Cheryl Sun, B.A.

Cheryl graduated from UCLA in 2024 with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in statistics. Her research interests include how social factors influence the development, diagnosis, and treatment of psychological disorders. When not in the lab, she enjoys baking and traveling. Cheryl hopes to apply to a Ph.D. program in psychology and to conduct research on the neural bases of social and affective processes.

Alexsia Johnson, B.S.

Alexsia recently graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a degree in Psychological and Brain Sciences. Her research interests include diagnosing mental disorders and working with underserved populations such as minorities, maltreated children, LGBTQIA+, etc. When not in the lab, she enjoys gardening, baking, and being outdoors. Alexsia hopes to attend graduate school and obtain a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology.

Dr. Katie Bessette

Dr. Katie Bessette is a postdoctoral scholar in the CANDY Lab, a clinical trials therapist through the PCORI-funded Partners in Caring For Anxious Youth (PCAY) study, and continues to train as a pediatric neuropsychology fellow at the Medical Psychology Assessment Clinic (MPAC) in the Semel Institute. She received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Illinois Chicago in 2022, where she specialized in the neuropsychology of mood disorders in youth and young adults. Dr. Bessette completed her APA-accredited pediatric neuropsychology internship at UCLA. She uses a developmental psychopathology approach to understand the neurodevelopmental trajectories of mood disorders in youth, with a particular interest in multimodal interactions of cognitive control and mood regulation.

Melanie Dratva, B.S.

Melanie Dratva (she/her/hers) is a first year Clinical Psychology PhD student at UCLA. She graduated in 2023 from UC San Diego with her B.S. in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience and a minor in General Biology. She is interested in neurobiological mechanisms underlying adolescent depression and anxiety as well as neuroplasticity, sex differences, and antidepressant treatment responsiveness. Outside of her research, Melanie enjoys traveling, crafting, working out, and spending time with friends.

Shiyin Liu, B.S.

Shiyin Liu (she/her) is a first-year clinical psychology graduate student in the CANDY Lab. She graduated from Emory University with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology (NBB). After college, Shiyin worked as a clinical research coordinator under Dr. Michael Treadway, studying the neuroscience behind avolition and anhedonia in depression. In her graduate studies, Shiyin is interested in exploring the development of depression from a social neuroscience perspective. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her dog, Bagel, trying new boba spots in LA, and binge-watching TV shows.

Jasper Laca, B.A.

Jasper (he/him) is an LA-Based researcher and PhD applicant. His research interests include clinical and cognitive neuroscience, with the long term goal of helping to improve the efficacy of modern medicine. His current project explores novel methods to parse and collate fMRI brain data.

Eden Alter

Eden is a senior at the University of California, Los Angeles studying Cognitive Science. Her research interests include psychopharmacology, the physiological underpinnings of various mental disorders, and human-environment interaction. When not in the lab, she enjoys going outdoors and exploring the LA area. Eden hopes to attend graduate school and pursue a career in academia and research.

Annie Chen

Valerie Kuo

Valerie is a sophomore at the University of California, Los Angeles studying Psychobiology. Her research interests include mental disorders and their treatments – specifically in adolescents. When not in the lab, she enjoys playing musical instruments, journaling, and volunteering at the Ronald Reagan Hospital.

Lily Li

Lily studies Psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles. Her research interests include clinical psychology, specifically depression and parent-child interactions. When not in the lab, she enjoys photography and curating music playlists in different languages. Lily hopes to become a clinical psychologist!

Adriana Schaff

Adriana is a senior at the University of California, Los Angeles studying Neuroscience. Her research interests include OCD, eating disorders, depression, and anxiety. When not in the lab, she enjoys drawing, writing, reading, and watching horror movies. Adriana hopes to become a psychiatrist and work on research focused on obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). 

Kennedy Shultz

Kennedy is a sophomore at the University of California, Los Angeles studying Psychobiology. Her research interests include clinical psychology and neuroimaging. When not in the lab, she enjoys reading and spending time with friends. Kennedy hopes to attend medical school and become a psychiatrist.

Alexandra Souris

Alexandra studies Psychobiology and Economics at the University of California, Los Angeles. Her research interests include the intersection between various diagnosed mental disorders and their impacts on aging, as well as the development of mental disorders in adolescents. When not in the lab, she enjoys playing the electric guitar, practicing martial arts, and spending time at dog cafes! Alexandra hopes to attend medical school and become a plastic surgeon.

Diane Nguyen

Diane is a sophomore at the University of California, Los Angeles studying Psychology. Her research interests include mental health and disorders and the influence of family dynamics, specifically in adolescents. Outside of the lab, she enjoys reading, spending time with friends, and long walks around nature filled areas. Diane hopes to become a clinical psychologist focusing on developmental psychology.

Candice Au-Yeung

Candice is a sophomore at the University of California, Los Angeles studying Psychobiology. Her research interests include social, environmental, and psychological factors in mental disorders. When not in the lab, she enjoys reading and writing, going on walks in nature, exploring cafes, and crocheting. She intends to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and become a clinical psychologist.

Sydney Di Lena

Sydney is a sophomore at the University of California, Los Angeles studying Psychology. Her research interests include depression and anxiety, intervention methods, and research design. Outside of the lab, she enjoys working out and spending time with friends and family. She intends to pursue a Ph.D. in Psychology and hopes to become a psychologist or therapist.

Tiffany Chow

Tiffany is a junior at the University of California, Los Angeles studying Psychobiology. Her research interests include the impact of trauma and stress on adolescent development. Outside of the lab, she enjoys working out in the gym, hiking, and going on drives to viewpoints. Tiffany hopes to attend medical school and become an anesthesiologist.

Charlotte Mignon

Charlotte is a junior at the University of California, Los Angeles studying Neuroscience. Her research interests include the neurological and biological aspects of mental illnesses. When not in the lab, she loves hiking, backpacking, and skiing. Charlotte hopes to become a doctor and work in pediatric neurology while conducting research on mental illness.

Kelsi Husted

Kelsi is a junior at the University of California, Los Angeles studying Psychobiology. Her research interests include how neurodevelopmental disorders and socioeconomic factors impact development. Outside of the lab, she works as a sailing instructor, plays tennis, going on hikes, and camping. She intends to become a developmental pediatrician.

Jamal Hashimi

Jamal is a fourth year at the University of California, Los Angeles studying Psychobiology. His research interests include the nuances of addiction and mood disorders, specifically the environmental and genetic factors that contribute to them. Outside of the lab, he is the financial director of the United Afghan Club at UCLA and an active member of the UCLA Muslim Students Association.