Dr. Karen Smith, PhD

Email: karen.e.smith@rutgers.edu

CV

Dr. Karen Smith is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Rutgers, Newark and Director of the Stress Psychophysiology and Affective Neuroscience (SPAN) Lab.

Dr. Smith earned both her B.A. and Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Chicago. Following her graduate studies, she spent four years conducting research as a postdoctoral scholar at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. This training provided her with the ability to integrate theoretical and methodological perspectives across fields, including psychophysiology, affective neuroscience, developmental psychology, and genetics. Together this allows her to utilize a multi-level multi-disciplinary approach to examine the biological and psychological mechanisms underlying differences in individuals’ responses to stress, especially stress occurring in early childhood. Dr. Smith’s broader goal with this research is to provide insight into the mechanisms through which stress shapes development across the lifespan that can be used to inform more targeted and effective interventions.

Sarah Yining Zhong

Email: yz1904@scarletmail.rutgers.edu 

Sarah is a Ph.D. student in the Psychology Department at Rutgers University, Newark. She earned a B.A. in Psychology from Boston College and an M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University. Her research interests focus on how early experiences of stress shape children’s socioemotional development, particularly their perception and expression of emotions. She is also interested in how stress within the family setting and parenting practices influence children’s perceptions of stress. With her experience working with children from diverse backgrounds, Sarah wishes to use her research to inform interventions and improve educational systems that support children’s well-being

Inés Guariguata

Inés holds an M.S. in Cognitive Neuroscience from CUNY, an M.S.W. from Hunter College’s Silverman School of Social Work, and an M.A. in Art Therapy from NYU. Her clinical interests have centered on how childhood adversity affects development and mental health. Her current research focuses on using psychophysiological methods to investigate how loneliness influences emotion regulation. Ultimately, she hopes to contribute to the development of interventions that strengthen emotion regulation skills and promote resilience in children and adults.

Katie Archer

Email: ka651@psychology.rutgers.edu

Katie holds a MA in Psychology from NYU and a BA in Psychology from Lehman College. Her research interests include the development of episodic memory, how failures of attention impact memory and learning, and how environmental factors such as stress impact learning and memory. She previously worked in the NYC Public schools for 10 years as a paraprofessional, her background in education brings a valuable perspective of the real-world application of the impact of stress in a learning environment.

Julia Azulay

Hi, I’m Julia Azulay! I am an REU fellow working as a full-time research assistant for the SPAN lab this summer. Outside of the lab, I’m a rising senior at Haverford College, majoring in Psychology with a minor in Child and Family Studies. There, I work as an RA with Dr. Ryan Lei’s Intersectionality in the Social Mind lab, where I will be completing my thesis research next year. The ISM lab’s work focuses on how children understand and navigate the social world and the developmental origins of bias (e.g., racism, sexism, classism). I joined SPAN with a specific interest in how these biases and persisting systemic barriers impact/intensify the stress that children of marginalized backgrounds experience. In the near future, I hope to pursue a doctoral degree in clinical child and adolescent psychology and become a therapist, specializing in culturally sensitive care for children and adolescents in low-income communities. When I have free time, I like to listen to music of all genres, play puzzles/”brain games,” read literary classics (currently reading The Bluest Eye and Frankenstein!), and spend time with my friends. I am so excited to expand my existing psychology research skills at the SPAN lab and apply them to hands-on clinical work when I graduate!

Selsabil Belmokhtar

My name is Selsabil Belmokhtar! I am a double major in Psychology and Neuroscience and Behavior with a minor in the Honors College at Rutgers University–Newark. I joined SPAN with an interest in how different people deal with stress and how it manifests in each of them. I aspire to get a PhD in Clinical Neuropsychology or IO Psychology after graduation. Outside of school, I like to read, watch films, go to the gym, and spend quality time with friends.

Lekhana Chennuru

I am a freshman at Rutgers University majoring in Biological Sciences on the pre-med track. My research interests include the neurobiological effects of long term stress in children, cell metabolism, and global health. In my free time, I like to draw, paint, and write poetry. I have been recognized on the Dean’s List and I am looking forward to integrating my research skills with hands-on clinical experiences. 

Arya Dahanuwala

I am a rising senior at Rutgers University–Newark, majoring in Neuroscience and minoring in Pre-Health with an Associate’s degree in Biology (A.S.) from Passaic County Community College. I am passionate about understanding how stress experienced by college students influences cognitive functioning and memory processes. I have been a NERAmed (Northeast Regional Alliance) scholar at New Jersey Medical School (NJMS), where I contributed to the Rutgers-VOICE Program, which promotes community education and violence prevention. I have served as an Organic Chemistry tutor in the STEM Department at PCCC and currently tutor Physics for MAPS at Rutgers. Along with academics, I serve as the Co-Treasurer of the Indian Students Association and Co-Captain of Navrang. I have also received the Excellence in Leadership Award from ISA. Beyond my academic and leadership commitments, I enjoy dancing, singing, creating art, and exploring new places. My long-term goal is to pursue medical school and specialize in endocrinology.

Megan John

Hi my name is Megan John. I am currently in my second year at Rutgers – Newark as a biology major and I hope to attend PA school in the future. My experience working with people of all ages and backgrounds has fueled my passion for helping and connecting with others. I am drawn to the SPAN lab because of my interest in the effects of stress on physical and mental health. This lab is an incredible opportunity for me to combine my interest in clinical science and my love of working with people. I am excited to gain hands on experience that will develop my clinical skills and deepen my understanding of overall health.

Anahi Martinez

Anahi is a Psychology student at Kean University with a strong interest in psychoanalysis, mental health, and the impact of early life experiences on human development. Through her involvement in research and community engagement, she has become particularly interested in understanding how social and psychological factors shape individual well-being. Anahi is a McNair Scholar and the founder and president of ALMA (Mind & Heart Wellness), a student organization dedicated to promoting mental health awareness and fostering a supportive campus community. She hopes to continue expanding her research experience as she prepares for graduate studies and a future career in psychological research.

Breynne Wilkens

Hi! My name is Breynne Wilkens, and I am a rising senior Psychology major, double minoring in Women’s Studies and Mass Communications at Xavier University of Louisiana. I am a part of the Summer Undergraduate Research Institute (SURI) program, previously known as the GSN Summer Program. I come from a family of educators so my goal in life is to help as many as I can in their childhood through early adolescence through researching effects of mental health, gender, and media. I joined this program to help give me more experience in Psychology and can’t wait to get to work! In my free time I love collecting vinyls, watching movies, reading books, journaling, cycling, and writing.