CITY Lab 

Mo is a second-year student in the clinical PsyD program at Rutgers University. Mo previously worked at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, researching young children with autism concerns. Additionally, Mo worked at the Social & Affective Neuroscience Lab at her university, investigating the underlying neural bases of social behavior. Mo is particularly interested in trauma, anxiety, and mood dysregulation disorders, as well as adverse childhood experiences and their impact on children and adolescents, especially those of color. Mo aspires to be a mental health provider for underrepresented communities, advocating for culturally appropriate therapeutic services. In Mo's free time, she enjoys running, hiking, and painting.

Rachel is a first year Clinical PsyD student at Rutgers University. Her previous research focused on the relationship between emotion dysregulation, stigma, gender identity, and sexuality. Her current research interests include examining the relationship between stigma and severe emotion dysregulation, behavioral treatment outcomes in marginalized communities, and cultural adaptations of DBT. In the future, she hopes to continue working to adapt behavioral therapies to fit the needs of diverse communities. In her free time, Rachel enjoys rollerblading, reading, and trying new recipes.

Ana (she/her) is a first-year Clinical PsyD student at Rutgers University. Prior to attending Rutgers, she completed a Master's in clinical psychology with a focus on neuropsychology at Columbia University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Tulane University in 2022. In the past, Ana has worked predominantly in research surrounding suicide and emotion regulation with clinical populations at Teachers College, Columbia, and the New York State Psychiatric Institute. She conducted her own research looking at the clinical correlates of suicide among childhood trauma survivors. Ana is a Zankel fellow for REACH at Columbia, where she implemented a program using art expression as a tool for emotion regulation. In her free time, she enjoys dancing, spending time with friends, listening to music, and exercising.

Ace is a Clinical PsyD student at Rutgers University. She earned her B.A. in Psychology from UCLA and her M.A. in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness from New York University. Ace currently provides psychotherapy to adolescents and adults experiencing personality pathology, trauma, and severe emotion and behavioral dysregulation. Her research interests focus on suicide risk, personality pathology, and emotion dysregulation among Asian populations, with an emphasis on how cultural factors influence the expression of psychopathology, treatment engagement, and mental health outcomes. She also studies the intersection of aggression, interpersonal violence, and responses to interpersonal rejection. In her free time, Ace enjoys watching true crime documentaries, collecting stationery, and learning about poison dart frogs.

Serena Moghaddas, B.A., is currently completing her doctorate in clinical psychology at the Rutgers University School of Applied and Professional Psychology (GSAPP). She is receiving specialized training in evidence-based treatments including Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). As an emerging psychologist, she is primarily interested in working with BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ individuals with severe psychopathology and self-injurious behaviors, as well as supporting individuals struggling with disordered eating and substance abuse. 

After completion of her doctorate degree, Serena is looking forward to becoming a licensed psychologist focused on bridging the gaps in culturally- and identity-affirming care, expanding access to mental health resources for marginalized communities.

Sahar Afnan is a second-year student in the clinical PsyD program at Rutgers University. She previously worked at Newport Healthcare, working with adolescents at a psychiatric residential treatment facility. When she was at the University of Maryland for her undergrad, she worked at the Clinical and Cognitive Neuroscience Lab investigating racial discrimination, substance use, and psychopathology. She hopes to work with immigrant and refugee populations as well as children and adolescents providing culturally appropriate care in the future. She is particularly interested in working with trauma and in acute settings, exploring their impact on marginalized communities. In her free time, she enjoys puzzling, cooking, listening to music, and enjoying the outdoors.

Layne Novotny is a first-year PsyD student in Clinical Psychology at Rutger’s Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology. She earned her M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University and previously worked as a full-time research coordinator studying adolescent suicide risk, with a particular focus on future thinking as a protective and risk factor for suicidality. Her independent research has examined how daily stressors influence suicidal ideation among adolescents. Broadly, she is interested in how contextual factors, including stress, interpersonal relationships, culture, and identity, influence youth suicide risk. Layne hopes to continue contributing to research aimed at improving suicide prevention and intervention efforts for youth.

My name is Kaerie Martin and I am an upcoming senior undergraduate psychology student and a research assistant in the CITY Lab. My research interests include youth mental health, mental health disparities, access to evidence-based treatments, and the experiences of marginalized communities. I am especially interested in improving mental health outcomes for youth of color and reducing barriers to psychological care. I believe it is incredibly important to break the stigma mental health treatment has in minority communities, specifically immigrants. Outside of research, I am involved in campus organizations that promote community engagement, cultural awareness, and student development. I am on the e-board of a curly hair club on Rutgers called RUCurly. We have events every other Wednesday in the month at Tillett hall. 

Isaac is a junior at Rutgers University majoring in Psychology and minoring in Philosophy. He hopes to pursue research that focuses on the ways minorities experience mental health and refine psychotherapies to better address the needs of marginalized groups. Outside of psychology, Isaac is an avid martial artist, enjoys playing the bass, and participates in activism.