VTC

Postdoctoral Research Associate | Mount Hope Family Center
University of Rochester | Department of Psychology

About Me. I am currently a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Mt. Hope Family Center working with Dr. Jennie Noll, where my work focuses on translational research, program evaluation, and sustainability efforts aimed at strengthening services for children and families. My work emphasizes bridging developmental science with community-based practice, with a focus on improving access to resources and supporting the long-term effectiveness of programs serving families with varying levels of need. I completed my Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology at the University of Rochester, where I also earned an Advanced Certification in Quantitative Methods under the mentorship of Dr. Patrick Davies, and successfully defended my dissertation in March 2026.

Born and raised in central Pennsylvania, I began my academic career at The Pennsylvania State University, where I earned a B.S. in Biology with a concentration in Neuroscience and a minor in Psychology. As an undergraduate, I worked as a research assistant and lab manager in Dr. Amy Marshall’s Relationships and Stress Research Lab, examining how trauma-related stress contributes to aggression in romantic relationships and shapes parent–child dynamics. Following graduation, I worked as a Research Coordinator with the ABC Research Group at Penn State College of Medicine, where I contributed to studies on the development of externalizing behaviors in children, including ADHD, oppositional defiant disorder, and conduct disorder. During this time, I gained experience in neuroimaging methods (e.g., EEG, fMRI), child behavioral assessments, and clinical trial coordination, while further developing my quantitative skills in R and SPSS.