Research Assistants
EMOTION, HEALTH, AND PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY LAB AT YALE
Juliette Kosmont
Juliette is a sophomore at Yale University from Monterey, California. She is majoring in Cognitive Science, with a focus on group behavior, specifically individual versus group choices. She is eager to deepen her understanding of cognitive biases, social norms, and decision-making processes to better analyze social and economic dynamics. Outside of the lab, Juliette is on the track and field team and enjoys riding horses. She loves cooking for her friends and family and exploring new places.
Sophia Davis
Sophia is a junior at Yale who grew up in rural South Carolina. She is majoring in Psychology and hopes to continue her studies into graduate school before becoming a family therapist. She is interested in the intersection between her Christian faith and social psychology, specifically in how it impacts both family and social life. In her free time, Sophia loves hanging out with her many siblings, playing music, writing (especially poetry!), going on picnics, and spending time with God through all of it.
Nick Boettcher
Nicholas is a Junior at Yale University majoring in cognitive science. In addition to his interests in developmental psychology and social processing, Nicholas is pursuing a masters in Double Bass Performance at Yale School of Music. Outside of the lab (and the practice room), Nicholas enjoys cooking, eating, and dreads cleaning.
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.
Kristine Li
Kristine is a junior majoring in Cognitive Science, with certificates in Statistics and Education Studies. She's especially interested in how decision-making and perception are affected during stress-related activities. On campus, she leads both Yale HOSA and the Fuzhou Students Association, and she’s excited to be joining her first-ever Danceworks performance this year! Outside of academics, Kristine loves cooking Chinese food, stargazing on long walks, and traveling to places filled with cherished memories.
Elizabeth Decker
Elizabeth has a BA in psychology with a strong interest in cognitive, clinical, and neuropsychology. She hopes to pursue her PhD in clinical psychology to become a licensed clinical psychologist. Aside from academics, Elizabeth likes to travel with her fiancé and two boys. She also enjoys being an acrobatics instructor.
Crawford Arnow
Taehoon Kim
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.
Nayel Nelson-Young
Nayel Nelson-Young is a senior from Brooklyn, New York, currently majoring in Psychology and Theater Studies. She currently is most interested in all things related to performance and relationships. Outside academics most of her time is dedicated to her work as a Pierson aide, a member of Steppin Out, her love for cooking, and preparing for her next show. She hopes to pursue a PhD. in Social or Clinical Psychology after graduating.
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.