People
Lab Members
Lab Director
K. Lira Yoon, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Clinical Psychology Program at Notre Dame. She received her doctoral degree from Northwestern University. Her main areas of interest include the interaction of cognition and emotion in the context of psychological disorders and research on the comorbidity between major depressive disorder (MDD) and social anxiety disorder (SAD). Her current research program integrates biological and psychological lines of inquiry to gain a better understanding of the role that cognitive processes and stress reactivity play in the onset and maintenance of MDD and SAD.
Project Manager
Tori Shaffer is the post-baccalaureate project manager for the CEED Lab. She is from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and received her bachelor's degree from the Pennsylvania State University in December 2017. Tori graduated from Penn State's Schreyer Honors College with a major in Psychology and minor in Human Development & Family Studies. Tori hopes to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology, specifically studying health anxiety and body hypervigilance in those with anxiety disorders. Her other interests include working out, hiking, traveling, cooking, attending concerts, and playing the guitar and piano.
Graduate Students
Jude Ash is a PhD student in the Clinical Psychology and Peace Studies joint program at Notre Dame, where he holds a Bachelor's degree in Engineering from Syria and na MA in Peace Studies from Notre Dame. He hopes to marry the insights gained from his unique background and experience with his passion for psychology to generate research questions with potential for informing practices in both the fields of clinical psychology and peace studies. More specifically, he is interested in the study of human emotion and emotion management, and the impact of emotion management strategies on subsequent cognitions and behaviors.
Dahyeon Kim is a fifth-year graduate student in the Clinical Psychology program at the University of Notre Dame. She graduated from Rice University with a dual degree in cognitive science and psychology. She is interested in studying abnormal cognitive processing in depression. Specifically, she is interested in autobiographical memory biases, as well as underlying imagery and working memory deficits in depression.
Jovian Lam is a third-year student in the Clinical Psychology program at the University of Notre Dame. She graduated from the University of California, Davis, with a double major in Psychology and Human Development. She is interested in the effects of anxiety on decision making. Additionally, she is interested in the interplay between stress, emotion regulation, and cognition.
Alainna Wen is a fourth-year student in the Clinical Psychology program at Notre Dame. She studied at McGill University and has degrees in Microbiology and Immunology as well as Psychology. Alainna is interested in studying cognitive biases in depression and the interaction between cognitive and biological vulnerabilities in depression etiology. She is also interested in transdiagnostic cognitive biases in internalizing disorders. Her current work focuses on cognitive flexibility in depression and anxiety.
Undergraduate Students
Maria Barrera is a senior from Fort Wayne, IN, majoring in Biology and Psychology and minoring in English. Outside of the lab, she is a tutor at the Writing Center, vice-president of Psi Chi Honor Society, and president of Delta Epsilon Sigma National Honor Society. Maria loves spending time with her family. After graduation, she hopes to attend graduate school.
Jenny Duma is a senior Neuroscience major from Cincinnati, Ohio. She is a member of the Glynn Family Honors Program and plans to go to medical school after graduation. Outside of the lab, she is a member of Notre Dame's Tennis team and is a counselor for camp Kesem. She loves her cats, playing the piano, traveling, and spending time outdoors.
Reilly Gallagher is a junior from Glen Ellyn, Illinois, majoring in Psychology and minoring in Poverty Studies. Outside of the lab, Reilly volunteers at Portage Manor through the Psychology Club and participates in Active Minds and Aquatic Relief for Kids. After graduation, Reilly hopes to attend graduate school to become a licensed counselor, working with children and teens with emotional disorders.
Mithara Kaluarachchi is a sophomore from Los Angeles, California. She is majoring in Neuroscience and Behavior and is intending to minor in Gender Studies with a concentration in Science. She is also part of the Hesburgh-Yusko Scholars Program. Mithara serves as the Social Media Leader for the Students Demand Action Group on campus and is the Notre Dame campus editor and contributor for Thrive Global. Mithara aims to research the disparities in mental illness and psychiatric healthcare in developing nations and low income communities through biological, chemical, and social lenses.
Alice Kwak is a senior from Granger, Indiana studying Neuroscience and Behavior with a minor in International Development Studies. She works on campus as an ASSA (Academic Services for Student Athletes) tutor, serves on a Timmy Global Health executive board, and volunteers her time at La Casa de Amistad, a local institution that serves the local immigrant community. She loves the strange (like pimple popping and surgery videos) as well as the classics (basketball, Sinatra, quality time with loved ones). After graduation, she intends on spending a year or two working before applying to medical school.
Emily Luong is a senior from Brooklyn, New York, majoring in Psychology and minoring in Business Economics. She is particularly interested in studying emotional disorders and cultural differences. Outside of the lab, she is involved with various cultural clubs on campus. She also loves A cappella music and Broadway musicals. After graduating, she wishes to pursue a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and become a psychologist.
Katherine Mollenkopf is a junior Neuroscience and Behavior major from San Diego, CA. Outside of the lab, she is a tutor at Robinson Community Learning Center, a member of Matriculate, and on her dorm’s hall council. Katherine loves spending time with my friends and family, going to football games, and traveling. After graduation, she hopes to go into a clinical psychology or neuroscience program.
Vaishali Nayak is a senior from New Orleans, Louisiana, majoring in Neuroscience and Behavior and minoring in International Development Studies. She is a member of Notre Dame Posse Scholars. Outside of the lab, she is actively involved with Diversity Council and contributes to Scientia, an undergraduate journal of scientific research, as a junior news editor. She loves all things jazz.
Mary Polking is a sophomore Neuroscience and Behavior major at Notre Dame. Outside of the lab, she enjoys reading, being outdoors, and playing trombone in several of Notre Dame's band ensembles. After graduation, she intends to pursue a PhD in Neuroscience.
Meghan Pryor is a sophomore from Minneapolis, Minnesota. She is majoring in Psychology and minoring in Journalism and Digital Marketing. Besides working in the CEED Lab, Meghan is a writer and social media director for HerCampus at Notre Dame and is involved in dorm sports and hall council. She is considering pursuing a PhD in Psychology or going to law school.
Monique Le Tran is a junior from Chandler, Arizona and is majoring in Neuroscience and Behavior and minoring in Compassionate Care in Medicine. Outside of class, she's involved in Neuroscience club, Fighting Irish Scholars, and works at the Duncan Student Center. After graduation, Monique plans on taking a gap year and then going to medical school to become pediatric neurologist.
Emily Unebasami is a junior from Aiea, Hawaii, majoring in Neuroscience and Behavior. Outside of the lab, she is a trumpet player in the Fighting Irish Marching Band, as well as the president of the Hawaii Club at Notre Dame. After graduation, she is interested in attending medical school.
Lab Alumni
-Desirae Boldt (UMaine Ph.D) - Post-doctoral fellow @ New Orleans-Southwest Louisiana Veterans Health Care System
-Amanda Kutz (UMaine Ph.D) - Post-doctoral fellow @ White River Junction VA Medical Center
-Sam Dashineau (ND lab manager) - Master's student, Psychology @ Villanova University
-Kayla Matthews (ND undergrad RA) - Ph.D student, Physical Therapy @ Northwestern University
-Megan Parisi (ND undergrad RA) - Research Associate @ Healthcare Intelligence Firm
-Natalie Pottschmidt (ND undergrad RA) - Clinical Research Assistant @ University of Iowa
-Clare Burns (ND undergrad RA) - Master's student, Master of Science in Management @ University of Notre Dame
-Alina Nguyen (ND undergrad RA) - Ph.D. student, Integrative Biology @ UC Berkeley
-Connor Williams (ND undergrad RA) - Research Assistant @ The US Department of Health and Human Services
-Mairéad Willis (ND undergrad RA) - Master's student, Creative Writing in Ireland
-Katrina Orteza (ND undergrad RA) - Medical School in the Philippines
-James Dickson (ND undergrad RA) - Medical School @ Northwestern University
-David May (ND undergrad RA) - Master's student, Columbia
-Maria Vetter (ND undergrad RA) - Researcher @ Johns Hopkins
-Lan Luo (ND undergrad RA)
-Abby Ferguson (ND undergrad RA)
-Erin Vaughan (ND undergrad RA)
-Ale Robelo (ND undergrad RA)
-Meghan McClain (ND undergrad RA)
-Marie St. Pierre (ND senior)
-Abbey Zielinski (Holy Cross senior)
-Anna Benedict (ND junior)