Meet Our Interns

Amelia Cho is a senior from Cary, NC studying psychology with minors in chemistry and medical anthropology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her academic interests focus on the intersection of brain development, cognition, and mental health, particularly in children and adolescents. She is currently a research assistant in the Cohen Lab, contributing to both the BrainMAP and CogMAP studies, where she has gained experience in cognitive assessments, longitudinal data management, and clinical research involving individuals with ADHD and breast cancer. In addition to research, Amelia is engaged in clinical and community-based work. She serves as a Crisis Text Line counselor, supporting individuals in moments of acute emotional distress, and has volunteered in the adolescent psychiatric unit and psychiatric emergency department at UNC Neurosciences Hospital. She has also worked with neurodivergent children in community settings and previously served as a CareYaya caregiver for senior patients. Moreover, she also worked as an Undergraduate Learning Assistant for PSYC 220 and a Student Ambassador for the Office for Undergraduate Research. Amelia is also deeply involved in leadership and service as president of Psi Chi, co-president of the Carolina Health Samaritan Society, and co-president of the Kidney Disease Screening and Awareness Program at UNC, which she co-founded. She is also a clinical graphic designer for Railcare Health, developing educational materials and outreach content for community health screenings. In Summer 2026, Amelia completed an internship with TLC BioSciences in Taiwan, further strengthening her interest in biomedical research and its global applications. She plans to attend medical school and pursue psychiatry, integrating research and clinical care to better understand and treat mental health conditions. 

​Mikhail (Misha) Grzelishvili is a senior from Harrisburg, North Carolina, pursuing a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Neuroscience. Misha has worked as a research assistant in Dr. Jonathan Abramowitz’s Anxiety Lab beginning in the fall of his sophomore year and has since developed his research interests in adult anxiety and OCD, along with their potential treatments. This past year, Misha got the opportunity to assist in a study examining the clinical effectiveness of interoceptive exposure for individuals with high anxiety sensitivity. This fall, Misha will begin working on his honors thesis examining the validity of a behavioral task that was developed to measure relationship OCD symptoms. Prior to starting my research at UNC, Misha worked as a summer research intern at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) in Dr. Guohong Cui’s In Vivo Neurobiology Group, where he researched Parkinson’s disease and its relationship to the gut microbiome. This experience inspired him to continue his research on Parkinson’s disease at the NIEHS as a 2026 summer research intern under Dr. Erik Tokar’s Stem Cell Toxicology Group. Misha has also served as an Undergraduate Learning Assistant for PSYC 242 under Dr. Desiree Griffin. After graduation, Misha plans on pursuing a PhD in Clinical Psychology. In my free time, I enjoy volunteering at Triangle Disability & Autism Services, watching new movies with friends, reading, going on runs, and photography. 

​Vanessa Hsieh is a senior from Long Island, New York, majoring in Neuroscience with a minor in Business Administration and Chemistry. She is on the pre-medicine track, with hopes to specialize in pediatrics. Her interest in psychology and neuroscience began in high school, after conducting an independent research project on personality aspects and dream characteristics. Through relevant college coursework and reading books on psychology and behavioral economics, her interest has grown tremendously over the years. She is particularly passionate about working with youth who are struggling with psychiatric, mental health, and neurodevelopmental disorders. She is interested in not only aiding patients with treatment and management but also fostering a supportive and safe environment where children feel comfortable and understood. She is currently a Medical Assistant at WakeMed Pediatric Endocrinology, where she assists patients with diabetes, growth hormone deficiencies, thyroid disorders, and other hormone-related issues. She is a research assistant at the CASCADE Lab under Dr. Cope Feurer, which focuses on how stress interactions predict depression risk in adolescent girls. She plays an active role on the executive board for Carolina For The Kids and is a Peer Mentor for BIOL 252. In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with friends, swimming, and trying new restaurants. 

Yijia Jia is an undergraduate student at UNC Chapel Hill, majoring in Psychology and Statistics, with a minor in Astronomy. She was born and grew up in Beijing, China. She currently lives in Chapel Hill and really enjoys the natural environment and weather here. Her primary interests lie in clinical psychology, especially serious mental illness and anxiety disorders. Yijia is currently involved in a research lab focusing on anxiety, and she is particularly interested in assessment and treatment. Yijia plans to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology in the future. Outside of school, I enjoy rock climbing, hiking, and plant care. 

Jackson Knox is an undergraduate student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill majoring in Neuroscience with minors in Chemistry and Food Studies. Jackson is from Rutherfordton, NC. Growing up in a rural community, Jackson developed an early awareness of the barriers many individuals face in accessing healthcare and nutritious food. These experiences sparked his passion for preventive health, particularly the role of nutrition in shaping long-term physical and mental well-being. His academic and research interests center on the connection between the gut and the brain, and how physiological processes influence behavior and mental health. As a research assistant at the UNC School of Medicine Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Jackson studies gut-brain communication and is especially interested in how signals from the digestive system can impact neural activity and behavior. He is fascinated by how everyday factors such as diet and nutrient intake can have profound effects on both physical health and psychological outcomes. In addition to his research, Jackson volunteers with SHAC, where he helps prepare and distribute nutritious food resources to individuals facing food insecurity. Through this work, he has seen firsthand how access to healthy food can directly impact health outcomes, reinforcing his commitment to addressing disparities through education and community-based care. Jackson also works as a medical scribe in consultation-liaison psychiatry, where he has gained exposure to the complex interplay between mental and physical health in hospital settings. Through observing patient care, he has come to appreciate that psychological conditions cannot be treated in isolation, but must be understood within the broader context of a patient’s physical health, environment, and access to resources. He has seen how factors such as nutrition, chronic illness, and social support systems can significantly influence mental health outcomes, shaping his belief in a more holistic, patient-centered approach to medicine. In the future, Jackson plans to attend medical school and pursue a career in gastroenterology. He hopes to integrate his interests in neuroscience, nutrition, and preventive health to provide comprehensive, patient-centered care, particularly for individuals from underserved and rural communities. 

My name is Sofia Maciel-Seidman, and I am a junior from Long Island, NY. I am majoring in Psychology with a minor in Neuroscience. My academic interests focus on development, behavior, and mental health, with a passion for serving individuals with developmental or intellectual disorders. I am interested in the origins and consequences of developmental disorders, particularly autism spectrum disorder, and how psychological disorders are identified and evaluated in youth, including the instruments and criteria used in clinical assessment. I have previous experience working as a 1:1 aide for a child with ASD in a summer Extended School Year program. I also founded a free soccer training program for children with cognitive, emotional, or developmental challenges in my hometown. At UNC, I work as an undergraduate research assistant in the Family Journeys Co-Lab, where I help facilitate study sessions by conducting structured and semi-structured interviews with children whose parents are recovering from addiction, assist with data entry, and collaborate with other lab members on a systematic review. Additionally, I have served as an Undergraduate Learning Assistant for PSYC 250 (Child Development). Outside of academics, I am a member of Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity, Club Soccer, and Habitat for Humanity. I enjoy hiking, spending time with friends, and travelling. After college, I aim to pursue a PsyD in school-clinical psychology. 

Julia McGowan is a senior from Apex, North Carolina, double-majoring in Psychology and Data Science with a minor in Hispanic Studies. At UNC, she works as a research assistant in both the Anxiety & Stress Lab and the Bardone-Cone Lab, where her work has included administering psychological assessments, drafting sections for a manuscript (to be published) on body image and skin tone surveillance in minority populations, and assisting with qualitative data review. She has also served as a Learning Assistant for Statistical Principles of Psychological Research, where she helped students apply statistical concepts and software to real data. Across these roles, Julia has developed a strong interest in using quantitative methods to understand patterns in human behavior, especially how psychological constructs are measured and modeled. She is driven by a broader goal of “using data for good,” whether that means improving mental health research, informing decision-making, or uncovering insights that have real-world impact. She is currently completeing an honor thesis examining the network structure of OCD symptoms, and she plans to pursue graduate studies in quantitative psychology. In her free time, she loves traveling, watching bad TV, and pretending to enjoy running. 

Mila McNeal is a senior Neuroscience and Psychology double major and Chemistry minor from Bessemer City, NC. As a clinical research assistant in Dr. Dichter's Clinical Affective Neuroscience (CAN) Lab in the Department of Psychiatry, she investigates the role of estradiol treatment on cognitive decline in perimenopause. Through two independent research courses with the CAN Lab, Mila studied the role of allopregnanolone in perinatal depression and the role of follicle stimulating hormone in mood during perimenopause. She also completed a SURF creating a semi-automated pipeline to help study participants better understand their cognitive health through personalized booklets with accessible wording and graphs. She is an ambassador for the Office of Undergraduate Research and supports students in getting involved in meaningful research. Outside of research, Mila works at an assisted living facility, supporting many residents with mental health challenges in activities of daily living. These experiences sparked Mila's interest in supporting mental health in a clinical setting. Mila has also shown sustained interest in supporting aging individuals. She is the founder and director of a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Compassion in North Carolina, that works to combat feelings of isolation in elderly individuals in need through providing personalized gift packages. She is also the president of Art for Hospice, a UNC Club that creates and donates paintings to elderly facing medical challenges. In the future, Mila is interested in becoming a psychiatrist and staying involved in research. In her free time, Mila enjoys weightlifting and spending time with loved ones. 

My name is Kanushi Navaneethakrishnan, and I am a senior from Cincinnati, Ohio majoring in Neuroscience and Biology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on the pre-medical track. I am interested in understanding how biological, behavioral, and social factors interact to shape patient care and health outcomes, particularly in the context of chronic illness and underserved populations. At UNC, I have been involved in neuroscience research across multiple labs. In the Song Lab, I previously studied how cholecystokinin (CCK) signaling influences microglial activity in Alzheimer’s disease models, which sparked my interest in the relationship between neuroinflammation and disease progression. I am currently completing my honors thesis in the Reissner Lab, where I study how cocaine exposure alters microglial function and morphology in the brain. Outside of research, I have developed a strong interest in patient-centered care through my work with the Get Real and Heel program at UNC Lineberger, where I support cancer survivors in rehabilitation and exercise interventions. My commitment to community health extends to my involvement with the Student Health Action Coalition (SHAC), where I work with underserved populations to improve access to care. On campus, I serve as Vice President of Marketing for the Carolina Cancer Association and am involved in Kids in Nutrition, supporting initiatives that promote health education and community engagement. I also serve as an OUR Research Ambassador, where I help connect students with undergraduate research opportunities. As someone deeply committed to health advocacy, I serve as the North Carolina State Lead for the Coalition Against Childhood Cancer (CAC2), where I collaborate with organizations to improve access to resources for families affected by pediatric cancer and support efforts to integrate pediatric cancer priorities into state cancer control plans. In the future, I plan to pursue a career in medicine, where I hope to integrate clinical work, research, and advocacy to improve health outcomes. In my free time, I enjoy watching dramas, trying new foods, and studying with friends at local boba shops! 

Diya Ramesh is a junior from Voorhees, New Jersey and is pursuing a double major in Psychology (B.S.) and Business Administration through Kenan-Flagler Business School. Her interests in psychology center on I/O psychology, particularly how situational forces shape human behavior and workplace dynamics. Diya currently serves as a Research Assistant in an Organizational Behavior Lab at Kenan Flagler, where she synthesizes findings across peer-reviewed literature to further investigate workplace dynamics. She also works as a Research and UX Intern with Compassion Lab, a nonprofit that translates compassion science into real-world skill-building tools. Beyond research, she serves as a Campus Director for WELx, leading discussions on female leadership and workplace psychology. In the future, she plans to pursue a PhD and teach I/O Psychology while doing research. Outside of academics and research, Diya is passionate about dramatic arts, music, philosophy, and Spanish, having strengthened her language skills during a study abroad program in Costa Rica. 

​Ekaterina Denisovna Snegovskikh (Katya) is a junior from Stonington, Connecticut, studying Psychology and Medical Anthropology on the pre-medical track at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She advances menstrual health equity as Head of Policy in Flow Forward, a policy-driven initiative that partners with campus spaces to provide free menstrual products, distributing over 25,000 items, and helped establish the Menstrual Health Access Commission to secure funding. She has spent three summers conducting research in an OBGYN lab under Dr. Irina Buhimschi, working on scar adhesion prevention, identifying biomarkers for preeclampsia, and mentoring students. She also worked closely with her own pediatric neurosurgeon, Dr. Konstantina Svokos, and is a co-author on a publication in Fertility and Sterility on BRCA carriers and ovarian reserve. Currently, she conducts research in the Neuroendocrinology of Reproductive Mood Disorders (NERD) Lab under Dr. Andersen, where she studies the intersection of neurology, psychology, and reproductive health, and presented her work on hormonal sensitivity and premenstrual mood dysregulation at the undergraduate research symposium. In the future, she aims to pursue an MD/PhD and become a physician-scientist conducting translational research on neuroendocrine mechanisms underlying reproductive and psychiatric health. Beyond academics, she is Captain of the Carolina Women’s Squash team, which won the Division B National Championship, and a mentor with Musical Empowerment, an organization that uplifts children through music education where she received the 2026 Distinguished Mentor Award, the organization’s highest honor. 

Juezihan (Lucy) Wang is a senior from Hangzhou, China, majoring in Psychology with a double minor in Statistics and Music. Her academic interests center on the leadership, teams, and identity perception within the interdisciplinary field of Psychology and Organizational Behavior, with a particular focus on the psychological well-being and positive psychology in an organizational setting. She is also drawn to the mental health field related to counseling psychology, cultural diversity, and stigma. At UNC, she works as an undergraduate research assistant ranging from clinical, developmental, cognitive psychology to statistics and then to organizational behavior. Specifically, she conducted an independent SURF with the Cohen Lab on the Impact of Rewards on Cognitive Control Task Performances & Group Differences in ADHD/TD, and she also gained clinical psychology research experience from the Rodebaugh Lab on social anxiety disorder and co-authored a paper with the former lab coordinator, Richie Gray. Within the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, she also worked with the Water Institute as a data analysis research assistant and co-authored another paper on heavy metal and water quality. From her second year, she started to be more interested in the field or organizational behavior (OB), so she started to be an RA with Dr. Matthew Pearsall and Dr. Christopher Petsko on their projects on leadership and followership, teams, identity perception, etc. Beyond labs, she also volunteers as an assistant teacher at the Northside Elementary School with the neurodiverse children under the TEACCH approach. As she plans to graduate a year early, after graduation, she hopes to continue exploring OB or school psychology field to pursue a PhD degree or any pre-doc programs. Outside of academics, Lucy plays cello in the UNC Symphony Orchestra, and she loves musicals and singing in general, as well as reading, traveling, hanging out with friends, and watching movies/TV shows.