Kishanti Barmoh (she/her) is a fourth-year student from Richmond, Virginia, pursuing a B.A. in Psychology and Youth & Social Innovation. On Grounds, she serves as President of the Black Student Alliance, Fourth-Year Advisor for the Black Voices Gospel Choir, an L2K Cohort member, and an OAAA Peer Advisor. Kishanti's research interests explore African diasporic philosophies and practices of wellness, with a focus on expanding culturally responsive mental health care in diasporic communities while broadening Western understandings of diverse healing traditions. She is also interested in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) and PC-CARE as evidence-based approaches to strengthening family relationships and supporting youth behavioral health. After graduation, Kishanti hopes to continuing pursuing her independent research project on culturally responsive mental health in South Africa, teach abroad, and ultimately earn a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. In her free time, she enjoys watching history documentaries, binge-watching Netflix dramas, and spending time with family and friends.

Anastacia Oliynyk is a third-year undergraduate student at UVA. 

Aditi Seshadri is a third-year from India and Malaysia pursuing a B.S. in Behavioral Neuroscience and a minor in Anthropology. Her research interests include researching difficulties in cultural integration as a foreigner and the mental health impacts of being a Third Culture Kid (TCK). She is especially interested in this process in adolescents as they are in a unique period of development and navigating complex social interactions like peer rejection and acceptance. Aditi also enjoys looking at how social development and positive and negative social comparison can be reflected in adolescent brains. Outside of the lab, Aditi is on the Virginia Women’s Rugby team, a Resident Advisor, enjoys playing pool, cooking and spending time outside.

Marlena James is a fourth-year and a Cognitive Science major with a concentration in Neuroscience and a Dance minor. Her research interests include researching the neurological changes that occur during adolescence and how these developments influence behaviors in everyday life. She is interested in how maturity in the brain relates to emotional regulation and how it relates to both mental health and physical well-being. Post-graduation, Marlena plans to go to medical school to eventually become a physician. Outside of research Marlena likes to watch movies, hang out with friends, dance, and go on hikes.

Jason Burden is a third year new BEAR Lab research assistant majoring in Psychology with a minor in Public Policy. His research interests center on adolescent mental health, with a particular focus on the relationship between social media use and depression and anxiety in teenagers. He is also interested in adolescents’ access to mental health care, including how factors such as autonomy, parental involvement, and social context influence their ability to receive support and treatment. After graduation, Jason hopes to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology and work with teenagers. Outside of the lab, he enjoys playing and watching sports, especially baseball and football, going out to eat with friends, and spending time with his family.

Siri Chandolu is a third-year research assistant majoring in Cognitive Science with a neuroscience concentration and minoring in Health Ethics and Society. Her research interests focus on the neural mechanisms underlying emotion, social behavior, and mental health, with particular interest in how brain development and brain behavior relationships shape psychological functioning in children and adolescents. After graduation, Siri hopes to attend medical school to eventually become a physician. Outside of the lab, she enjoys hiking, running, and traveling.

Bessie Wang is a second year intending to major in Psychology. Her research interests include how cultural background influences the effectiveness of mental health services for adolescents, the social strategies of emotion regulation that adolescents develop, and the development and application of creative therapy in adolescence. After graduation, Bessie is still exploring specific paths, but hopes to pursue work related to counseling. Outside of the lab, she loves musical theater, both watching and performing, enjoys singing, and likes playing badminton. When she is taking it easy, she makes bracelets with plastic lanyard string and enjoys watching cooking tutorials.

Alex Buddendeck is a fourth year and a new BEAR Lab research assistant majoring in Psychology and Youth and Social Innovation with a concentration in Youth Mental Health. Her research interests focus on adolescent mental health interventions, especially interventions that target social anxiety. After graduation, Alex hopes to become a school psychologist. Outside of the lab, she loves to read and makes sure to keep her Goodreads updated.

Caitlin Thong is a fourth-year from Leesburg, VA and she is majoring in Behavioral Neuroscience and minoring in Health Ethics and Society. Caitlin's main research interest looks at refugee adolescent development and mental health. Caitlin is interested in better understanding how protective factors, generational trauma, family dynamics, and stress all play a role within the refugee experience. Caitlin hopes to better understand how all of these factors culminate together to shape both the emotional and psychological development of adolescents. Outside of the lab, Caitlin is a Senior Resident and enjoys hiking as well as cooking.

Hi! I’m Madison Ruff a current third-year double majoring in Psychology and Sociology with the goal to attend graduate school and earn a Masters in Social Work. As a former athlete, current youth volleyball coach, and student-manager for UVA volleyball my main research interest is the relationship between sports and teen/young adult mental health. Additionally I am interested in harnessing the power of new technology to strengthen mental health in teens and young adults.

Sarah Bronstein is a third year and a new BEAR Lab research assistant majoring in Psychology and Public Policy. Her research interests focus on adolescent mental health interventions, child psychology and family counseling. After graduation, Sarah hopes to become a family, adolescent and child counselor. She also hopes to use her degree in public policy to help make counseling more accessible. In her free time, she loves to read, spend time with friends, watch movies and swim!

Reese Kennedy is a 4th year Biology major from Lynchburg, Virginia. Her research interests involve understanding how brain development during adolescence shapes behavior in everyday contexts. As she aspires to work with children in her future healthcare career, she is particularly interested in how neurodevelopment influences emotional regulation, decision-making, and overall health during this critical stage of development. As a facilitator for the Young Women Leaders Program and a member of the Youth Mental Health Corps, she also looks forward to applying what she learns in the lab to better support the adolescents she works with. Outside of the lab, Reese is the Co-president of the Virginia Dance Company, a Program Director for the “Adopt a Grandparent” Program through Madison House, and loves spending time with friends and family.

Hannah Diep is a third-year undergraduate research assistant majoring in Psychology. Her research interests include children/adolescent mental health as well as family and relationship dynamics. After graduation, Hannah hopes to pursue a career as a therapist. Outside of the lab she loves musical theater, cooking, and any and all creative hobbies.

Melanie Nguyen is a third-year research assistant majoring in Psychology on the pre-PA track. Her research interests include social threat and reward processes, clinical psychology, and the prevention of anxiety disorders in adolescents. Her other involvements at UVA include volunteering with Madison House and being on the executive board of the CIO OmMeditation. In her free time, she enjoys trying new restaurants and spending time with friends and family.

Ragad Ahmed is a third-year student majoring in Neuroscience. She is interested in adolescent mental health, particularly the transition back to school, and wants to better understand how adolescents’ thought processes may influence their experiences during this transition.