The FaniLab Fam.

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Dr. Negar Fani

Negar Fani, PhD, ABPP is a clinical psychologist specializing in neuropsychology and Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at Emory University; she is also an affiliate faculty of the Emory Neuroscience Graduate Program. Her clinical work and research centers around people with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), with a focus on those who have experienced interpersonal trauma, including childhood maltreatment and racial trauma. She studies the intersection of emotion and cognition, particularly attention, in trauma-exposed people. She is passionate about using various technologies—from vibration-augmented breath-focused mindfulness to non-invasive deep brain stimulation (temporal interference)—to improve attention and emotion regulation, problems that are often faced by trauma-exposed people.

 

RESEARCH COORDINATOR

Allie Guelfo, MPH, CCRP

Allie Guelfo joined the lab in February 2019 as an undergraduate research assistant and went on to become the research coordinator for the lab in March 2021. Allie received her Masters in Public Health from Emory Rollins School of Public Health in May 2024 and is recognized as a Certified Clinical Research Professional through the Society of Clinical Research Associates. Her research interests include exploring intervention experiences and outcomes using qualitative & quantitative methods.

 

POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW

Dr. Timothy McDermott

Tim McDermott, Ph.D., joined the FaniLab as a post-doctoral fellow in August 2023. Dr. McDermott received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Tulsa and the Laureate Institute for Brain Research under the mentorship of Dr. Robin Aupperle, and he completed his pre-doctoral internship at McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School on the PTSD track. His program of research uses neuroimaging methods, including fMRI and EEG, to investigate altered neural mechanisms in PTSD and determine how these mechanisms relate to treatment outcomes. His NIMH F32 research fellowship will examine EEG correlates of anhedonia and cognitive control deficits in trauma-exposed people with PTSD and will assess the impact of vibration-augmented breath-focused mindfulness.

 

GRADUATE STUDENT

Aziz Elbasheir

Aziz Elbasheir graduated from Hunter College with a B.A. in 2020 in psychology and a behavioral neuroscience concentration. He is currently a fourth year PhD candidate in the Neuroscience Graduate Program at Emory University. His interests include, trauma, PTSD, cognition and neural mechanisms of racial discrimination.

 

GRADUATE STUDENT

Travis Fulton

Travis Fulton graduated from Arizona State University first with a B.A in Biochemistry then with a Master's in Biology. He is currently a third year in Emory's Molecular and Systems Pharmacology PhD program. His research interests include trauma, inter-personal violence, and addiction, with a focus on identifying critical periods of vulnerability when individuals can benefit most from intervention. Travis hopes to stay in academia, splitting his time between research and teaching.

 

NEUROIMAGING ANALYST

Timothy Ely

After completing his BA in Chemistry at Duke University in 1982, Tim worked as a research specialist under Clinton Kilts, Ph.D. and Jonathan Davidson, M.D. in the Department of Psychiatry at Duke. The focus of this laboratory was mainly on dopamine and neurotensin systems and their involvement in schizophrenia, depression and stress. In 1992, Tim relocated to Emory University where he managed the research lab of Clinton Kilts, Ph.D. in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. The lab continued the work from Duke but also branched out into the fledgling science of neuroimaging. Initially utilizing Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and later moving into functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). During this time, Tim trained in neuroimaging analysis with Scott Grafton, M.D. and John R. Votaw, Ph.D. In 2009, under Kerry J. Ressler, M.D., Ph.D., Tim joined The Grady Trauma Project to aid in the development of a neuroimaging branch of the project.

 

RESEARCH INTERVIEWER

Jenna Holton

Jenna Holton graduated from Emory University in May 2024 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and English. She joined the lab to bridge her past experiences in community engagement and cognitive psychology research. Jenna is passionate about developing community-focused, accessible interventions and scientific communication to improve lived experience.

RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Alexa Kondas

Alexa is a fourth-year undergraduate at Emory University majoring in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology and Psychology. She joined the FaniLab to explore her interests in the mind-body connection and trauma exposure. She plans to pursue a PhD in Neuroscience or Clinical Psychology in the future. 

 

RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Alex Daube

Alex is a fourth-year undergraduate at Emory University majoring in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology. She joined the FaniLab to explore her interests in non-invasive brain stimulation and trauma exposure. Alex plans to pursue a PhD in Neuroscience or Psychology after graduation.

 

RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Jiwon Lee

Jiwon is a fourth-year undergraduate majoring in Psychology and minoring in East Asian Studies. Jiwon is passionate about exploring racial trauma and the cross-cultural examination of moral injury, as well as contributing to the development of targeted interventions tailored for minoritized communities. Jiwon plans to pursue a PhD in Psychology in the future.

 

RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Madeeha Anjum

Madeeha is a third-year undergraduate at the Georgia Institute of Technology majoring in Neuroscience with a concentration in Health and Medical Sciences. She joined the FaniLab to explore her interests in the neural correlates underpinning racial trauma and PTSD in minority populations. She is interested in learning more about how this research can promote future treatment and systemic change. She plans to attend medical school after graduation.

 

RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Irene Jang

Irene is a third-year undergraduate at Emory University majoring in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology. She joined the FaniLab to explore her interests in the neural mechanisms underlying the progression from trauma exposure to post-traumatic stress disorder. She is interested in learning about how various non-invasive intervention methods can aid in the treatment of trauma-exposed individuals. Irene plans to pursue an MD after graduation.

 

RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Ilka Tona

Ilka is a second-year undergraduate student at Emory University majoring in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology with a minor in Mathematics. She joined the FaniLab to explore her interest in the neurobiology of trauma, examine its somatic effects as well as future intervention and treatment methods. Ilka is interested in how the research at the FaniLab can spearhead more positive treatment outcomes and more equitable public mental health measures. She plans to pursue an MD/Ph.D following graduation. 

 

Lab Alumni

  • Amrita Kaimal - Research Assistant

  • Anusha Challa - Research Assistant 

  • Nayan Tiwary - Research Assistant

  • Onyebuchi Okeke, MD - Medical Student

  • Bianca Robinson - Research Assistant

  • Drew Teer, PhD - Graduate Research Assistant

  • Madeleine Kloess - Research Assistant

  • Jahnvi Jain - Research Assistant

  • Akira Wang, MPH - Research Assistant

  • Rebecca Gibbons - Research Assistant

  • Vijwala Yakkanti - Research Assistant

  • Anna Kottakis - Research Assistant

  • Sarah Abdul-Ghani - Research Assistant

  • Amanda Miao - Research Assistant

  • Rachel Bond - Research Assistant

  • Neha Prabhu - Research Assistant

  • Khaled Choucair - Research Assistant

  • Dominique LaBarrie, M.S. - Post-Bac Research Assistant

  • Tiffany Tucker - Post-Bac Research Assistant 

  • Cherita Clendinen - Research Study Coordinator

  • Sadiya Dhanani, MD - Medical Student Research Assistant

  • Jenani Srijeyanthan - Undergraduate Research Assistant

  • Jenn Huo - Research Assistant

  • Kaitlyn Bappert - Research Assistant

  • Shannon Meyer - Research Assistant

  • Raven Hardy - Graduate Research Assistant

  • Sindhuja Surapaneni, MD - Research Interviewer

  • Leyla Eghbalzad, Ph.D. - Postdoctoral Fellow

  • Judy Kim - Research Assistant

  • Emma Lathan-Powell, Ph.D. - Postdoctoral Fellow

  • Maya Karkare - Research Specialist

  • Kayla Huynh - Research Assistant

  • Kevin Hoffman - Research Assistant