Research Assistants
EMOTION, HEALTH, AND PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY LAB AT YALE
Catalina Cortes
Catalina is a sophomore at Yale University from Houston, Texas majoring in psychology with a concentration in neuroscience. She is interested in physiological manifestations of emotions and the integration of psychology and the law. She hopes to attend law school in the future and utilize psychological principles on emotional regulation to enhance the legal system. She is eager to learn more about the ways in which the mind and body simultaneously affect behavior. In her free time, Catalina loves watching movies with her friends, reading Jane Austen books, and trying new foods.
Gabriella Pollack
Gabby is a junior at Yale University majoring in Sociology, with research interests in the structural factors that perpetuate healthcare inequality and in solutions that address root causes rather than temporary fixes (such as investing in communities of color and creating a universal healthcare system). Outside the lab, she is the co-founder of the Yale Student Collective for Abolition, Resistance, a group that critically engages with carceral systems and promotes non-punitive, community-based responses to harm grounded in care, accountability, and abolitionist principles. Gabby is also a proud Puerto Rican and serves as the events coordinator for Yale’s Puerto Rican student association, Despierta Boricua—so be sure to pull up to the Latine functions!
Mary Shamon Ayala
Mary is a freshman at Yale from Georgia intending to major in Cognitive Science. She is interested in developmental psychology, particularly how early adverse experiences shape children’s development and what kinds of supports can help them thrive. Outside of academics, she enjoys legal advocacy, running, scrapbooking, and baking new recipes to share with friends.
Crawford Arnow
Ethan Chang
Hi, I'm Ethan and I'm a first-year from Columbia, Maryland, studying psychology. I am super passionate about mental health and research in the field is deeply meaningful to me. In my free time, I enjoy playing guitar, singing, making videos for my YouTube channel, and hanging out with my friends.
Jonathan Calderon Romero
Jonathan is a sophomore at Yale from New Haven, intending to major in Psychology. He is interested in Social Psychology, particularly how psychological factors manifest themselves in underrepresented communities. Outside of academics, he enjoys playing squash, trying new restaurants, and thrifting! (If you need any help finding local thrifting spots, I got you!)
Maiyisha Ulysse
Maiyisha is a first-year student at Yale University from Jersey City, New Jersey. She plans on double-majoring in Neuroscience and History of Science, Medicine, and Public Health. She loves working out, being in nature, painting, and horror movies.
Zach Fayed
Zach is a first-year at Yale University from Bethesda, Maryland. He is majoring in Psychology, with certificates in Education Studies and Human Rights. He is interested in developmental and social psychology, especially how emotion and well-being influence learning and the educational experience. Outside of the lab, Zach is on the Yale Club Swim team, is a Matriculate at Yale College Advising Fellow, and is a first-year liaison of the executive board of Yale Community Health Educators.
Carissa Alcaraz
My name is Carissa, a first year in Trumbull. I'm excited to be a part of the EHPLab as a prospective neuroscience major who is passionate about the human mind! Specifically, I am interested in human emotion. It is fascinating that an experience so subjective and abstract has a concrete biological basis.
Marina Ruelas Cazares
Marina Ruelas is a junior at Yale University from Las Vegas, Nevada, majoring in Psychology and pursuing an Education Studies certificate. Her academic interests center on relationships and stress, particularly how interpersonal dynamics and environmental pressures influence well-being. Outside of the lab, Marina enjoys reading, dancing ballet folklórico, and tutoring Spanish.
Ebube Abolo
My name is Ebube Abolo, I'm from Houston, TX and I am a current sophomore in Berkely. I am a Cognitive Science major with a focus on neuroscience and computation. My research interests include developmental and behavioral psychology.
Ashley Espinal
Hi! My name is Ashley Espinal, and I’m a sophomore in Silliman College at Yale majoring in Psychology (Neuroscience track) and Political Science. I’m a proud Dominican from the Bronx, New York, and I’m especially interested in the intersection of law, psychopathology, and social justice. Outside of class, I love binge-watching movies, traveling (especially to the Dominican Republic), thrifting, reading psychological thrillers and true crime, and exploring New Haven.