Lindsay Goolsby | Lab Coordinator – Statistics
Lindsay joined Dr. Beebe’s lab in the summer of 2019, and is currently she is Head of the statistics team. She graduated NYU with a degree in East Asian Studies in 2015 and completed Columbia University’s post-baccalaureate in Psychology May 2020. She hopes to continue researching non-verbal communication alongside social bias in a PhD program. In her spare time, Lindsay loves to dance, draw, and bother her cat.
Tess Jacobson | Lab Coordinator – People & Projects
Born and raised in New York City, Tess received her BA in Child Study and Human Development from Tufts University in 2019. Upon graduation, Tess joined Dr. Beebe’s lab and became employed at The Neurological Institute of New York where she works on Dr. Marla Hamberger’s research team. On days when she is not working with Dr. Beebe, Tess assists in running language studies on children, adolescents, and adults with and without epilepsy. Tess is interested in psychopathology and child development, and would like to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology.
Amruta Wagh, M.S. | Lab Coordinator - Media
Amruta has an M.S. in Clinical Psychology from Auburn University at Montgomery. Before that, she received her undergraduate degree from the University of S.Alabama in Mobile, AL. She moved to NYC in 2016 and joined Dr. Beebe's Communication Sciences Lab in 2018 and has enjoyed being a part of the filming and media team wherein she gets to watch mothers and babies dynamically interact with each other. Since then, she has also worked at Bellevue Hospital and NYU's FTRG Behavioral Science lab. Amruta plans on pursuing a Ph.D. in clinical psychology focusing on evidence-based youth intervention and its effects. She enjoys reading, watching sci-fi movies, and loves trying out various yoga poses.
Nurdan Emanet, M.A. | Research Assistant
Nur received her BA from Bogazici University, Istanbul. During her last year at Clinical Psychology Masters Program at Teachers College, Columbia University, she enrolled Dr. Beebe's Communication Sciences Lab as a research assistant to advance her knowledge in developmental psychology within the scope of mother-infant communication and infant social-emotional development. Currently, she manages Dr. Beebe and Dr. Herbstman's NIH funded project: "Prenatal endocrine-disrupting chemicals and social/cognitive risk in mothers and infants: Potential biologic pathways." At the same time, she works as a research assistant at Dr. Kimberly Noble's Neurocognition, Early Experience, and Development (NEED) Lab. Nur is interested in understanding the effects of early adverse environmental experiences on children's social, cognitive and neurological development. In the future, she hopes to develop better interventions to optimize child development especially in underprivileged communities.
Jiaqi Liu | Statistics, Research Assistant – Coder
After maintaining a BA at University of Toronto, Jiaqi moved to New York to broaden her knowledge in psychology by pursuing a Master's degree at New York University. With a great interest in the study of interpersonal relationships and attachment theory, she joined Dr.Beebe’s Communication Sciences Lab in 2019, working in the statistic team. She also codes mother-offspring vocal rhythm and wants to adopt the same procedure to analyze couples’ communication, which was her master research proposal. She hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in clinical psychology to study mood disorders (especially depression and bipolar) and treatments, potentially using microanalysis. Outside academia, she enjoys baking and wants to own her own little bakery after retirement.
Elliana Sherwin | Lab Coordinator - People & Projects
Ellie graduated from Wesleyan University in 2014. Though always interested in psychology and psychodynamic thinking, Ellie's love of writing and social advocacy motivated her to first study English and Anthropology. She pursued documentary filmmaking for three years before ultimately changing careers. Through visual storytelling and working with people, she found that clinical psychology was at the heart of her professional and intellectual pursuits. Dr. Beebe's lab provided the unique opportunity to make this transition into the field. The use of microanalysis in a deeply interpersonal setting has opened Ellie's eye to the possibilities of research and clinical intervention through interactive mediums, like film. She is now eager to build on these skill sets with a PhD in clinical psychology. Inspired by the work and community fostered in Dr. Beebe's Communication lab, Ellie hopes to conduct research that has direct, clinical application.
Emily Hersch, B.A. | Lab Coordinator - Media Management
Emily was born in Sydney, Australia and grew up in New York City. She received her BA at Emory University with a double major in Psychology and Media Studies. Her previous research experience includes implementing and testing the efficacy of a remote psychoeducation program for caregivers at the Atlanta VA as well as recruiting and interviewing participants for a study investigating civilian trauma, PTSD, and clinical and physiological implications of trauma at the Grady Memorial Hospital. She currently volunteers with Mind Right, a tech nonprofit offering adolescents on-demand mental health coaching through a digital platform and is the practice manager for the Canarick Center, a psychotherapy practice located in Manhattan. She is enthusiastic about pursuing a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in the near future.
Abigail Davis | Research Assistant
I graduated with a bachelor's in psychology from St. Olaf College in the spring of 2015. Since graduating I have worked on a mental health and substance use hotline and here at NYSPI as a lab assistant. I will be pursuing a degree in clinical social work starting in the fall of 2019 with the goal of being an child/adolescent therapist in an inpatient setting. Being a part of this lab has given me experience improving my research skills and the opportunity to work in a welcoming, warm environment with a fantastic group of peers.
Cassandra Malouta | Research Assistant
Cassie is from Marco Island, Florida. She attended Fordham University and majored in Psychology. Cassie is interested in pursuing a PhD in Clinical Psychology. She is particularly interested in multicultural issues and psychoanalysis. Cassie loves working on the Mother Facial affect code and would like to complete research in her graduate education involving mother-infant communication in regards to Mother Facial Affect.
Natasha Yamane, M.A. | Research Assistant
Natasha received her MA in Clinical Psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University and her BA in Psychology from Barnard College. She is interested in pursuing a PhD in the future and applying microanalysis to dyadic research in the context of developing social interventions for families of children with autism spectrum disorder. She is currently head of the vocal rhythm coding team and assists with everything from troubleshooting data issues to building computer programs for analysis. Natasha is also working in the Department of Neurology at the Columbia University Medical Center with Dr. Sylvie Goldman on her research in young children diagnosed with autism. In her free time, Natasha enjoys powerlifting and volunteers as a mentor in Apex for Youth, a nonprofit that provides educational, social, and recreational programming to underprivileged Asian and Asian American youth in NYC.
Alessandra García | Research Assistant – Coder
Alessandra has a bachelor degree from The City College of New York in Manhattan. Before that, she was working on Crisis Text Line as a online crisis counselor, providing free mental support and turning hot moments to a cool calm using techniques in empathetic listening. She joined Dr. Beebe's Communication Sciences Lab in 2019, where she takes part in consenting Spanish speaking mothers, as well as help film mother and babies interacting. Inside the lab, she also codes infant facial affect of four month babies. Alessandra plans on pursuing a Masters in school psychology focusing on mental health, learning, and behavior, to help children and youth succeed academically, socially, behaviorally, and emotionally. She loves spending time with family and friends, visiting new places, and listening to music in different languages.
Gavkhar Abdurokhmonova, M.S. | Project Coordinator
Born and raised in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Gavkhar received her BA combined with MA in Psychology from Lomonosov Moscow State University, Russia. As a primarily research oriented program, it laid the foundation for her interest in research in clinical psychology. Gavkhar's developing passion for psychology and her willingness to apply theory in practice motivated her to pursue a Masters in Mental Health Counseling from Long Island University, Brooklyn. As a part of Dr. Beebe's research team, Gavkhar learned about the immense capacities of microanalysis in clinical research, which inspired her to consider it for her own research and clinical practice in the future. Gavkhar is pursuing a PhD in Clinical or Developmental Psychology. Outside of academia, she loves to play piano and learn foreign languages in order to explore diverse cultures and ethnicities.
Vesna Bozic, M.A. | Research Assistant - Coder
Vesna grew up in New York, and received her BA in Psychology from Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts at The New School in 2017. After college she attended The New School for Social Research, graduating with an MA in Psychology in 2019. While pursuing her MA Vesna was a research assistant for Dr. Miriam Steele and Dr. Howard Steele’s lab, The Center for Attachment Research. In January of 2020, Vesna joined Dr. Beatrice Beebe’s Communication Sciences Lab at Columbia University Medical Center. Vesna is interested in attachment styles and child development and hopes to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology. Outside of academia she enjoys karaoke and Pilates.
Michaela De Filippis | Research Assistant – Coder
Born and raised in New York City, Michaela received her B.A. in Psychology from Vassar College in 2019. Prior to joining Dr. Beebe’s Lab, Michaela served as a research assistant to an Adjunct Professor of Economics at the Harvard Extension School, and recently presented the findings of her senior thesis at the Association for Psychological Sciences’ (APS) annual convention. Since her sophomore year, Michaela has been actively involved in developmental, clinical, and social psychology research. While at Vassar, she conducted developmental research at the College’s on-site laboratory school, Wimpfheimer Nursery; served as a research assistant to Dr. Abigail Baird in the Laboratory for Adolescent Science; and completed an optional, year-long senior empirical thesis exploring the potential of popular social media platforms (e.g. Instagram) for increasing young adults users’ mental health awareness and accessibility to mental health resources. Michaela has also completed diagnostic psychiatric evaluations of children and adolescents at NYU’s Child Study Center, and served as a paraprofessional behavioral specialist at Camp STAR, a summer treatment program for children with ADHD and Other Related Disorders. Michaela is interested in child and adolescent neurodevelopment and psychopathology, and hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology.
Zachary Cagan | Research Assistant - Coder
Zachary is thrilled to be a part of Dr. Beebe's Communication Sciences Lab! Prior to joining the lab, Zack lived in Los Angeles working as an ensemble member of the 24th Street Theatre and as an educator, teaching enrichment courses in film at the primary level. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting from the Florida State University, studied physical comedy in London, and improvisation with Upright Citizens Brigade (LA). Areas of interest include non-verbal communication and how the caregiver-infant dyad informs development and treatment in children and adolescence. He is also interested in working with military veterans. Zack is currently pursuing a PsyD in Counseling. In his spare time, he enjoys travelling, breathing less-polluted air, and spending time with his family and friends.
Romola Hilerio, M.A. | Lab Coordinator - Media
Romola Hilerio received her MA in Clinical Psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University and her BS from the College of Staten Island. During her time at TC, Romola completed the requirements to receive an advanced certificate for the Sexuality, Women, and Gender project with a special interest in maternal and reproductive well-being. Prior to joining Dr. Beebe’s lab, Romola interned at the Motherhood Center of New York where she acted as a co-facilitator in the PHP day program. Currently Romola is on the media team at Dr. Beebe’s lab and hopes that her lab experience with infant communication will supplement her growing knowledge of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders so she can work with mother/infant dyads in the future.
Xinyu (Lily) Wang | Research Assistant – Coder
Lily received her B.S. degree from Ohio State University, majored in Psychology, and minored in Global Public Health and Studio Art. During her undergraduate program, Lily worked for two years in the Childhood Mood Disorders Lab and the Attitude and Persuasion Lab at OSU as a research assistant. To have a better understanding of clinical psychology research and practice, Lily joined Dr. Beebe’s Lab and stared her study at Clinical Psychology Master’s Program at Teachers College, Columbia University simultaneously. She is interested in the social determinants of mental health outcomes and hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. Outside of academia, Lily enjoys drawing, painting, and fitness.
Jane Lee | Research Assistant – Statistics and Coder
Jane received her Bachelor of Science in psychology and completed a minor in neuroscience at the University of Minnesota in Spring 2018. For the following two years, she worked as a full-time Research Assistant in research labs to learn more about severe psychopathology as well as child development. She assisted with the Human Connectome Project - Development study at the Institute of Child Development under the supervision of Dr. Kathleen Thomas. In the summer of 2020, she enrolled into the Master’s in Psychology in Education program at Teachers College, Columbia University. She also joined Dr. Beatrice Beebe’s Communication Sciences Lab as a Research Assistant to learn more about how mother-infant face-to-face communication, a significant part of early childhood experiences, plays a role in predicting future mother-infant attachment and psychopathology as late as young adulthood! Going forward, Jane wishes to pursue doctoral studies in clinical psychology to investigate how early life events and stressors predict or affect one’s developmental trajectory in adolescence and young adulthood.
Jacob Goldberg | Research Assistant – Coder
Jacob left New York in 2014 to study English Literature and philosophy at McGill University in Montreal. While there, he wrote stories and volunteered on the palliative care ward at the Jewish General Hospital, where he offered emotional support to the patients and their families. This work inspired him to come back to America to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology. As he was familiarizing himself with the academic landscape back home, he got a job as a bookseller, where one day, a customer came in, and, during their conversation, mentioned to him Dr. Beatrice Beebe's research. Jacob imagined working with her would be fascinating, and was pleasantly surprised to see that she had an opening in her lab. Since joining the team in August 2020, he has thoroughly enjoyed learning from Dr. Beebe about mother-infant nonverbal communication, and looks forward to continuing his work as a mother-gaze coder.
Zoe Leaf | Lab Coordinator - People & Projects
Zoe received her BA in Child Study and Human Development from Tufts University in May 2020, with a minor in Food Systems and Nutrition through the Environmental Studies department. At Tufts, she was involved in leadership with various child-centred community organizations and loved becoming acquainted with kids from all over Boston. Her prior research experience includes working at the Child Health Equity Research Lab and the Institute for Applied Research in Youth Development, both located at Tufts. Zoe is a born and raised New Yorker, and loves the city more than any place in the world, though she loved going on adventures to new cities when she studied abroad in London for a year. When she’s not working, Zoe loves to read, write, make art, run, cook, and spend time in nature. In the future, she would like to obtain her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and focus on treating children, adolescents, and young adults.
Emily Hynson | Research Assistant – Coder
Emily is from Fort Myers, FL, and graduated from the University of Central Florida with a BS Honors in Psychology and a BS in Health Sciences. It was during her undergraduate career that she began to get involved with research and published her own undergraduate honors thesis. Emily joined the lab through Teachers College, Columbia University where she currently studies as a MA candidate. While at TC, she has focused her interest and population on the mother-infant dyad, antenatal, perinatal, and postpartum disorders, and global mental health. In addition, Emily is in the Pediatric Behavioral Health Integration Program at Montefiore working with parents and children in the primary care setting. She is also in the Global Mental Health Lab on a project working to implement IPT to mothers in Lebanon suffering from postpartum depression. Ultimately, Emily hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and focus her career on the mother-infant dyad.
Christina Markakis | Research Assistant – Media
Christina Markakis is a former Learning Experience Designer. She is a graduate of The King’s College, having received her Bachelor’s degree in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics. While working in the education system as a course and learning experience developer, Christina began to realize that her passion for understanding attachment theory, post traumatic stress disorder, and psychoanalytic practices could be better pursued within the field of psychology. She hopes to work as a clinical or developmental psychologist. Christina is a longtime resident of New York City, and currently calls Crown Heights, Brooklyn home. In her free time, she can be found walking Prospect Park and rearranging the art in her apartment with her roommates.