Students
Current Graduate Students
Aya Cheaito, MA, Ph.D Candidate in Clinical Psychology
Aya completed her undergraduate degree in neuroscience at New York University, and worked at the Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University afterwards. Aya is completing her PhD in clinical and developmental psychology at UVM in Dr. Althoff's lab. Aya has worked in multiple settings such as school, court system, inpatient hospital settings and works at the New England Survivors or Torture and Trauma clinic. In her free time Aya enjoys playing the guitar and reading history.
Aya completed her undergraduate degree in neuroscience at New York University, and worked at the Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University afterwards. Aya is completing her PhD in clinical and developmental psychology at UVM in Dr. Althoff's lab. Aya has worked in multiple settings such as school, court system, inpatient hospital settings and works at the New England Survivors or Torture and Trauma clinic. In her free time Aya enjoys playing the guitar and reading history.
Merelise Ametti, Ph.D, MPH, Clinical Psychology
After graduating from Middlebury College in 2013 with degrees in Psychology and Spanish, Merelise joined Dr. Althoff's lab as a study coordinator. She currently works primarily on a research program investigating the common epigenetic and psychophysiological mechanisms involved in childhood emotion regulation problems and poor metabolic outcomes in adulthood. Peripherally, she has also done work exploring hunger, food insecurity, and nutrition as it relates to behavioral health and metabolic functioning. Merelise is also a part-time master's student in the Public Health program at UVM and interested in the development of public policies that support child emotional and behavioral health. Outside of the lab, Merelise volunteers as a Spanish-English translator and on community restorative justice panels. For leisure, she enjoys skiing, biking, gardening, photography, hanging out with cats, and exploring the natural beauty and delicious food in Vermont!
Current Undergraduate Students
Past Graduate Students
Kerry O'Loughlin, Ph.D
Kerry is a third year doctoral student in the University of Vermont's clinical and developmental psychology joint degree program. Her program of research seeks to better understand developmental psychopathology, and the physiological and environmental factors which influence child development and emotional-behavioral health. She is particularly interested in how such work may inform evidence-based prevention and intervention. Kerry has experience utilizing a variety of analytic techniques including structural equation modeling, factor analysis, and multilevel modeling.
Tim Lavigne, Ph.D
Tim's research broadly focuses on externalizing disorders, such as Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Oppositional Defiant Disorder. Previous projects include examinations of the association between children's physical fitness and psychological well-being, and treatment outcome studies utilizing parent training and exercise prescriptions for both parents and children. He is currently working on a project comparing Theory of Mind abilities in children with ADHD and children with Autism, and his dissertation involves examining the influence of television pacing on attention and executive functioning.
Meghan Schreck, Ph.D
Meghan is a 5th year clinical psychology graduate student at the University of Vermont. Her program of research seeks to better understand transdiagnostic processes of mental health problems, using a multi-method approach, to improve classification and evidence-based intervention. To this end, she has utilized a variety of statistical methodologies to understand the development of behavior, including twin studies to estimate relative genetic and environmental influences, latent class and latent transition analysis to clarify phenotypic definitions, and structural equation modeling to examine theoretical models. More specifically, she has used these approaches to investigate the determinants of leisure-time exercise behavior (i.e., planned physical activity) in youth. Her dissertation seeks to explore the relation between internally motivated withdrawn behavior, defined by shyness and a preference for solitude, and sports participation.
Meghan is a 5th year clinical psychology graduate student at the University of Vermont. Her program of research seeks to better understand transdiagnostic processes of mental health problems, using a multi-method approach, to improve classification and evidence-based intervention. To this end, she has utilized a variety of statistical methodologies to understand the development of behavior, including twin studies to estimate relative genetic and environmental influences, latent class and latent transition analysis to clarify phenotypic definitions, and structural equation modeling to examine theoretical models. More specifically, she has used these approaches to investigate the determinants of leisure-time exercise behavior (i.e., planned physical activity) in youth. Her dissertation seeks to explore the relation between internally motivated withdrawn behavior, defined by shyness and a preference for solitude, and sports participation.
Past Undergraduate Students
Izabella Jones
Izabella is a junior in the UVM College of Arts and Sciences and the UVM Honors College. She is a psychological science major with a minor in communication sciences and disorders. Izabella has been a part of the Althoff lab since June of 2020. She hopes to attend medical school and pursue a career in psychiatry. Outside of the lab she loves finding new meals to cook, hiking, traveling, and playing the ukulele
Izabella is a junior in the UVM College of Arts and Sciences and the UVM Honors College. She is a psychological science major with a minor in communication sciences and disorders. Izabella has been a part of the Althoff lab since June of 2020. She hopes to attend medical school and pursue a career in psychiatry. Outside of the lab she loves finding new meals to cook, hiking, traveling, and playing the ukulele
Lydia Stigers
Lydia is a junior in the UVM College of Nursing and Health Sciences and is part of the Honors College, majoring in Health Sciences and minoring in Behavioral Change. She is from Beverly, Massachusetts and hopes to attend medical school to pursue a career in orthopedics. Lydia is interested in neuroscience and the promotion of health through a holistic lens. She enjoys advocating for animals, trying new things, listening to music, exploring nature, and eating s’mores.
Lydia is a junior in the UVM College of Nursing and Health Sciences and is part of the Honors College, majoring in Health Sciences and minoring in Behavioral Change. She is from Beverly, Massachusetts and hopes to attend medical school to pursue a career in orthopedics. Lydia is interested in neuroscience and the promotion of health through a holistic lens. She enjoys advocating for animals, trying new things, listening to music, exploring nature, and eating s’mores.
Ben Glinsky
Ben is currently a senior and studies psychological science and philosophy. He began his internship in the Althoff lab in May 2021. Outside of the lab he is also involved in the Seeing-I Lab at UVM and is currently writing a senior honors thesis which is focused on increasing transition success for socially challenged students from a specialized residential program moving into the community. His research interests lie at the intersection of behavioral medicine and the biopsychosocial factors for quality of life. After graduating from UVM, he hopes to pursue a career as a clinical psychologist. In his free time, Ben enjoys reading, listening to music, and running.
Ben is currently a senior and studies psychological science and philosophy. He began his internship in the Althoff lab in May 2021. Outside of the lab he is also involved in the Seeing-I Lab at UVM and is currently writing a senior honors thesis which is focused on increasing transition success for socially challenged students from a specialized residential program moving into the community. His research interests lie at the intersection of behavioral medicine and the biopsychosocial factors for quality of life. After graduating from UVM, he hopes to pursue a career as a clinical psychologist. In his free time, Ben enjoys reading, listening to music, and running.
Allison Giroux
Allison is a senior neuroscience major from Hinesburg, VT, and is a dual citizen in the UVM College of Arts & Sciences and The UVM Honors College. She has been a member of the lab team since May, 2014. Currently, Allison is working on her Senior Honors Thesis through the lab for which she is investigating the relationship between childhood secondhand tobacco exposure and the development of emotion recognition abilities. Outside of the lab, she is the student leader for the UVM Tobacco-Free Initiative, a member of Alpha Phi Omega (a non-Greek, co-ed national service fraternity), and a peer mentor and ambassador for The Honors College. Allison is passionate about healthcare and hopes to attend dental school in the future.
Hannah Woodruff
Hannah is a senior Neuroscience major at UVM with a minor in Gender, Sexuality and Women’s studies. She has been an intern in the Althoff lab since the summer of 2014. She is originally from Waterbury, VT- right across from the Ben and Jerry’s factory! In the future, she hopes to apply to medical school and continue participating in research on the human brain. In her free time, she enjoys baby-sitting, running, hiking, creative writing, and re-watching The Office.
Jennifer Michael
Jenny is a UVM student in her Junior year studying Neuroscience and minoring in Music. In her free time, she is in an all female acappella group called the Cat’s Meow, draws, and loves to go outside. She hopes to one day become a Pediatrician, as she loves working with children and is interested in medicine.
Mackenzie Hakey
Mackenzie is a senior in the psychology program at UVM. She is passionate about art, music and exercise and using her free time she enjoys taking pictures, pottery, hiking, kayaking and other outdoor activities. She loves working with children and works at the YMCA of Greater Burlington when she can. Mackenzie rejoins the lab after spending her spring semester abroad in Italy, where she enjoyed pasta and many cappuccinos.
Mackenzie Hakey
Mackenzie is a senior in the psychology program at UVM. She is passionate about art, music and exercise and using her free time she enjoys taking pictures, pottery, hiking, kayaking and other outdoor activities. She loves working with children and works at the YMCA of Greater Burlington when she can. Mackenzie rejoins the lab after spending her spring semester abroad in Italy, where she enjoyed pasta and many cappuccinos.
Michelle Thompson
Michelle is a senior studying Psychological Science and Economics at the University of Vermont and has been working in the lab since June, 2015. She is particularly interested in the development of decision-making skills and the role that one's environment has on their learning of these processes. After graduating from UVM, she hopes to pursue a career as a clinical psychologist. She also enjoys serving as a peer mentor to students in the Honors College, giving tours of the university, and tutoring students in writing.
Shannon Sweeney
Shannon is currently a second year student majoring in Biological Science and Psychological Science. She is interested in pursuing a career in psychiatry. Her hobbies include photography, skiing and hiking. Shannon is a program director for the Community for Artistic Development. She also enjoys spending time with Mackenzie’s puppy, Rosie, and Mackenzie too.
Amy Stedman, BS
Amy is a first-year student in the Post-Baccalaureate Premedical Program at UVM. She graduated from Northeastern University in 2015 with a major in Psychology and a minor in Behavioral Neuroscience. As an undergraduate, her research focused on severely affected children with autism spectrum disorder in a psychiatric setting. Following completion of the post-bac program, Amy plans to attend medical school to pursue a career in Child Psychiatry or Pediatrics.
Bailey Holt-Gosselin
Bailey is currently a senior and studies Neuroscience at the University of Vermont. She began her internship in the Althoff lab in January 2016. Outside of the lab, she is a resident advisor and works at an optometry office in Burlington, Vermont as a Certified Paraoptometric. She is interested in attending graduate school to expand her knowledge in psychopathology, in efforts to ultimately contribute to the development of novel treatments for mental disorders. She enjoys watching Parks and Recreation, hiking, and dancing.
Bailey Holt-Gosselin
Bailey is currently a senior and studies Neuroscience at the University of Vermont. She began her internship in the Althoff lab in January 2016. Outside of the lab, she is a resident advisor and works at an optometry office in Burlington, Vermont as a Certified Paraoptometric. She is interested in attending graduate school to expand her knowledge in psychopathology, in efforts to ultimately contribute to the development of novel treatments for mental disorders. She enjoys watching Parks and Recreation, hiking, and dancing.
Shaelynn Hickey
Shaelynn is a junior majoring in Psychological Science and minoring in both Art and Pharmacology. In the future she is interested in pursuing a career in child clinical psychology. She is currently participating in research studying the effects of exercise on children with behavioral disorders. She enjoys drawing, cooking, horticulture, traveling, and hopes to train therapy dogs in the future.
Mickayla Royer
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Mickayla comes from the green mountains of Vermont and is a senior level Neuroscience major and Psychological Science minor. She has been working in the Child Emotional Regulation Lab since June, 2016. Her interests academically include studying with the neurological development of children, drug affects on brain and behavior and the affects of childhood exposures on healthy growth of brain and body. Besides her love for the brain, she enjoys life through hiking beautiful mountains, traveling to foreign places, and eating good food. In the future, Mickayla plans to compete her D.O. and travel the world exploring and learning about psychopathologies.
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Meghan Morrison
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Meghan is junior studying Psychological Science and Anthropology with a Global Health Focus at The University of Vermont. Outside of the lab she is also involved in the Family Development Lab at UVM and is the student leader of RALLYTHON, Miracle Network Dance Marathon at UVM as well as the student leader for Volunteers in Action. She enjoys going to the beach, hiking, running and re-reading/watching Harry Potter. |
Brandon Salimi
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Brandon is a rising Junior at the University of Vermont studying Neuroscience with a minor in Behavioral Change. He is interested in learning what components play a role in a child’s neural circuitry ultimately causing certain behavioral disorders. He believes uncovering this causal relationship will help lead to more effective treatments plans for each individual. Brandon also is a Cardiology Technician at the University of Vermont Medical Center and enjoys outdoor activities involving swimming, kayaking or running. He intends to attend medical school and pursue an MD/MPH degree in the years to come. |
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Jamie Herold
Jamie is a senior at UVM pursuing Psychological Sciences with a minor in Political Science. She is currently writing her Senior Honors Thesis which evaluates the relationship between parent and child coping strategies. After graduating Jamie intends to continue to pursue clinical psychology research. In her free time, Jamie enjoys reading, hiking, baking, and going to the movies.
Nancy Gray
Nancy is a senior studying Psychological Sciences at the University of Vermont and has been working in the lab since June, 2020. She is particularly interested in curating and implementing effective addiction treatments that address not only the biological effects of addiction on the body but the behavioral effects that often follow suit. After graduating from UVM, she hopes to pursue a career as a clinical psychologist. She enjoys going on long walks with her dog Leroy and reading books with her morning coffee.
Nancy is a senior studying Psychological Sciences at the University of Vermont and has been working in the lab since June, 2020. She is particularly interested in curating and implementing effective addiction treatments that address not only the biological effects of addiction on the body but the behavioral effects that often follow suit. After graduating from UVM, she hopes to pursue a career as a clinical psychologist. She enjoys going on long walks with her dog Leroy and reading books with her morning coffee.