Current Post-Baccalaureate Students

Elizabeth graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a BS in Mechanical Engineering and a focus in neurotechnology. She relocated to California after graduation to work as an R&D (research and design) engineer, contributing to the development of heart valve technologies. She particularly enjoyed designing and conducting experiments, earning her certification in advanced statistical data analysis, and mentoring earlier-career engineers. Eventually, she felt drawn back to her original interest in the brain and sought a career path that was more centered on people than products. After years of reflection and exploration, she realized her love of data analysis and research could be combined with her interest in the brain and people-centered work through the field of psychological research. This led her to the UCI post-bacc program! As a post-bacc student, she is working with Dr. Elizabeth Martin at the Behavior, Emotions, and Affective Neuroscience (BEAN) Lab, which studies emotional and social functioning in individuals along the psychosis continuum. Her long-term research interests include neuroimaging, neuropsychology, and the use of technology for psychological care - specifically, brain stimulation or brain computer interfaces used for cognitive treatment and rehabilitation. 

Lelise earned her A.A. in Psychology from Fullerton College and her B.A. in Psychological Science from UC Irvine.  As an undergraduate student at UCI, she was awarded $5,000 for the Osher Scholarship Endowment for California Community College Transfer Students, she joined the Bilingualism, Mind, and Brain (BMB) lab, she completed the Social Ecology Honors program, and she was awarded a $500 Research Experience Fellowship from the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP). Leslie gave a poster presentation at the 2025 UROP conference, where she presented her thesis examining how Spanish-English heritage speakers perceive their own abilities in each language as a function of their unique bilingual experience, and she graduated magna cum laude with her B.A. in Psychological Science in June 2025. As a post-bacc student, she conducted research with Dr. Fortier at Children’s Hospital Orange County (where she worked with Spanish-speaking families who have children with cancer) and with the University Neurocognitive Imaging lab (where she learned how to statistically analyze brain scans), resulting in poster presentations at the 2026 Western Psychological Association conference in Tacoma, WA and at the 2026 UROP conference at UC Irvine.  In addition, she has been completing courses such as Clinical Neuropsychology, Neurobiology of Cognition, and Medical Sociology.  Outside of UCI, she worked part-time as an AVID tutor at a local high school and as an assistant teacher at an afterschool program. In July 2026, she accepted a full-time position as a health science & behavioral research associate at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. 

Rosalinda earned her B.A. in Psychology from California State University Channel Islands in 2025. As a Latina, first-generation college student, she has conducted research across cognitive neuroscience, hormonal influences on executive functioning, and community-based studies addressing the needs of LGBTQIA+ older adults. She has presented her work at regional and national conferences, including the Western Psychological Association and the American Society on Aging. She currently works in Dr. Stephen Schueller’s Technology and Mental Health Lab at UC Irvine on the NIH-funded Support from Peers to Expand Access (SUPERA) project. This study evaluates SilverCloud, a Spanish-language digital cognitive-behavioral therapy intervention, in primary care settings for Latino patients with depression and anxiety. In this role, Rosalinda assists with patient recruitment and screening and works with Spanish-speaking participants. Her research interests focus on health psychology, mental health equity, and how race, ethnicity, and identity shape health and educational outcomes. Guided by her experiences as a first-generation college student, she hopes to continue contributing to research and interventions that support underrepresented communities.

Rachele graduated from Pepperdine University in Fall 2023 with a B.A. in Creative Writing. During her time there, she worked as a CDIUR Student Researcher, exploring developments in artificial intelligence and their impact on the writing world. In February 2024, she began volunteering as a crisis counselor at the Didi Hirsch Suicide Prevention Center, where she now also helps train new cohorts by simulating high-pressure scenarios, evaluating performance, and serving as a mentor. In November 2024, Rachele began volunteering at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, supporting pediatric patients and families by providing companionship, escorting them within the hospital, assisting with entertainment in waiting rooms, and contributing to administrative tasks including data entry, sanitizing and organizing donations, and creating enrichment activities for patients. As part of the post-bacc program, Rachele is a research assistant in Dr. Steven Schueller’s Technology and Mental Health (TEAM) Lab, currently working on the Supporting Peer Interactions to Expand Access (SUPERA) study. Her role includes onboarding limited English proficiency Latinx patients with depression and/or anxiety. Rachele hopes to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology.

Akshat earned his B.S. in both Computer Science and Philosophy from the University of Wisconsin - Madison in May of 2024. Over time, Akshat felt less connected to the software industry and wanted to pursue a career in which he could make a more tangible difference in individuals' lives. Akshat decided to take some psychology courses at Los Angeles Pierce College and became very passionate about the subject. During this time, he also worked as a behavioral interventionist in schools with children who had ADHD and were on the autism spectrum. During his time in the post-bacc program, Akshat has been working in Dr. Pia Dietze's Psychology of Social Inequality Lab, which examines how social class background shapes social cognition. Akshat's long-term goal is to complete a Clinical Psychology PhD and practice as a licensed clinical psychologist, informed by his research efforts in social psychology to understand mental health at a societal level. He hopes to teach at a university level and potentially work in public policy advocacy during his career as well. 

Savana graduated summa cum laude from Chapman University with a B.A. in Screenwriting, a B.A. in Psychology, and a minor in Italian Studies. While at Chapman, she conducted research on how musical genre influences mood, as well as the negative impacts of social media–based self-diagnosis of mental illness on Generation Z. She has a passion for working with children, which she has cultivated through tutoring, babysitting, and leading summer programs. Savana will be joining Dr. Uma Rao’s Biobehavioral Research on Adolescent Development (BRoAD) Lab, where she will explore factors influencing child and adolescent health. Through this program, she hopes to deepen her understanding of how to support the health and well-being of children, adolescents, and their caregivers. Her primary research interest is early intervention programs and treatment, particularly for underserved populations. Ultimately, she hopes to integrate her research, clinical practice, and creative background in writing to open an accessible community wellness center, focusing on female-identifying community members and employees of color.

Mele graduated magna cum laude from Franklin University Switzerland with a B.A. in Psychology in May 2025. During her undergraduate studies, Mele did an internship at San Raffaele Hospital in Milan, where she shadowed psychiatrists, accompanied them to their clinical evaluations with patients, and was exposed to a variety of different treatment methods (including psychopharmacology, light therapy, art therapy, and TMS therapy). Upon discovering the field of clinical neuropsychology, Mele completed another internship in Summer 2025 with Dr. Gina Samala at the Mililani Psychology Group in Hawai’i. Here, she gained valuable insight into the field not only by observing neuropsychological and cognitive testing on patients but also by receiving preliminary training on how to score and interpret tests such as the Children’s Depression Inventory 2. As a post-bacc student at UCI, she’s incredibly excited to gain more research experience under Dr. Jason Schiffman and his PREVENT lab, where she is serving as a research assistant. Her research interests revolve around the neurobiological underpinnings of both psychiatric and neurodegenerative conditions (including, but not limited to, mood, psychosis-spectrum, and anxiety disorders, as well as dementia and traumatic brain injury). After completing the program, Mele plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in neuropsychology, with hopes of integrating both research and clinical practice in her future career.

Kalani earned her bachelor’s degree in Criminology and Psychology with an emphasis in Behavior Analysis from the University of Florida in Spring 2026.  While in undergrad, she assisted with research on eyewitness identification, wrongful convictions, and the intersection of psychology and the criminal justice system, and she completed an investigative internship with the Federal Public Defender.  During her time in the post-bacc program, Kalani has been working with Dr. Cauffman in the Development, Delinquency, and Disorder (3D) Lab, where she is developing her research experience. Her research interests include adolescent development, mental health, rehabilitation, and criminological assessments in the justice system. Long term, Kalani hopes to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology and specialize in forensic clinical psychology. 

Desiree earned her A.A. in Psychology from Orange Coast College and then graduated cum laude with her B.A. in Psychological Science from UC Irvine in June 2026. During her time as an undergraduate at UCI, she worked as a research assistant in Dr. Grossman's Visual Perception and Neuroimaging Lab, where she supported ongoing research examining theory of mind and alexithymia through visual stimuli using eye tracking devices. She also worked as a research assistant in Dr. Carlo's Cultural Resilience and Learning Center, where she was able to work on projects examining prosocial behaviors in child development. Through this lab, she received the opportunity to work on a manuscript with a graduate student and other collaborating faculty examining game addiction and prosocial behaviors in earthquake-affected children. Desiree also served as a peer mental health educator for the UCI Counseling Center and public relations director for the UCI Wellness Initiative in Social Ecology, and she completed an internship at a non-profit mental health clinic in Orange County identifying and supporting youth that may be at clinical high-risk for psychosis. Through her involvement in the clinic, she was able to develop her research interests in early intervention for individuals at risk for psychosis and in expanding mental health care utilization, particularly in marginalized communities. As a post-bacc student, Desiree is working in Dr. Schiffman's Psychosis-Risk EValuation, Intervention, and Treatment (PREVENT) Lab. Her goal is to obtain a PhD in Clinical Psychology, working as a psychologist in research, teaching, and clinical practice. 

Clarissa attended Riverside City College before transferring to the University of California, Irvine where she earned her B.A. in Psychological Science. Throughout her time as an undergrad, she was an intern for Thrive Together OC, a non-profit organization that helps those who may be at clinical high-risk for psychosis. During this internship, she assisted with outreach, finding and connecting clients to resources, and educating others about the signs and symptoms of psychosis. Along with this internship, Clarissa was also a research assistant for The Health, Relationships, and Interventions (THRIVE) Lab where she assisted in discovering more about parental reflective functioning for the Growing Together (STORY) study. Clarissa aims to obtain her Ph.D in clinical psychology in order to pursue doing research on the topic of psychosis. This led her to enroll in the post-bacc program at UCI, where she has joined the Psychosis-Risk EValuation, Intervention and Treatment (PREVENT) Lab as a research assistant; in this lab, she hopes to gain more experience in research and to understand more about helping those who may be at-risk for psychosis.

Mia graduated from the University of California, Irvine in December 2025 with a B.A. in Psychological Science, a B.A. in Art, and a minor in Medical Humanities. As an undergraduate student, she had initially focused on pursuing a career in art, even traveling to London to learn about the art market, yet she found more fulfillment in the field of psychology and its positive impact on individual lives. Motivated by her interest in psychology, she worked in an ABA therapy clinic, working with behavioral therapists to support the trajectory of treatment for children with autism spectrum disorder. Additionally, she also assisted Dr. Barb Heine in her Clinical Child Psychology class as a peer mentor, working with the teaching assistant to help undergraduate students understand class content better through hosting discussion sections, exam review sessions, peer mentor office hours, and individual tutoring sessions. During the post-bacc program, she will be working in Dr. Mike Yassa’s Anhedonia Lab, which is currently researching the impact of anhedonia on memory, where she will be conducting neuropsychological testing. After completing the post-bacc program, she intends to pursue a PsyD in Clinical Psychology, with the goal of becoming a clinical neuropsychologist.

Hanna earned a B.A. in Psychological Science with a minor in Chican@ Latin@ Studies from Pomona College. She worked as an RA and Lab Coordinator for Dr. Bacio’s Cultural Context, Adolescent Health Behaviors, & Development (CENTRO) Lab where she conducted two research projects on topics regarding Latine college students’ ethnic identity, LGBTQ+ membership, cultural congruity, stress, and familial support, resulting in presentations at Pomona College’s Undergraduate Research Symposiums, the 2024 SACNAS NDiSTEM Conference, and the 2025 Southern California Conference for Undergraduate Research. Additionally, she was an RA for Dr. De Los Reyes’ Advocacy, Mentorship, and Participatory research with Latine Immigrant Families and Youth (AMPLIFY) Lab, and she completed a year-long clinical practicum under Dr. Masland’s supervision where she gained experience supporting the Pomona Unified School District’s Wellness Centers. Her time working with newly-arrived immigrant students was especially impactful, guiding her interests in how community and clinical psychology can be leveraged to design impactful interventions for immigrant communities. Her senior thesis, titled “Fostering Resistance: Opportunity Structures and the Sociopolitical Development of Undocumented Emerging Adults,” received distinction and reflects her interest in researching health inequities with the purpose of expanding mental health care for immigrant communities. As a post-bacc student, she is working with Dr. Schueller’s TEAM Lab, where she is learning more about implementing and evaluating the effectiveness of digital CBT interventions tailored for Latine communities. Upon completing this program, she hopes to pursue a graduate degree and continue research focused on improving mental health care for underserved communities. 

Laura graduated from the University of California, Irvine in 2025 with a B.A. in Psychological Science. During her undergraduate career, Laura interned at a non-profit re-entry program for recently-incarcerated individuals in Orange County. Through this internship, Laura gained hands-on experience working alongside licensed clinicians and psychologists. She was able to work in substance abuse support meetings, shadow therapy sessions, and assist with participant screenings. Laura is now working as a registered behavior technician (RBT), working with children with autism and developmental disabilities. As an RBT, Laura works with clients on skill development, focusing on communication and social skills. As a post-bacc student, Laura is currently a research assistant in Dr. Lukowski’s Infants, Children, & Families (INCHES) Lab, where she has been working on research about the memory of significant life events by parents of children with Down syndrome, as well as the memory and generalization abilities in children diagnosed with Down syndrome and typically developing children, resulting in a poster presentation at the 2026 Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program at UC Irvine; in June 2026, she received the UCI Exceptional Achievement in Undergraduate Research award for her work in the INCHES Lab.  In addition, she has been taking courses such as Advanced Research Methods and Clinical Neuroscience.  Laura joined the post-bacc program to continue her education in psychology, as well as to create a stepping stone for obtaining a Ph.D.  Laura is most interested in learning about both forensic and child psychology, and her long-term goal is to earn a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with a focus on either child psychology or forensic work at a micro level. 

Aria graduated from UC Davis in June 2025 with a Bachelor's Degree in Cinema and Digital Media and a minor in English and Data Science. As part of her honors project, she created a video game targeted towards children that teaches them the importance of pollinators. Her humanities background contributed to her growing interest in psychology. Aria is interested in studying how the rise of social media and the internet is affecting the mental health and possible rise of psychopathology amongst younger generations. She is interested in answering questions of whether chronic internet use can lead to worsening symptoms of mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, OCD, autism, ADHD, and personality disorders. Aria hopes through her research that she can treat those suffering with mental disorders and educate them on how to safely surf the internet. After graduating, Aria's goal is to pursue a PhD. degree in clinical psychology. During her time as a post-bacc student, she has been working as a research assistant in Dr. Angela Lukowski's Infant, Children, and Families (INCHES) Lab. 

Evan graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a B.A. in Psychological Science in 2025. He transferred there after earning an A.A. at Orange Coast College, where he first developed an interest in psychology, especially around memory processes. During his senior year, he was a research assistant in Dr. Sng's Evolutionary and Cultural Psychology Lab, where he assisted with projects centered around mortality risk and the effects of unpredictability in human environments. He assisted with piloting surveys centered around mortality perception in various environments, as well as the psychological impact of scarcity. He also developed a growing passion for the psychology of social interactions, and especially how memory can play a role in how people perceive each other. As a post-bacc student, Evan is working in Dr. Loftus' lab in the School of Social Ecology and plans on completing courses such as Memory & The Law, Error & Bias, and Social Relationships. His research interests revolve around memory and social implications, as well as the long-term processes that can affect an individual when these operations interact, and after completing the program, Evan plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Social Psychology.

Liora graduated summa cum laude from NYU with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Studies in Summer 2024. During her undergraduate studies, she volunteered for the HEALthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) Study within Dr. Moriah Thomason’s Social Cognitive Affective Neurodevelopment (SCAN) Lab at NYU Langone Health. Liora also volunteered as a Camp Courage Counselor for the Selective Mutism Service at NYU Langone Health’s Child Study Center, where she guided children through graduated exposures to meet individualized goals in verbal communication. After graduating, she continued to volunteer for the Selective Mutism Service and took on the role of research associate for the HBCD Study, for which she conducted infant MRIs. She also volunteered for the PEERS Social Skills Program for teens with ASD and other social communication challenges at NYU Langone Health’s Autism Spectrum Disorder Service. As a post-bacc student, Liora has been volunteering for the Growing Together (STORY) Study within Dr. Borelli’s Health, Relationships, and Intervention (THRIVE) Lab, where she supports research investigating stressful parent-child interactions; in June 2026, she was awarded the UCI Exceptional Achievement in Undergraduate Research award for her work in this lab.  In addition, she has been completing courses in Advanced Research Methods, Clinical Child Psychology, Clinical Neuroscience, and Clinical Health Psychology. Most recently (Summer 2026), Liora accepted a full-time position as an assistant teaching at the Learning Spring School in New York, and she will finish her last course in our program by taking an online course. 

Naomi graduated from UCLA with a B.A. in Psychology and minors in Applied Developmental Psychology and Chicanx Studies. During her time at UCLA, she worked in the Brain and Body Lab (BABlab), where she was awarded a UCLA Psychology Research Opportunity Program (PROPS) Research Grant of $3,000 to conduct independent research examining the gut-brain axis and early caregiving-related adversity in youth. She also gained research experience working with adolescents and families through the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, as well as experience in community-based healthcare through Clínica Romero. She is currently a research assistant in the Biobehavioral Research on Adolescent Development (BRoAD) Lab at UCI, where she contributes to research on adolescent development, behavior, and mental and physical health. Additionally, she works with the UCI Center on Stress and Health, which focuses on helping children and families manage pain, anxiety, and stress associated with medical experiences and illness through multidisciplinary research and collaboration. Her research interests include early adversity, child and adolescent development, and the effects of stress on psychological and physical health. Naomi hopes to pursue a career in clinical psychology, integrating research and clinical practice to support the well-being of children and families, particularly those from underserved communities.

Ava graduated magna cum laude from the University of Oregon’s Clark Honors College with a B.S. in Psychology and minors in Global Health and Special Education in Spring 2026. Before graduation, she was also inducted into Phi Beta Kappa Society’s Oregon Alpha Chapter. During her undergraduate career, Ava was a research assistant in Dr. Zeithamova’s Brain & Memory Lab, a cognitive neuropsychology lab that focusses on how memories are formed and how they work together to create our representation of the world around us and guide our behaviors. Ava completed her honors thesis in this lab, conducting research examining whether schema-based false memories can be counteracted by prompting for greater memory specificity. Outside of her lab, Ava volunteered in a HeadStart classroom, providing assistance to daily classroom tasks including support for students with developmental disabilities. During the post-bacc program, Ava will be working in Dr. Lukowski’s Infants, Children, and Families (INCHES) Lab, studying how early memories form and are shaped by the environment around us. Specifically, Ava will be working on a study examining how the family environment impacts memory recall and well-being measures, such as stress. Ava’s research interests are how family and environmental factors contribute to children’s development and overall well-being and how early detection of developmental disabilities can help create early intervention programs on the family level. After the post-bacc program, Ava hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, working with children and their families, bridging the gap between research and clinical practice. 

Chris graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) with a B.A. in Intensive Psychology and a B.S. in Cognitive Science, both with honors. As an undergraduate, Chris worked in Dr. Hoversten’s IntERPrET lab, a psycholinguistics lab that investigated the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying language comprehension and bilingual language control. Chris also volunteered as a lead ambassador for three years at the Cove, a collegiate harm reduction community at UCSC. These experiences ignited Chris’ research interest in decision-making and substance use disorder. During his time in the post-bacc program, Chris is working in Dr. Werchan’s Well-Being, Infant Learning, & Development (WILD) Lab, where he is studying how behavioral and neural systems are shaped by experiences in early life. Outside of UCI, you can often find Chris out in nature, either running, climbing, hiking, camping, or swimming at the beach. After completing the post-bacc program, Chris plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Cognitive Science and continue the pursuit of knowledge as a professor.

Anahi graduated from UCLA with a B.A. in Psychology in March 2025. After graduation, she began to work as a registered behavior technician (RBT), working with kids who have autism and other developmental disorders to support their autonomy and social growth. As an RBT, Anahi was able to implement BCBA therapy plans, collect and document accurate data, and foster client improvement in communication, social, and daily living skills. She currently works in an in-residential intensive outpatient program treatment facility for adolescents suffering from severe addiction and mental health crises. There, Anahi has continued to grow her passion as well as her professional skills by leading group therapy sessions, de-escalating clients, and implementing individualized treatment plans to support clients' emotional regulation, communication, and daily functioning skills. In her free time, she has volunteered at UCLA’s West Valley Medical Center as well as the Crisis Text Line. In the post-bac program, Anahi has begun to research in Dr. Zalta’s Trauma and Resilience Lab, which explores factors that impact the development of trauma-related psychopathology and intervention strategies aimed at mitigating the impact of trauma. Anahi plans to further pursue her education and earn a PhD in Clinical Psychology.

Klayton attended Emporia State University in Kansas as a first-generation college student, earning a B.S. in Business Management in May 2020 amid the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. During his time in university, he was also a member of the football team. Due largely to an initial struggle with the task of balancing undergraduate and student-athlete life, he sought on-campus therapeutic support, which led him to inquire about involvement in the psychological services available to students. He eventually volunteered as an advocate and part-time support specialist in the student wellness center on campus, and he also joined the student-organized Psychology Club. Since March 2025, he has volunteered with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) - Wichita as a grant writer. Having been fascinated with the field of psychology since middle school and after almost five years of working in an unrelated field and growing increasingly dissatisfied, he resolved to change his career trajectory and pursue his passions for psychological research and clinical psychology. Klayton is broadly interested in emotion regulation (and its influence on physical health) and in psychopathology (both trauma-related and with regard to the psychosis spectrum). Throughout the program, he has been working in Dr. Sarah Pressman’s Stress, Emotion & Physical Health (STEP) lab, and he has been taking courses such as Lifespan Developmental Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Personality Disorders, and Psychosis.  In March 2026, Klayton was awarded a competitive student travel award (given to the top 3% of applicants) from the Western Psychological Association, and he will present his poster (and receive his award) at the Western Psychological Association conference in Tacoma, WA in May 2026. 

Sammy attended Irvine Valley College before transferring to Arizona State University, where he obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology as a first-generation college student. During his undergraduate studies, Sammy joined the Adolescent Stress & Emotion Lab (ASAE) led by Dr. Leah Doane and the Cactus Lab led by Dr. Rick Cruz, and he later become a study interviewer on a nationwide CDC grant-funded project studying community health disparities. Moreover, Sammy presented two independent projects at the 2023 Arizona Psychological Association Conference and the 2024 Western Psychological Association Conference. After returning home to California, Sammy began working as a child advocate with the Child Abuse Services Team. As a post-bacc student, Sammy has joined Dr. Jason Schiffman’s PREVENT Lab, which is dedicated to providing meaningful research on psychosis-risk evaluation, intervention, and treatment. Sammy’s ultimate goal is to address stigma toward mental health issues and to study psychological disorders, such as schizophrenia, through a cultural lens in order to provide inclusive services to underrepresented communities. After completion of the program, he plans to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology and primarily work with child/adolescent populations.

Amaya earned her B.S in Psychology from the University of California, Davis in 2025 as a first generational college student.  Amaya started her research on human memory under the mentorship of Dr. Andrew Yonelinas, evaluating working memory and recollection effectiveness, resulting in a publication in the UC Davis Undergraduate Research Journal entitled, “Discovering the Implications of Semantic and Perceptual Changes in a Change Detection Paradigm”. She has presented her work in UC Davis psychology conferences, including the Language Symposium and the Undergraduate Research Conference. In 2025, she began working as a behavioral health technician, helping both English- and Spanish-speaking children navigate their behavioral challenges. Since joining the post-bacc program, Amaya has been conducting research in Dr. Jodi Quas’ Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Lab, working directly with adolescents who have had adverse childhood experiences. Amaya’s long term academic goal is to earn a doctorate degree in clinical psychology with a focus on forensics. She intends to teach and practice clinical psychology in the future.

Ebru graduated summa cum laude from Colorado University - Boulder with BAs in Psychology and Economics and a minor in Data Science. In her undergraduate years, she worked as a research assistant in Dr. Lei Yuan’s Development, Education, & Learning Lab, a cognitive psychology lab that investigated how preschoolers learn multi-digit numbers using gaze-tracking. Ebru then completed an honors thesis using the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study dataset, which used machine learning to examine the possible cognitive profiles that emerged in participants with childhood ADHD and how this may be connected to other kinds of psychopathology. She also worked as a registered behavior technician and provided ABA therapy to young neurodivergent children to build skills in autonomy, emotional regulation, and independence. During the post-bacc program, she will be working in Dr. Kate Kuhlman’s Teen Resilience Lab, which investigates how early life adversity can be linked to lifelong depression and how the immune system can play a role in this. Ebru’s research interests include how early-life experiences shape development and mental health and how to apply this knowledge to develop assessments and interventions. She hopes to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology and work with children, adolescents, and parents.

Vanessa graduated from Concordia University (Montreal, Canada) with a B.A. in Honors Psychology. During her time as an undergraduate student, she conducted research in the behavioral neuroscience domain, using rodent models to elucidate brain-behavior relationships within rewarding and aversive contexts. She also served as an executive member on her school’s mental health advocacy committee and volunteered for an anonymous active listening service. Her experience in academia and community involvement ignited her commitment to pursue clinical neuroscience research, where the knowledge generated can improve individuals’ quality of life and combat stigma surrounding mental illness. During her time in the post-bacc program, Vanessa has been working with Dr. Elizabeth A. Martin in the Behavior, Emotion, & Affective Neuroscience (BEAN) Lab in the Dept. of Psychology and with Dr. Cameron Carter in the Dept. of Psychiatry & Human Behavior. In addition, she has been taking coursework such as applied statistics, psychosis, and clinical psychology to bolster her education, and she presented posters at the 2026 Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program at UC Irvine and at the 2026 Association for Psychological Science conference in Barcelona.  In May 2026, she accepted a full-time (paid) research assistant position at Washington University in St. Louis; she will relocate to Missouri for this position at the end of the Spring 2026 quarter and will finish up her last two courses in the program by taking online courses.  In the future, she hopes to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology and eventually work at an academic medical center where she can integrate research, clinical practice, and teaching.

Carla is a first-generation college student who graduated with a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in statistics from San Diego State University (SDSU) in May of 2024. During her time at SDSU, she did research in the Faculty-Student Mentoring Program with Dr. Enrico Marcelli, where she investigated the relationship between psychological distress rates and factors such as legal status and neighborhood disorder among undocumented immigrant populations throughout the U.S. Alongside research, she volunteered for the Los Angeles student mentoring program over Zoom, where she served as a student mentor and tutor for at-risk middle schoolers. As a mentor, Carla helped with presentations on mental health, which included important emotional regulation and social skills, and she provided as a safe space for her students to share their school experiences.  Her current study interests include clinical work and neuropsychology, as well as working with underserved communities, including the Latine population with mental health disparities. Currently, she is a part of Dr. Cauffman’s Development, Disorder, and Delinquency (3D) lab, where she hopes to gain more hands-on research experience and contribute knowledge from her past work. To supplement this, she is also taking courses such as advanced research methods and clinical psychology. After the post-bacc program, she hopes to be accepted into a PhD program in Clinical Psychology or a master's program in Counseling to become a licensed therapist and conduct therapy.

Hugo graduated from Northwestern University with a B.S. in Computer Science (minor in Data Science) in Spring 2022. He developed a strong interest in data science through his data science projects, which motivated him to consider research. Additionally, during his undergrad, he worked as a peer advisor, where he facilitated first year personal development seminars in his engineering department. He got to support a group of first year students and engage them in conversations about mental health, academic success, and career exploration. He also volunteered with the Northwestern Campus Kitchens food organization in Evanston, IL, where he connected with food-insecure members of the community to promote food security and increase access to food pantries. He really enjoyed these experiences, and it made him want a career path that was more people-centered. He also worked as a software engineer for a couple of years and completed a certificate in Psychology through UC Berkeley Extension’s online curriculum to build a foundation for more advanced studies in psychology. Hugo is excited to do research with Dr. Quas in the Adolescent, Child, Experience Lab and with Dr. Borelli in the Health, Relationships, & Interventions (THRIVE) Lab to explore his interests in community- and culturally-sensitive interventions and clinical applications in psychology.

Juliane earned her B.A. in English Literature from the University of California, Los Angeles. During her time at UCLA, she interned at Advancing Justice Southern California (formerly the Asian Pacific American Legal Center) where she worked on community action projects and youth education. There, she discovered her passion for youth development and working with systemically disadvantaged populations. Over the years, Juliane has served as a Learning Center Director at a Title 1 high school, as a volunteer medic at the Berkeley Free Clinic, on the development team for national non-profit Girls Leadership, and more. It was at Girls Leadership - while helping promote their national, community-led, participatory research report on Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) female youth leadership - that Juliane became interested in the research process. This led her to UCI's Psychology Post-Bacc Program, where she has joined Dr. Ilona Yim's Mind-body Pathways in Well-being and Resilience (MPWR) Lab working on the "Sent Away" Children research project, which examines the long-term physical and mental health outcomes for children who experienced temporary or permanent removal from their homes. She is interested in childhood psychological development, the impacts of stress and trauma on children, and the conditions that foster resilience. During her time in our program, she plans to present a poster at the 2027 Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program conference at UCI. 

Elani graduated from the University of California, Riverside (UCR) with a B.S. in Psychology and B.A. in Education, Society, and Human Development. She was previously in a Master’s of Education program at UCR working to become an elementary school teacher focused on bridging the educational inequities. However, after experiencing the disproportionate student-to-teacher ratio, she left the program to find work that was more 1:1 as a behavior therapist. Admiring the multidisciplinary nature of behavior therapy, she found an interest in social work. This led her to the UCI post-bacc program to gain more experience in preparing to apply to Master’s in Social Work programs. As a post-bacc student, she is working with Dr. Alana LeBron at the Voices for Community Health Equity and New Systems and System Changes (VoiCES) Lab, a community led study that investigates lead exposure and its effects on children’s development and academic performance in Santa Ana, and with Dr. Laura Enriquez's Center for Liberation, Anti-Racism & Belonging (C-LAB), which investigates the relationship between legal vulnerability and student political participation. Outside of UCI, Elani volunteers with the Orange County Asian Pacific Islander Community Alliance (OCAPICA) ROOTED program where she supports high school students in career and leadership development. Her long-term professional interests include using her social justice lens to break down systems of inequality - specifically within the education system and connecting theory and practice in immigration reform.

Anthony graduated cum laude from Northern Arizona University in December 2024 with a B.S. in Psychological Sciences and a minor in philosophy. In his time there, he had great opportunities doing research at the Woodruff Neuroscience of Compassion lab, which studied the neural correlates of compassion and empathy using EEG methods. This gave Anthony the opportunity to present multiple projects at Northern Arizona University’s Undergraduate Symposium. Anthony also became a Supplemental Instruction (SI) Leader through the AmeriCorps program, where he led study sessions in Intro to Logic. Being in AmeriCorps also encouraged him to volunteer at food shelters where cooked meals were distributed to those in need. What drew Anthony to the post-bacc program is the collection of strong labs in psychology and neuroscience. Now, Anthony is working in the Lur lab where two fundamental questions relevant to psychology are studied: 1) how do single brain cells integrate thousands of signals to produce neural firing? and 2) what are the effects of stress on our cognitive capacities at the level of neural circuits? These questions are explored via animal models, optogenetics, and 2-Calcium imaging. Anthony plans to use the skills learned here to get into a Neuroscience PhD program.  He plans to one day be a faculty member and have his own lab dedicated to learning more about the mind and how to develop methods to alleviate suffering.

Jeanette graduated from Pomona College with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychological Science in May 2026, where she was involved in two research labs. Her first lab, Dr. Hurley's Deep Structure Culture Lab, focused on advocating for accommodating different cultural learning styles in the Western Classroom; she worked with this professor to shape her senior thesis, which focused on teacher discipline bias towards different types of learning behaviors in the classroom. Her second lab focused on Latine culture as a resilience and risk factor for different risky health behaviors like binge drinking. During her time in the post-bacc program, Jeanette is working as a research assistant in Dr. Zalta’s Trauma & Resilience Lab. Outside of research, Jeanette really enjoy working with children in a variety of clinical settings spanning from ABA clinics to school-based settings. 

Jacqueline graduated magna cum laude from UCI with a B.A. in Philosophy in 2021. For years, she worked at a local law firm in Orange County, but later moved to Los Angeles after joining the International Alliance of Stage Employees (IATSE). Through the film industry, Jacqueline fulfilled her dream of authentically portraying diverse scenes and stories. Despite the creative fulfillment this work afforded her, Jacqueline desired to create more of a direct and tangible positive impact on her community. She went on to explore her longstanding interest in child development and psychology by enrolling in undergraduate psychology courses and simultaneously working as a substitute teacher with the LA Unified School District. Here, she witnessed the profound need for basic mental health and education resources for children and their families, especially in light of the devastating consequences of unaddressed adverse childhood experiences. Jacqueline’s extensive work experience in legal, creative, and education settings informed and grounded her in the decision to pursue a Ph.D. in clinical child psychology. Her goal is to research the influence of childhood trauma on physical and mental wellbeing, as well as the impactful ways in which children’s entertainment programming can serve as an enriching and widely-accessible mental health and education resource for all children, no matter their socioeconomic status or ability. Jacqueline is currently a member of Dr. Sarah Pressman’s Stress, Emotion, and Physical Health Lab, which studies how positive emotions, behavior, and social factors affect health and the stress response.

Ashley earned her B.A. in Anthropology from UC Riverside in 2013 and, subsequently, an A.A. in Psychology with a Certificate of Achievement in Trauma Studies from Long Beach City College. She is currently a research assistant in Dr. Alyson Zalta’s Trauma and Resilience Lab, where she contributes to projects examining PTSD, sleep, and resilience through preparing study materials, participant data tracking, and organizational skills. Beyond her academic work, Ashley co-founded and has been operating a community-focused coffee business for over a decade, where she developed strong leadership, mentorship, and outreach skills. She also serves as a commissioner on the California Commission on Disability Access, where she advocates for inclusive practices and builds connections between businesses and the disability community. Her research interests include trauma, resilience, and the intergenerational transmission of stress, with a particular focus on how early adversity shapes long-term mental health outcomes. Ashley’s short-term goal in the post-bacc program is to further refine her research interests and strengthen her methodological foundation in preparation for doctoral training. Her long-term goal is to pursue a Clinical Psychology Ph.D. and build a career dedicated to understanding and addressing generational trauma through research and clinical practice. 

Marina graduated cum laude from the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) in 2024 with a B.A. in Intensive Psychology.  During her undergraduate career, she spent a summer at Yale conducting research under Drs. Denis Sukhodolsky and Karim Ibrahim, culminating in a poster presentation. She also joined the Developmental Moral Psychology Lab at UCSC under Dr. Audun Dahl, where she spent three quarters doing qualitative video coding. While figuring out her purpose and research goals, Marina decided to focus on her personal experiences as a disabled student, and specifically on her hospital stays. She worked on two class research projects, both asking adult participants to go into detail about their hospital stays and define when they had a "good" or "bad" experience. The results from these studies helped Marina to learn more about nurse-patient dynamics, moral injury, empathetic care, and empathy burn-out. She hopes to continue developing her goals and interests, eventually enrolling in a master's degree program and conducting research full-time. Marina is excited to enter the psychology post-bacc program after a year-long academic hiatus, ready to take on new challenges and research topics. She is now working under Dr. Michael Hoyt in the Behavioral Medicine Research Lab and under Dr. Roxy Silver in the Silver Stress and Coping Lab. 

Iris earned her B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 2025. During her undergraduate studies, she worked as a certified nursing assistant and gained research experience in both oncology and bacterial genetics labs. She also founded a community initiative through which she organized and led arts-and-crafts sessions at retirement communities throughout Madison, WI. After graduation, Iris worked as a Mental Health Technician supporting young children with autism, trauma histories, and other mental health conditions. These experiences strengthened her interest in understanding how early life experiences and stress influence psychological and physical health. As a post-bacc student at UCI, Iris is a research assistant in Dr. Uma Rao’s Biobehavioral Research on Adolescent Development (BRoAD) Lab. Her research interests focus on the biological and physiological mechanisms through which stress and trauma shape emotional, behavioral, and physical health, as well as how psychological interventions may modify these processes.

Bettina graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a B.A. in Psychological Science, after transferring with her A.A. from Irvine Valley College. During her undergraduate studies, she was a research assistant for Dr. Campos’ Culture, Relationships, and Health (CRH) Lab, exposing her to the breadth and impact of research. Initially intending to pursue a career solely as a licensed clinician, she also sought the opportunity to become a peer educator for the UCI Counseling Center, developing and implementing primary prevention outreach events and administering seminars on student wellness. Yet, there was a persistence to narrow in her research interests further, resulting in her involvement with Dr. Thayer’s Emotions and Quantitative Psychophysiology Lab and Dr. Williams’ Wayne Laboratories, studying cardiovascular health in Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. This experience shaped her passion to uplift marginalized groups at a community level through advocation in research. As a post-bacc student, Bettina aims to refine her research interests intersecting community, culture, social connections, and health while being involved in Dr. Borelli’s Health, Relationships, and Intervention (THRIVE) as a research assistant and continuing in the CRH Lab as a co-lab manager. 

Daniela graduated from Smith College with a B.A. in Psychology and Sociology in 2023 as a first-generation college student. During her undergraduate studies, she volunteered as a research assistant in Dr. Benita Jackson's Society, Psychology, and Health (SPAH) Laboratory, where she assessed psychological flexibility in college students. She took a diverse range of psychology courses but found herself gravitating towards health psychology, which strengthened her interest in Latine health and wellness. Her experiences volunteering at the SPAH lab combined with the courses she took allowed her to hone in on her interest in anxiety and depression, health disparities, and chronic pain in the Latine community. Daniela worked at the New York Public Library after graduating where she enjoyed serving her community through promoting library resources and materials, which reinforced one of her long-term goals of translating research into accessible material for underrepresented communities. In late 2025, she began volunteering as a crisis counselor with the Crisis Text Line and joined the first cohort of students in CUNY'S Health Psychology Certificate Program. Now as a post-bacc student, Daniela is very excited to be joining Dr. Fortier's lab at the UCI Center on Stress and Health, where she will be gaining patient-oriented research experience at Rady's Children's Hospital of Orange County. She will be supporting their community-engaged research to address healthcare disparities in underserved populations with a focus on child and family quality of life, pain, anxiety, and engagement in healthcare. 

Kaia earned her B.A. in Psychology from UC Irvine, graduating with Latin honors in 2026. As an undergraduate, she worked as a research assistant in Dr. Bornstein's Computational and Cognitive Neuroscience Lab, assisting in data collection and conducting fMRI scans. She also took a position as an administrative and psychological assistant at a diagnostic clinic (Variations Psychology), supporting the administration of psychological tests and contributing to diagnostic report writing. Kaia continues to work at this practice while accruing practicum hours to become certified as a psychological testing technician (PTT) through UCI's PTT certification program, and she is on track to earn this certification in early 2027. As a student in the post-bacc program, Kaia has been working as a research assistant in Dr. Silver's Stress and Coping Lab. Her research interests involve clinical and diagnostic psychology, media escapism, digital wellness, emotional regulation, neurodivergence, and disparities in access to mental health resources. Kaia looks forward to gaining more experience over the next few years before applying to Clinical Psychology Ph.D. programs, with UCI as her top choice. 

Abigail graduated from UCLA in June 2026 with a B.A in Psychology and a minor in Asian Humanities. During her time as an undergraduate, she was a research assistant for the Teaching and Learning Lab, where she was involved in studies that focused on learning engagement with statistics and coding. In her senior year, she became interested in health psychology, which brought her to the post-bacc program in hopes of exploring her interests further. Upon starting the program, she became a research assistant for Dr. Jacqueline Kim’s Health in Context Lab as well as Dr. Tao Jiang’s Relationships, Mind, and Health Lab. Abigail is interested specifically in the psychological impacts of chronic health adversity and the influence of social support. After the post-bacc program, she hopes to pursue a PhD in Health Psychology. 

Alexandra earned her B.A. in Psychology with an emphasis in Industrial-Organizational Psychology and a minor in Counseling and Social Change from San Diego State University (SDSU) in 2026. During her time at SDSU, Alexandra was a part of the Motivation and Social Identity Lab, where she investigated how feedback in conversation in a research lab setting can affect students’ motivation to continue in research. Alexandra presented a poster with her research team on this work at the San Diego State Student Symposium in 2026. Additionally, Alexandra was a Peer Educator for SDSU’s Bounce Back Retention Program. In this role, she provided peer support and taught resilience-based academic skills to students on academic probation, alongside counselors from SDSU’s Counseling and Psychological Services. Alexandra also volunteered at San Diego Youth Services, where she provided direct care for unhoused, at-risk, and runaway youth. As a result of these experiences, Alexandra developed a passion for understanding how cultural and systemic factors shape youth mental health, behavior, resilience, and motivation. In the post-bacc program, she is exploring these interests further as a research assistant in Dr. Cauffman’s 3D Lab, where she investigates the justice system and its impact on youth mental health and behavior. After completing the post-bacc program, Alexandra plans to pursue a doctorate in clinical psychology and hopes to continue working with youth impacted by systemic barriers as a clinical psychologist.

Chelsea graduated from the University of Central Florida with a B.A. in Film and a minor in Spanish. She began her career in Los Angeles, working in set design, where she developed an interest in identity and the human experience. After transitioning into roles working with children and teaching, Chelsea shifted her focus toward psychology, motivated by a strong passion for understanding and treating mental health. She earned an A.A. in Psychology and a Certificate in Trauma Studies from Long Beach City College. During her studies, Chelsea presented two poster presentations at the college’s research symposium and participated in the Psychology Club. In addition, she volunteers as a crisis counselor with Crisis Text Line, an experience that deepened her knowledge of trauma-informed care and reinforced her commitment to the field. At UCI, Chelsea is a post-bacc student in Dr. Silver’s Stress and Coping Lab. She plans to participate in a field study program to further develop her academic and clinical skills. Following completion of the post-bacc program, Chelsea intends to pursue graduate studies in clinical psychology.

Garrett served five years in the Marine Corps before attending UC Irvine, where he developed a burgeoning interest in the inner workings of the mind as they related to criminal behavior. Garrett graduated magna cum laude from UC Irvine in 2020 with a dual B.A. in Psychological Science and Criminology, Law, & Society and with a minor in Philosophy. During his time as an undergraduate, he worked as a research assistant studying juror decision-making, and he interned at the Treasury Acquisition Institute within the Internal Revenue Service, intent on pursuing a career in federal law enforcement. After graduating, Garrett began working in the field of private investigations, and he graduated with an M.A. in Forensic Psychology from California Baptist University in 2024, where he worked as a teaching assistant. In this program, Garrett's interests shifted toward pursuing a career in clinical psychology with an interest in psychosis, mood, and personality disorders. Following graduation, he worked as an adjunct professor at California Baptist University, where he taught courses on the biological bases of behavior and advanced multivariate statistics. In the post-bacc program, Garrett will work in Dr. Martin's Behavior, Emotions, and Affective Neuroscience (BEAN) lab and in Dr. Dent’s Meta-Analysis lab. Upon completing the post-bacc program, Garrett hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, conducting research on and providing clinical services to veterans and forensic populations.

Emma graduated summa cum laude from Baylor University in May of 2026 with a B.S. in Psychology, a secondary major in English, and an Environmental Studies minor. During her time at Baylor, Emma served as a research assistant for Dr. Palm, investigating the effects of assessment naming on students' academic-related outcomes, and as a research assistant in Dr. Riley's Learning and Behavior "Rat Lab," studying operant conditioning and its effects on positive reinforcement of animal behavior. Emma also participated in Dr. Matson's Aquatic Research in Galapagos study abroad program, and she volunteered at the Family Abuse Center (a local domestic violence shelter) and the Waco Center for Youth (a long-term psychiatric treatment facility for teens experiencing emotional and behavioral issues). At UCI, Emma is a part of Dr. Ditto's Hot Cognition Lab and Dr. Lukowski's INfants, CHildren, and FamiliES (INCHES) Lab. Emma is passionate about enhancing the understanding of complex human behaviors, with a particular interest in exploring the intersection of behavioral psychology, environmental conservation, and morality. Emma aspires to one day investigate how media, such as literature and art, affect social behavior in regard to the environment and conscientiousness. After completing the post-bacc program, Emma plans to pursue a Ph.D. in social psychology in hopes of becoming a professor and advancing the psychological sciences through teaching and research.

Emma graduated from the University of California, Irvine (UCI) in 2025 with a Bachelor of Science in Neurobiology and a minor in Psychological Science. During her time in undergrad, Emma joined the Piomelli Lab, where she studied the pharmacokinetics and neurobehavioral effects of cannabigerol (CBG) on anxiety-related behavior in mice. She then worked as a research associate in UCI's Emergency Medicine Associates Program, where she co-led a study on screening and brief intervention for substance and alcohol use disorder risk in the UCI Health Emergency Department and presented her findings at the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program symposium. Emma also worked as a mental health technician, supporting individuals with mood, substance use, and psychotic disorders. This position exposed her to mental health professionals across a range of therapeutic disciplines and led her to seriously consider a career in the field. In the post-bacc program, Emma is a member of Dr. Elizabeth Martin’s Behavior, Emotion, & Affective Neuroscience (BEAN) Lab. Her interests include how individual experiences shape perception and cognition, particularly in the context of substance use and psychosis, and she is especially curious about substance-induced psychotic disorders. She plans to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology and hopes to specialize in neuropsychology. 

Natalia graduated summa cum laude from California State University, Fresno with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Child and Family Science in December 2024. During her undergraduate studies, she was involved in multiple research labs, including the Psychometrics, Research, and Evaluation Promoting Adaptation, Resiliency, and Education (PREPARE) Lab and the Human Development & Culture (HD&C) Lab. As an undergraduate researcher in the HD&C Lab, Natalia investigated the existence of emerging adulthood amongst rural and urban-reared Thai youth. The findings from this study were published in Emerging Adulthood, where she is proud to be listed as a co-author. Her research interests include adverse childhood experiences, adolescence, child psychopathology, trauma, stress, and family dynamics. As a post-bacc student, Natalia is working in Dr. Reich’s lab in the School of Education, in Dr. Delgadillo's lab in the School of Nursing, and in Dr. Borelli's lab in the Department of Psychology, resulting in co-authorship on presentations at the 2026 American Educational Research Association conference and the 2026 Society for Research in Adolescence conference; in June 2026, she received the UCI Social Ecology Exceptional Achievement in Undergraduate Research award for her work in these labs.  In addition, she has been taking courses such as Clinical Child Psychology, Clinical Psychology, and Clinical Health Psychology, and in April 2026, she was admitted to the Psychological Testing Technician program at UC Irvine.  She will begin that program in Fall 2026 while finishing up her last two courses in our post-bacc program.

Pablo graduated from the University of California, Riverside in Spring 2026, earning a B.S. in Psychology and a B.A. in Spanish with a concentration in cultural studies. During his undergraduate journey, he joined research labs such as the Youth Health Development (YHD) lab under Dr. Aerika Loyd and the Positive Activities and Wellbeing (PAW) lab under Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky. Under the mentorship of Dr. Loyd, he completed an honors capstone project to examine the impact of racial discrimination on mental health and well-being outcomes in Latine college students, as well as the utility of community cultural wealth as a protective factor. He then went on to present his findings at the 2026 Western Psychological Association conference in Tacoma, where he received an award for his poster abstract. Pablo’s time in both the YHD and PAW labs developed his research interests related to the intersection of sociocultural identity, ethnic and racial discrimination, personality, and psychopathology. At UCI, he is excited to be working in Dr. Elizabeth Martin’s Behaviors, Emotions, and Affective Neuroscience (BEAN) Lab to gain valuable experience in clinical research, and he intends to seek out internship and/or volunteer opportunities to explore the realm of clinical psychology beyond research.

Nico graduated from the University of California, Irvine in 2023 with a B.S. in Biological Sciences. While his academic journey initially centered on the physical aspects of health, his personal experiences with mental health inspired a shift toward understanding the mind–body connection. This perspective has guided his growing involvement in psychological research, where he seeks to explore how biological and psychological processes interact to shape health outcomes. Nico currently serves as Study Manager for the MSoL Study in Dr. Belinda Campos’ Culture, Relationships, and Health Lab and for the EACL Study in Dr. Paul Piff’s Morality, Emotion, & Social Hierarchy Lab, in addition to working as a Research Assistant for the ECHO Study in Dr. DeWayne Williams’ Lab. As a product of these research experiences, Nico presented his independent work at the 2025 Western Psychological Association conference in Las Vegas. Through the post-bacc program, he has also joined Dr. Sarah Pressman’s Stress, Emotion & Physical Health Lab, resulting in poster presentations at the 2026 Society for Behavioral Medicine conference in Chicago and the Association for Psychological Science conference in Barcelona, Spain; in June 2026, he received the Exceptional Achievement in Undergraduate Research award for his work in these labs. In addition, he has been taking courses such as Research Design, Clinical Neuropsychology, Psychology Fundamentals, Statistical Analysis, and Biological Psychology.  His research interests focus on the intersection of psychological and physiological factors—such as stress, heart rate variability, and cultural influences on health—and how these elements can be studied together to provide a more integrated understanding of well-being. Looking ahead, Nico hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in Health Psychology and contribute to bridging the gap between mental and physical health in both research and practice.

Sofia graduated cum laude from UC Irvine in 2023 with a B.A. in Psychology. During her undergraduate studies, she developed a deep passion for mental health and an interest in cognition and linguistics. After graduating, she worked as a bilingual mental health counselor at a community clinic, providing care to low-income individuals with complex conditions such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. She received training from the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health on crisis intervention and suicide prevention. Sofia also volunteered with UCLA’s Flying Samaritans, a student-led nonprofit organization that provides free health services and health education to the rural communities of Rancho Escondido and Colonia Margarita Moran in Tijuana, Mexico. Partnering with Flying Sam, she led culturally-informed workshops to destigmatize mental health issues and promote community well-being. She currently works as a full-time case manager through Medi-Cal’s Enhanced Care Management program, working to promote accessible healthcare and providing comprehensive care coordination services to individuals with high-level social and clinical needs. Sofia will be joining Dr. Werchan’s Well-Being and Infant Learning, & Development (WILD) Lab. Here, she will contribute to important research surrounding how early biological processes and experiences influence cognitive development and emotional well-being across the lifespan. After completing the post-bacc program, Sofia hopes to purse a doctoral degree and continue her education in cognitive development with a focus on marginalized communities. 

Adriana graduated from San Diego State University in May 2025 with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Counseling and Social Change. At San Diego State, Adriana worked as a student researcher at the South Bay Latino Research Center, and she presented her findings as first author at two local university conferences and at the American Psychological Association conference. In summer 2024, Adriana participated in the Yale Child Study Center’s Developmental Science Internship, resulting in presentations at the Yale School of Medicine and at the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities conference. Adriana also served as a behavioral health intern and later as a case specialist at Nile Sisters Development Initiative, where she provided behavioral health support, case management, and vocational training for underserved refugee communities in San Diego. During her time in the post-bacc program, Adriana has been conducting research with Dr. Kuhlman (Dept. of Psychology) and Dr. Delgadillo (School of Public Health) and Dr. Novacek (School of Medicine), resulting in poster presentations at the 2026 Anxiety & Depression Association of America conference in Chicago and the 2026 Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program conference at UC Irvine; in September 2026, Adriana was promoted from a volunteer research assistant to a (part-time) paid assistant research coordinator in Dr. Delgadillo’s lab.  In addition, she is taking courses such as Advanced Research Methods, Positive Psychology in Education, Statistical Analysis in Social Ecology, Clinical Psychology, and Applied Statistics. Outside of UCI, Adriana works part-time as an Assistant Office Manager at Compass Therapy.

Alexy graduated from the University of California, Irvine in 2024 with a B.A. in Psychological Science. During her time as an undergraduate student, she worked as a registered behavior technician, providing ABA therapy for a pre-teenager on the autism spectrum, and she completed a field study internship at the UCI CARE (Campus Assault Resources & Education) office as a marketing intern. After graduating, she worked full-time at a psychiatric residential facility for two years, working with clients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and other co-occurring disorders. While working full-time, she volunteered as a peer tutor for the Human Sexuality course at UCI in the Fall of 2024, and she is currently volunteering for the Crisis Text Line as a crisis counselor. Her interest in assessment led her to start UCI’s Psychological Testing Technician (PTT) Program in 2025, where she gained experience administering psychological tests to clients referred for evaluations for ADHD, personality disorders, and mood disorders. She is currently finishing up the PTT program and working on applying for registration under the Board of Psychology. As a post-bacc student, Alexy is incredibly excited to be working as a research assistant for Dr. Tabibnia (who is studying emotion regulation, impulse control in addiction and phobias, and resilience from a neuroscience perspective) and for Dr. Borelli’s postdoctoral researcher, Dr. Cárdenas (who is studying how parent caregiving processes shape risk for psychopathology across generations at the UCI Depression Institute).

Jeremy graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with a B.A. in Philosophy, where he completed additional coursework in Psychology. Prior to transfer, he graduated from Orange Coast College with Associates degrees in Psychology and Communication Studies. While at OCC, Jeremy volunteered with the Adapted Kinesiology Program for over two years, where he worked with students with a wide range of abilities to promote physical and psychological health. Since graduating from UC Berkeley, Jeremy has spent over two years working as a board-certified autism technician and behavioral therapist for autistic children, furthering his pursuit to support communities of all neurotypes. Jeremy also spent a year working as a mental health technician in residential and IOP mental health treatment, ultimately achieving the position of lead mental health technician. After spending nearly three years confirming his passion for clinical mental health and behavioral work, Jeremy joyfully chose UCI’s post-bacc program to gain research experience and to broaden his coursework in preparation for Clinical Psychology PhD programs. With special interest in neurodiverse groups, mood disorders, trauma, and mental well-being, Jeremy is working with Dr. Tabibnia’s TAB Lab on a longitudinal intervention study on the effects of awe on mental wellbeing. In the future, he hopes to connect this research to mood disorders, in particular depression and ADHD, through work in a clinically-oriented research group.

Leah graduated from UC San Diego in 2025 with a Bachelor of Science in Developmental Psychology. During her time there, she completed an honors thesis under the direction of Dr. David Barner examining how different engagement styles affect children’s and adults' memory of block towers. Leah is interested in studying cognitive development, language acquisition, and memory in young children. During her time in the post-bacc program, she has been working in Dr. Angie Lukowski's Infant, Children, and Families (INCHES) Lab as a research assistant and lab manager. Outside of UCI, you can find Leah working at In-N-Out, running, crocheting, exploring fashion, thrifting, trying new coffee shops and restaurants, going on day/road trips, and listening to music/going to concerts. After completing the post-bacc program, she hopes to be accepted into a PhD program and continue her research in academia as a professor.  

Mackenzie graduated magna cum laude from UC Irvine with a B.A. in Psychological Science in December 2025. During her undergraduate studies, she worked as a research assistant in Dr. Sng’s Evolution, Culture, and Stereotyping Lab, contributing to projects investigating how unpredictability, residential mobility, and genetically-related ecologies influence human behavior. She remains involved with the lab and is currently examining how religions adapt to ecological challenges. Mackenzie also has professional experience as a registered behavior technician, providing early intervention services to children with neurodevelopmental conditions. Since joining the post-bacc program, she has been working as a research assistant in Dr. Werchan’s Well-Being, Infant Learning, & Development (WILD) Lab, where she is interested in how parents’ experiences shape children’s developmental outcomes and how these outcomes can be optimized by supporting both children and their caregivers. After completing the program, Mackenzie plans to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology, with the long-term goal of integrating research and clinical practice to support children and families affected by neurodevelopmental conditions.

Jennifer graduated summa cum laude from the University of California, Irvine with a B.A. in Psychological Science in 2025. During her time at as an undergraduate, she worked as an intern in the Associated Students of UCI’s LGBTQIA+ commission, where she shared resources and connected with UCI’s queer community. Additionally, she has experience working as a behavioral health technician in a residential treatment facility for adolescents facing acute mental health crises. At this job, she utilized crisis management and de-escalation skills, guided clients through DBT-based coping skills, collaborated with clinicians and nursing staff, and gained hands-on experience working with at-risk youth. Jennifer’s work experience and undergraduate coursework led her to develop a passion for developmental psychology. Her research interests include community-based support for marginalized communities (particularly LGBTQIA+ youth), the impact of discrimination in educational settings, and criminal justice reform. Jennifer is currently working in Dr. Elizabeth Cauffman’s Development, Disorder, Delinquency (3D) Lab, which studies patterns of development, delinquent behavior, and mental health in juvenile offenders. After the post-bacc program, Jennifer plans to pursue a Ph.D. in developmental psychology. 

Brandie graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. in Psychology and a specialization in Social Psychology from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) in 2022. Before pursuing her undergraduate degree, Brandie worked in mental healthcare in senior leadership roles, supporting regional operations at inpatient and outpatient substance abuse treatment centers in California and Florida. After graduating, she continued her work in clinical psychology as an intake coordinator for a psychology outpatient group practice, providing day-to-day support for mental health professionals and thousands of patients. These roles aided in Brandie’s professional growth in mental healthcare and solidified her interest in continuing her education in the field of psychology. During her time at UCSD, Brandie was a proud member of the Chancellors Associates Scholarship Program and Caledonian Society. Peaked by her interests, she utilized her academic tenure to delve deeper into social psychology, focusing her research studies on areas such as intergroup relations, political polarization, and the internalization of misinformation. Currently, Brandie has been focusing on her mental healthcare consulting practice, as well as owning and operating a group psychology practice where she serves as Chief Operating Officer. In the post-bacc program at UCI, Brandie is a research assistant in Dr. Pete Ditto’s Hot Cognition Lab, supporting studies on political bias, motivated reasoning, and moral judgment. She continues to explore her research interests in political polarization and social identity. Brandie plans to obtain her Ph.D. in Social Psychology to develop research-based interventions that promote social connectedness.

Chelsey graduated from the UCSanta Cruz in 2025 with a B.S. in Cognitive Science and a B.A. in Intensive Psychology. Her research journey began in her sophomore year as the Lead Research Assistant in Dr. Su-hua Wang’s Infant and Child Development Lab, where she studied parent-child interactions and became particularly interested in how cultural differences influence parenting styles, such as the ways mothers of different backgrounds respond to their infants’ distress or offer praise. In her junior year, Chelsey led a senior thesis project examining caregivers’ use of praise during a collaborative problem-solving task, with the goal of eventually expanding the study to include cross-cultural comparisons. She presented this work at the UCSC Psi Chi Research Symposium and was honored with a Dean’s Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Research.  Motivated by her own upbringing in an Asian household where emotional struggles were often met with silence, Chelsey interned at Centerstone, a mental health research organization, to explore mental health issues and available resources. During her time there, she conducted an independent project investigating the Asian community’s engagement with mental health services and the barriers they face. During her time in the post-bacc program, Chelsey is working in Dr. Borelli’s Health, Relationships, and Intervention (THRIVE) Lab, where she will contribute to a project focused on promoting resilience in Asian American communities through the use of cultural savoring. After completing the program, Chelsey plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. 

Carrie graduated from the University of California-Los Angeles with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Global Health. As an undergrad at UCLA, Carrie was part of the ADHD and Development Lab, where she worked as a research assistant for the DREAMING Study, which aimed to understand family and psychophysiological factors in the development of differences in emotion in pre-adolescent girls. There, she analyzed intellectual and emotional measures, coding the WIAT-III, CDI-2, and parent-child interactions and dyadic behaviors using PARCHISY. In January 2026, Carrie interned for the UCLA KidsConnect Program, gaining ABA-related training to support a classroom of children aged 4–5 with autism in progressing towards their sociocognitive and behavioral goals. These experiences sparked her research interests examining early life experiences that could contribute to mental disorders later on, parent-child attachment relationships, and neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly among child and adolescent populations. As a post-bacc student, Carrie is a research assistant in Dr. Kuhlman’s Teen Resilience Lab, where she will be assisting with the Positive Affect Treatment for Adolescents with Early Life Adversity clinical trials. After completing the post-bacc program, Carrie intends to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. 

Leana graduated from UCLA in 2018 with a B.A. in Psychology. During her senior year, she was a research assistant for the UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs (UCLA ISAP), working on Dr. Kate Wolitzky-Taylor's Social Anxiety and Alcohol Treatment study and her Cannabis Use Disorder and Emotional Regulation study. After graduation, she continued as a research volunteer at UCLA ISAP until Fall 2018. While an undergrad, Leana was also a psychophysiology tutor for one year at Glendale Community College. From 2020-2022, she was an administrative assistant at USC Keck Hospital for the Intraoperative Neuromonitoring Department, and she is currently a Clinical Research Coordinator at Cedars-Sinai Neurology Department, where she helps coordinate various studies (including movement disorders clinical trials/global registries and stroke observational studies). As a post-bacc student, Leana is working on Dr. Ilona Yim's Sent-Away Children's research, which is dedicated to finding the long-term effects of "sent away" children's experience on health, well-being, and social relationships. Her research interests center on development of anxiety and its long-lasting influence, with an emphasis on effective treatment strategies, and her goal is to pursue this interest by earning a PhD or PsyD in Clinical Psychology. Most recently, Leana was admitted to the Psychological Testing Technician (PTT) program at UC Irvine, and she began that program in Fall 2026; she will finish up her final courses in the post-bacc program while taking courses in the PTT program.

Shannon graduated from UCLA in 2017 with a B.A. in Theater. Through her years studying acting, she found a passion for psychology, including better understanding the mind and how it works. During college, she began working with children, volunteering with the Down Syndrome Association of Orange County and Elks Literacy Project For Kids, as well as performing at children’s events. This led her to The Walt Disney Company, where she has been working for the past four years in Disneyland Entertainment. Her time at Disneyland has fostered a deep love for child development and has offered her the opportunity to observe the unique role family bonds and popular media play in that development. The Walt Disney Company has also afforded her the opportunity to discover a love for teaching through the class she teaches to fellow employees about immersive storytelling and disability awareness. After moonlighting in the film industry for 10 years variously as an actor and production assistant, she decided to follow her passion for child development and psychology and join the post-bacc program at UCI. In our program, she has been working under Dr. Reich in the Connected Learning Lab, resulting in poster presentations at the 2026 Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program conference at UC Irvine and the 2026 American Psychological Association conference in Washington DC; in June 2026, she received the UCI Social Ecology Exceptional Achievement in Undergraduate Research award for her work in this lab.  In addition, she has been taking courses such as Research Design, Positive Psychology in Education, Adolescent Development, and Child Development.  It is her goal to pursue a PhD in Developmental Psychology with the ultimate goal of researching and consulting on the creation of children’s educational television and media.

Daniel graduated from UC Irvine in 2017 with a BS in Biological Sciences and a minor in Psychology and Social Behavior. While an undergrad, he worked as a research assistant for Dr. Joanne Zinger, where he helped with a study examining the relationship between syllabi word use and professors’ teaching evaluation scores, received a research grant from the UCI Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program, and presented a poster at the Society for Personality & Social Psychology conference. After earning his bachelor’s degree, he began the MBA program at the University of Wisconsin Madison with a specialization in Marketing Analytics and Insights, where he received a first-place award from the Ignite Case Competition and a second-place award from the Graduate Marketing Association Case Competition and where he served as a graduate teaching assistant.  Daniel was able to secure a summer MBA internship at  AbbVie (a pharmaceutical company), which then led to a full-time job offer as a senior data analyst starting in July of 2022; in 2023, he moved back to the west coast to accept a role at MarketCast as a senior analyst. Upon getting reacquainted with the research process, Daniel was motivated to reconnect with psychology, which led him to the post-bacc program at UCI. He is working in Dr. Peter Ditto’s Hot Cognition lab, which studies motivated reasoning, bias, and political partisanship. Daniel is interested in the process of decision making, risk, navigating ambiguous circumstances, morality, and why we trust or distrust other people or concepts.

Jack earned his B.A. in Economics from Dianchi College of Yunnan University in China in 2021. Before joining the post-bacc program, he spent five years working in the insurance company as a data analyst and project manager in Shanghai. His professional experience in data analysis and project management has provided him with skills that he hopes to transfer to psychological research.  Although his academic and professional background was originally outside of psychology, Jack has maintained a long-standing interest in psychology and philosophy. After several years in his previous career, he decided to pursue psychology as a profession rather than leave this interest unexplored.  Since June 2025, Jack has volunteered with Blue Letter Box, exchanging letters with children in China who are separated from their parents. He also volunteers with Crisis Text Line as a crisis counselor, where he provides emotional support to people experiencing difficult or crisis situations. These experiences have allowed him to explore his interest in helping others and working with children and families. As a post-bacc student, Jack is a research assistant in Dr. Alyson Zalta’s lab, where he currently assists with data organization. His interests include trauma and child development, particularly how early experiences and family environments may influence psychological development and well-being. After completing the post-bacc program, Jack hopes to pursue a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. Also, he is exploring the potential opportunities to pursue a PhD in psychology.

Sam graduated from UCLA in 2025 with a B.A. in History and American Literature & Culture. As a UCLA Peer Learning Facilitator, Sam conducted hundreds of one-on-one writing sessions with other undergraduate students. He loved the opportunity to listen to students from diverse backgrounds and help them navigate writing-related anxiety and self-doubt. His humanities background contributed to a growing interest in psychology. As an undergraduate, he conducted original research on the motivations of students involved in the 1964 Free Speech Movement at UC Berkeley and studied how American literature represents individuals' thoughts, behaviors, and relationships. After graduating, Sam began exploring his interest in psychology while working as a litigation assistant at a law firm. During his time in the post-bacc program, Sam has been working a research assistant in Dr. Paul Piff’s Morality, Emotions, and Social Hierarchy (MESH) Lab.

Kevin graduated from the University of California, San Diego in 2025 with a B.S. in clinical psychology. He is interested in the mental health and well-being of older adults. Kevin’s interest in this topic began in high school, when he did a research project on senior isolation. When he entered UCSD, Kevin joined two separate psychology labs, looking to expand his research experience. First, he joined the Dr. Oveis’s Social Psychology lab, where he volunteered as a research assistant for a study on stress response. As a research assistant, Kevin worked extensively with participants recruited for the study. Afterwards, Kevin joined Dr. Ayers’s Hoarding Disorder Lab, which studied hoarding disorder among older adults. Here, his duties ranged from recruitment of participants to scoring of clinical assessments. Kevin also joined the Honors Psychology program at UCSD, where he conducted his own research project on loneliness among older adults under the mentorship of Dr. Ayers. This paper, which cumulated in a thesis and a poster presentation, helped Kevin truly appreciate his own passion for research and decide on his future career goals. Now, Kevin is working in Dr. Sajjadi’s lab researching biomarkers for forms of dementia, especially in the oldest-old age group. Kevin hopes to continue strengthening his understanding of the factors impacting well-being in older adults, and he plans to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology focusing on the mental health of the elderly.