I’m fascinated by how people learn to detect, interpret, and respond to threat in ways that are relevant to mental health. As a clinical psychologist and affective neuroscientist, I train both as a researcher and as a clinician.

Photo courtesy of Celia Muto

What are you most passionate about in your research?
I’m passionate about translational work that integrates across neurobiological mechanisms, psychological constructs and behavior, and clinical intervention. My research incorporates questions related to how life experiences (including childhood trauma) shape threat learning processes across development and confer risk for psychopathology, as well as how these processes underlie anxiety and stress-related disorders and can be leveraged to optimize clinical interventions.

When did you know that you wanted to be a scientist?
My favorite career-related advice comes from a friend and mentor who shared, simply, “just lean into what interests you… and then keep leaning.” My path has been relatively non-linear, and there definitely wasn’t a stand-out moment when I realized what I wanted to do! I try to pay attention to what lights me up the most and then lean into that, and I’m continually learning and growing.

My first exposure to psychology and neuroscience wasn’t until my senior year of high school, and this prompted my broad interest in undergrad in what I called “studying people.” I pursued studies in psychological and brain sciences, linguistics and cognitive sciences, and mind, brain, and education, which all essentially examine different aspects of the brain and mind and how they operate. In my sophomore year, I stumbled into a class on emotion that was cross-listed between psychology and neuroscience. I was captivated by how basic neural mechanisms enable humans to process and learn about threat, and how this gives rise to observable behaviors and emotions.

This was just one of my interests, though, and around the time of graduation, I was seriously considering teaching, law, and psychology as potential career paths.

Wow, lots of options! So how did you narrow it down?
I realized that if I wanted a career in psychology, I would need greater research experience. I had learned in the classroom about the clinical implications of affective neuroscience but wanted to try working directly with clinical populations and performing neuroimaging analyses myself. I decided to lean into this interest at the time and pursued a clinical research coordinator position in an emotion and social neuroscience lab working with people with schizophrenia and young adults at risk for developing psychosis. I spent a few years in this position, learning more about exactly which kinds of research questions and perspectives I found most captivating, while hearing patients’ stories continually reaffirmed why I cared about the work. I became curious about developmental trajectories towards serious mental illness and how neurobiological predispositions confer risk. I ultimately decided to go to grad school in clinical psychology because I wanted to integrate neuroscientific, psychophysiological, and psychological methods and be trained in clinical work alongside my research. I don’t think I fully appreciated the mission of translational work at the time, especially before I had any clinical training under my belt, but even then I saw research and practice as going hand-in-hand, each with a great capacity to advance the other with the shared goal of helping people.

What is the hardest part about the work you do?
I’ve always thought in an interdisciplinary way – my mind draws connections between concepts and fields that, in practice, can seem quite disparate. I find this exciting, because there are so many opportunities for meaningful work that transcends disciplinary boundaries, enabling new insights through synthesized knowledge. At the same time, this also creates unique challenges. As a “clinical affective developmental neuroscientist psychologist,” I am a member of several communities of research and practice. I often find that parts of my work lie outside the scope of any given space, and that can feel isolating at times. In some professional spheres, the comparative focus of my work is more applied and clinically-oriented, and in others it is more basic and biologically-oriented; truly translational work is a specific, nascent niche. I spend a lot of time bouncing between and weaving together different professional communities and circles of colleagues and mentors, and learning to communicate effectively across fields. It can be a challenge, but also immensely rewarding.

A moment of playfulness and joy

What is the trait you admire most in others?
I highly value authenticity and human connection, and I’ve realized that the people in my life who align themselves with these principles are the ones I most wish to emulate, and the ones who most teach me about who, and how, I want to be. I think this manifests in different ways. The professor who listened to my experiences, then offered a suggestion for a talk introduction that captured my essence in a way that felt true to me. The supervising clinician who showed me how to communicate validation and understanding without barely saying a word. The friend with specific expertise who patiently guided a group of novices through our beginners’ questions. The renowned expert who shared words of encouragement and walked me through a concept until I understood. I believe science and learning are collaborative, generative endeavors, in terms of both knowledge creation and sharing with society. The amazing people and communities who both model these values and demonstrate personal investment and support of me in turn drive my own passion for community-building, mentorship, outreach, and paying it forward, particularly for those who might not otherwise have access to the same resources and opportunities. I’m privileged to know so many brilliant minds and talented individuals, and those who inspire me the most are the ones who make it a point to connect with others.

What are some of your interests outside the lab or office?
I love traveling the world and experiencing new places and landscapes! Being mistaken for a local in multiple countries is such a thrill. I grew up involved in competitive dancing, soccer, and various performing arts, and I like finding ways to stay in touch with those hobbies now. I also love experimenting in the kitchen – my Jewish and Italian heritage is important to me, so cooking for those I care about is in my blood (along with garlic). On the weekend you’ll probably find me with friends enjoying the outdoors, and making friends with dogs I pass on the street.