Cheryl Sun, B.A.

Cheryl recently graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles 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 clinical psychology program and continue to be involved in research in the future.

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 PhD 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.

Athena Burrs-President

Athena studies Anthropology with a medical concentration at the University of Southern California. Her research interests include the effects of environmental stressors on depression and anxiety, integrative psychiatry, and research on mindfulness. When not in the lab, she enjoys exploring new LA restaurants with friends, spending time at the beach, and meditating! Athena hopes to become a psychiatrist.

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!

Akansha Magal

Akansha is a senior at the University of California, Los Angeles studying Neuroscience. Her research interests include adversity response and intervention as well as the effects of early-life stressors. When not in the lab, she enjoys spending quality time with family and friends, trying new foods, and cuddling with cats. Akansha hopes to attend graduate school and pursue a career as an academic researcher to explore factors that promote emotional and physical well-being for children and adolescents who have experienced trauma.

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.