field of neurology and aid those who have neurological disorders and mental illnesses through practice and research. 

Patricia Otero / Post-Bac Research Assistant 

Patricia majored in Biology with a minor in Psychology. She aspires to become a medical doctor in the near future. She has worked in a Psychology lab in the past, collecting data for the Tip of the Tongue Phenomenon. Her interests lay in what factors can predispose children and adolescents to be involved in substance abuse. Mainly, what are the genetic factors that lead to addiction.

Lauren Vilau / Undergraduate Research Assistant 

Lauren graduated from FIU with a bachelors in Pyschology and is now in the masters program for Professional Counseling (PCP) with the Center for Children and Families. 

Christina Saintlouis / Post-Bac Research Assistant

Christina graduated from FIU with a major in Recreational Therapy and is currently a teacher with Miami-Dade County Public Schools.

Camila Ferreiro / Undergraduate Research Assistant

Camila is currently pursuing her bachelor’s in psychology and works as a pharmacy technician. Her goal is to be able to find a way to seamlessly blend the fields of psychology and pharmacy in order to provide patients with the best treatment possible. 

Zaiah Lewis / Undergraduate Research Assistant

Zaiah earned her bachelor’s in Pyschology from Syracuse University, and is currently a graduate student pursuing her M.A. in Counseling from the University of San Diego. Her current interests lay in the mental health of marginalized populations, crisis intervention, and trauma. 

Liset Perez / Undergraduate Research Assistant

Liset received her B.S. in Biology from FIU, and her AA in Biology/Business from Miami Dade College. 

Barry Ladis/ Graduate Research Assistant

Barry earned his PhD in Social Welfare and masters in Social Work from FIU. He currently runs his sober living facility and works at Miami Youth Academy, Jewish Community Services, and South Miami Psychology Group as a therapist. 

Ana Toro/ Data Manager

Ana is currently a full-time student at Nova Southeastern University (NSU) in the Doctor in Dental Medicine (DMD) program. She is a Florida Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Scholar and the Vice-President of the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) at NSU, and plans to practice as a General Dentist. 

Shasank Chennupati / Data Manager

Shasank is currently working as a Clinical Data Programmer with Seattle Children’s Hospital, where he provides database and statistical programming support for department’s clinical studies and is responsible for the design, implementation, quality control and documentation of complex programs and database applications. He was previously employed by the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, at Global Women’s Health, a division of the OB-GYN Department in the UNC School of Medicine and was a statistical programmer with Fred Hutch in Seattle, WA. Shasank received his MPH in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from FIU.