Doctoral Fellows
Sophia Sodano
Sophia Sodano is a fourth-year doctoral student studying clinical psychology under Dr. Adam Briggs. As a part of the STAR lab, she works as a doctoral fellow on the ROCK project, interested in learning how to navigate barriers to implementing a paraprofessional-delivered intervention, Discover You, in a school setting. Before attending Eastern, Sophia earned her undergraduate degree in psychology with a neuroscience concentration from The Pennsylvania State University. During her time at Penn State, Sophia studied the development of self-regulation in children in the Cole Emotion Regulation Lab under Drs. Pamela Cole and Nilam Ram. After graduating, Sophia joined the Adolescent Mental Health Collaborative at Brown University under the supervision of Drs. Jennifer Wolff and Katelyn Affleck, where she managed psychodiagnostic testing on an adolescent inpatient unit and studied the implementation of a positive psychology intervention for suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Sophia’s current research interests lie in increasing the accessibility of interventions for individuals with challenging behavior and identifying variables that may impact the efficacy of such treatments. Clinically, she is interested in integrating applied behavior analysis and other evidenced-based therapies with assessment to provide a holistic, strengths-based approach to treating challenging behaviors. In her free time, Sophia enjoys playing with her dog Hennessy, making lattes, thrifting, and spending time with friends and family.
Kanica Bhutoria
Kanica Bhutoria is a fifth-year doctoral student in Clinical Psychology, training under the co-mentorship of Dr. Rusty McIntyre and Dr. Kelsey Sala-Hamrick. She is currently involved in the TRACE and GeneTIC projects within the STAR Lab. Her research explores the intersections of racial trauma, discrimination, and emotion regulation across the lifespan. Her broader aim is to improve evidence-based trauma treatments, particularly for gender minorities. Before beginning her PhD, Kanica earned her Master’s degree in India and worked at a suicide prevention organization, where she contributed to the development of a national suicide prevention chatline. She also served as a research fellow at Muktha Foundation, India, leading a project focused on male survivors of intimate partner violence. Clinically, Kanica specializes in the treatment of trauma and PTSD in adults, drawing on her strong grounding in evidence-based approaches. Outside of her academic and clinical work, she enjoys traveling, hiking, cooking, baking, and spending time with her family and friends.
Zoe Lapham
Zoe is a second-year doctoral student in clinical psychology at Eastern Michigan University under the mentorship of Dr. Kelsey Sala-Hamrick. Zoe has previously completed her master’s degree in clinical behavioral psychology at Eastern Michigan University and completed her undergraduate degree in biopsychology, cognition, and neuroscience at the University of Michigan. Prior to starting her PhD, Zoe worked at Michigan Medicine
as a research coordinator in differences of sex development (DSD) where she supported projects focused on improving and standardizing care for pediatric patients with DSD and their parents. Zoe’s primary interests include integrated pediatric psychology with an emphasis on implementation science to improve the accessibility of evidence-based treatments broadly. In her free time, Zoe is passionate about the culinary world, comedy, exercising, gaming, and (poorly) singing to her two cats.
Amber Efthemiou
Amber is a first-year doctoral student in the clinical psychology Ph.D. program, working under Dr. Kelsey Sala-Hamrick. She graduated from Oakland University in 2024 with a B.A. in psychology, and minors in holistic health and sociology, and served as a research assistant and lab manager in the Free-Form Posttraumatic Growth Lab under Dr. Kanako Taku. She graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 2026 with an M.S. in clinical psychology and worked primarily as a research graduate assistant in the STAR Lab. Amber is broadly interested in the intersection of trauma and health across the lifespan, particularly applying this work to healthcare contexts such as long-term care. In her free time, Amber likes to spend time in nature and with loved ones.
Graduate Research Associates
Chad Bolman
Chad Bolman is a General Clinical Master’s Student at Eastern Michigan University. He graduated from Carthage College with a Bachelor of Arts in Neuroscience and Psychology. In Carthage College’s rat lab, he examined anxiety’s relationship to the development and persistence of traumatic behaviors. He was awarded a paid summer research position in Carthage’s cognitive psychology lab to study visual attention. His research interests include improving access to trauma resources, traumatic memory, and understanding cultural presentations of trauma. In his free time, he enjoys bouldering and eating Japanese curry.
Nyla Griffin
Nyla Griffin is a second-year student in the General Clinical Psychology Master’s program at Eastern Michigan University. She completed undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Economics with a minor in Communications from Oakland University (OU) in 2025. At OU, Nyla volunteered in the Laboratory of Cognitive Origins under Dr. Jennifer Vonk on a project analyzing snake reactions to predator versus prey sounds. Within her work in STAR Lab, Nyla is involved in the geneTIC workgroup, a scoping review comparing ACE and Trauma screenings in pediatric primary care settings, and organizing a Training for Implementation project (TIP). Nyla’s research interests lie in the intersection of policy/advocacy and the accessibility, quality, and equity of mental and physical healthcare, specifically for minority populations.
Isabella Stephanoff
Isabella Stephanoff is second-year student in the General Clinical Psychology Master’s program at Eastern Michigan University and a graduate assistant for the Occupational Therapy program. She graduated from Michigan State University in 2025 with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and a minor in Asian Pacific American studies. While at MSU, Isabella was a research assistant in the Close Relationships Lab. Her research interests include promoting resilience after trauma and preventing risky health behaviors.
Aviana Shammami
Avi is a second-year student in the General Clinical Master’s program at Eastern Michigan University. Within the lab, she is currently on the geneTIC project and the Experiences Seeking Healthcare project. She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Michigan State University in 2024. While at MSU, she was a research assistant for the Leadership, Innovation, Networks, and Collaboration (LINC) lab and a mentor for a youth from the juvenile justice system. Her research interests are around how trauma and adversity impacts self-image, relationships, and emotional regulation. Following graduation, she plans to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology.
Undergraduate Research Assistants
Caroline Gerwolls
Caroline Gerwolls is a second-year undergraduate student at Eastern Michigan University studying Psychology with a minor in Biology with the hopes to pursue a career in Psychiatry after graduation. Her current research interests are how experiencing grief at a young age can have lasting effects on mental health in the future. She is also exploring other research interests. Outside of the STAR lab, Caroline likes to read books, play the flute, travel, cuddle her cats, and go on random adventures with her friends.
Penelope Ernest
Penelope Ernest is a second-year undergraduate majoring in psychology with a minor in biochemistry. After graduation, she plans to pursue a medical degree towards a career in psychiatry. Her current research interests include learning how best to adopt a trauma-informed approach in a clinical setting.
Christa Reiffers
Christa Reiffers is currently pursuing a second Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Sociology at Eastern Michigan University. Within the STAR lab, she works on the Experience Seeking Healthcare (ESH) Project. She previously graduated from Ferris State University with a B.S. in Integrative Studies. Driven by a recognition that complex human challenges require cross-disciplinary solutions, Christa focused her initial studies on the intersections of psychology, behavioral science, public health, societal structural systems, intercultural equity, and inclusive communication. Her practical experience includes working as a substitute teacher and assistant with special education students, as well as job shadowing a DEI director. She strives to pursue a Ph.D. and aims to investigate how strength-based protective factors and positive psychology interventions can foster resilience and post-traumatic growth in neurodivergent individuals, marginalized populations, and others navigating trauma and disrupted family systems. Outside of academia, she enjoys gardening, outdoor recreation, working out, reading, and cooking.
Alecia Johnson-Harris
Alecia is a second year undergraduate student in the STAR lab.
STAR Research Collaborative 