Neuroscience of Risk and Development (NeRD) | Meet Our Team

Maria started the NeRD laboratory in May 2017. She obtained her PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Los Angeles, CA and completed postdoctoral training in neurobehavioral genetics and developmental cognitive neuroscience. Broadly, her research focuses on ways to improve early detection and intervention in youth at high risk for severe psychiatric disorders. She loves to think about new ways to push the boundaries of science and adores data, data, and data. In her free time, Maria likes wandering through the woods, gardening, and spending time with her family.

Rebecca Cooper, PhD

Rebecca (Bec) joined the NeRD lab as a Postdoctoral Fellow in October 2023, after obtaining her PhD at the University of Melbourne, Australia. Her doctoral thesis examined interconnecting relationships between adolescent sleep behavior, structural brain development, and emerging psychopathology symptoms. Bec’s research interests focus on adolescent mental health, and identifying predictors and antecedents to the emergence of psychiatric disorders in young people. Bec identifies as a lived-experience researcher and is an advocate for greater inclusion of lived experience and carer perspectives in research. In her free time, Bec does puzzles. You can follow Bec on twitter/X here.

Mary Corcoran, BA

Mary joined the lab as a Clinical Research Assistant and is now a Clinical Research Specialist. She is a 2020 graduate of Georgetown University, where she majored in Psychology. Her research interests include child and adolescent mental health, and in particular, improving access to mental healthcare resources and reducing mental health disparities. In her free time, Mary likes to spend time outdoors and cook and bake for friends and family.  She hopes to attend graduate school and pursue a career in psychiatry.

Isabelle Elder, BA

Isabelle joined the lab as a Clinical Research Assistant in July 2024. She graduated from Smith College in May 2024, where she majored in Psychology and Culture, Health & Science with a concentration in health equity. Her research interests include identifying predictors of psychopathology in children and adolescents, and improving access to early interventions and mental healthcare resources. In her free time, Isabelle likes exploring new coffee shops and running along the Charles. She hopes to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology.

Paige Graney, PhD

Paige joined the NeRD lab as a Clinical Research Manager in 2024. She earned her Ph.D. in Behavioral Neuroscience from the University at Albany and completed postdoctoral training in neuroendocrinology and neural development. Her research explored how exogenous hormones influence early neural development and cortically regulated behavior during neonatal and adolescent life. Paige is excited to connect research with real-world impact as a member of the NeRD lab. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, refinishing furniture, and spending time with friends and family.

Rebecca Hayes, PhD

Becca joined the lab as a Research Specialist in April 2019. She obtained her PhD in Communication Science and Disorders from the University of Pittsburgh in 2018. Her research interests include cognitive development across the lifespan and the effect of neurocognitive disorders on inhibitory processing. In her free time, Becca performs with her comedy team, explores the trails on her bike, and spends time with her partner and their three cats.

Beatriz Horta, BA, BS

Beatriz joined the lab as a Clinical Research Assistant in June 2023. She’s a May 2023 graduate of Yale University, where she majored in Psychology and Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology. Her research interests include the intersection of genetic and behavioral techniques to study neurodevelopmental disorders and the implementation of early-stage therapeutic interventions. In her free time, Beatriz loves to discover new restaurants in Boston and to plan day trips to neighbouring towns with her friends. She hopes to attend graduate school and pursue a career in applied clinical research.

Sanna Lokhandwala, PhD

Sanna joined the lab as a T32 Postdoctoral fellow in December 2023. She obtained her PhD in Psychological & Brain Sciences (Developmental Science) from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2023. Her research interests include sleep and cognitive development across the lifespan and how the mechanisms of sleep and the brain relate to psychopathology risk early in development. In her free time, Sanna enjoys exploring the vibrant Boston food scene, spending time with friends and family, and trying out new recipes.

Bernalyn Ruiz-Yu, PhD (she/her/ella)

Bernalyn joined the lab and Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School as an Attending Psychologist and Instructor in July 2024. She completed her PhD at the University of Massachusetts, Boston where her dissertation focused on the evaluation of a sport-based intervention for youth in Boston. She completed her clinical internship and a T32 postdoctoral fellowship at UCLA where her work focused on the development and evaluation of novel interventions for youth at risk for psychosis and the effects of health behaviors (e.g. physical activity and sleep) on mental health in youth. Outside of work she enjoys running, playing with her very active toddler, and hunting for the best Mexican food in Boston.

Rashmi Sahasrabudhe, MPH

Rashmi joined the lab as a Research Data Manager in June 2023. She obtained her Master of Public Health from Washington University in St. Louis with concentrations in Epidemiology and Biostatistics. Her research interests include maternal and child health, and using data-driven statistical analysis to inform strategies to eliminate health disparities. In her free time, Rashmi likes to go on hikes, practice Kathak, and play badminton.

Soumya Sathe, BA

Soumya joined the NeRD Lab as a Clinical Research Assistant in July 2024. She graduated from Boston University in May 2024, where she majored in Psychology and Biology, with a specialization in Neurobiology. Soumya’s research interests include the diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders and using epidemiological and neuroimaging techniques to predict psychopathology risk. In her free time, she likes to dance, sing, and write acapella arrangements. She hopes to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology.