The Fani Lab Fam.

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Dr. Negar Fani

Negar Fani, PhD, ABPP is a clinical psychologist specializing in neuropsychology. She is a tenured Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at Emory University, where she also serves as Associate Vice Chair of Translational Research and Director of the Temporal Interference Neuromodulation Program. She is an affiliate faculty of the Emory Neuroscience and Molecular and Systems Pharmacology Graduate Programs. Her clinical work and research centers around helping people with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), with a focus on those who have experienced interpersonal trauma. She is passionate about using various technologies—from sternal vibration to a form of non-invasive deep brain stimulation, temporal interference—to boost treatment response. She targets problems with attention and emotion regulation, issues faced by many trauma-exposed people.

 

RESEARCH COORDINATOR

Rachel Jones

Rachel graduated from the University of Georgia with a B.S. in psychology, a concentration in Neuroscience, and a minor in Statistics. Her primary research interests include trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, and the use of neuromodulation as a treatment approach for psychological conditions.

 

POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW

Dr. Joshua Brown

Joshua Brown, Ph.D., joined the Fani Lab as a post-doctoral fellow in August 2025. Dr. Brown received his Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Florida State University under the mentorship of Dr. Wen Li, and continued as a postdoctoral fellow in the Li lab at UTHealth in Houston, Texas. His current research utilizes temporal interference as a novel non-invasive brain stimulation technique to modulate the neural bases of fear and anxiety disorders, including PTSD. Additionally, Dr. Brown has research experience using concurrent EEG, fMRI, and transcranial electrical stimulation to investigate fear memory, PTSD, and pain.

 

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.

 

RESEARCH COORDINATOR

Alisha Sylvester

Alisha Sylvester graduated from Georgia Southern University in 2024 with a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Human Development. Her primary research interests include neuro-translational research examining how sociocultural, physiological, and neural factors shape psychopathology risk and recovery, with a focus on marginalized communities affected by trauma and socioeconomic adversity. 

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 ASSISTANT

Madeeha Anjum

Madeeha is a fourth-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 fourth-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

Christie Cineus

Christie Cineus is a second-year undergraduate at Emory University majoring in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology with a minor in Applied Mathematics. She joined the lab to explore the neurological and behavioral patterns associated with psychiatric conditions such as PTSD and depression. Christie is particularly passionate about how these conditions impact underserved and minority communities, with the goal of helping address health disparities in mental health care and diagnosis. In her free time, Christie enjoys watching Criminal Minds!

 

RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Alas Ozen Sezgin

Alas is a third-year undergraduate at Emory University, majoring in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology with a minor in Artificial Intelligence. Alas joined the lab to explore how PTSD and related disorders affect brain structure. Particularly, Alas is interested in research how temporal interference can be used to treat major depressive disorder and PTSD. Alas aims to contribute to centering data from underrepresented communities to inform modern therapeutic practices. Additionally, Alas is a dedicated coffee hobbyist and music producer!

RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Chloe Pierre-Mitchell

Chloe Pierre-Mitchell earned her Bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience and Psychology, with a minor in Music, from Wesleyan College in 2024. She recently completed her Master’s in Biomedical Innovation and Development at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Chloe joined FaniLab to further explore her interest in non-invasive treatments for individuals experiencing dissociation and to gain hands-on experience in EEG data processing.

RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Anika Banerjee

Anika is a rising fourth-year undergrad at Emory University studying Neuroscience & Behavioral Biology with an Interdisciplinary Studies double major. Anika joined the lab to further her understanding of intersectionality and how our unique experiences impact brain structure and cognitive experience, especially with trauma disorders like PTSD. Further, Anika is interested in research that serves minority and under-researched communities to ultimately improve healthcare protocols and literacy. After Emory, Anika is hoping to pursue either a Neuroscience or a Clinical Psych PhD. Outside of the lab, Anika loves to cook, stay active, and make music with her friends!

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 Student

  • Madeleine Kloess - Research Assistant

  • Jahnvi Jain, M.D. - 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

  • Alex Daube - Research Assistant

  • Allie Guelfo, MPH, CCRP - Clinical Research Coordinator

  • Timothy McDermott, PhD - Postdoctoral Fellow

  • Dominique LaBarrie, Ph.D. - 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 Student

  • 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

  • Jiwon Lee - Research Assistant

  • Alexa Kondas - Research Assistant

  • Jenna Holton - Research Interviewer