Embark Lab
Principal Investigator
My expertise is in vulnerability to eating and weight concerns along with behavioral treatments for eating disorders. My research has specifically focused on the distinction between adaptive and maladaptive patterns of eating and physical activity. I aim to understand dispositional and environmental circumstances under which individuals enact positive habits compared with those in which problematic behavior patterns arise. I attended graduate school at the University at Albany – SUNY, where I worked in the Anderson lab and examined how individual dispositions and traits can interact with behavioral learning to distinguish when eating and activity patterns may be maladaptive. During my postdoctoral fellowship at the Drexel University WELL Center, I worked on a trial investigating the adoption and maintenance of high levels of physical activity to promote healthy weight management. I then completed a T32 Fellowship at the University of North Carolina Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders, where I extended my interest on individual predisposition for maladaptive eating and activity to the level of genetic and biological risk factors. At the EMBARK Lab, we aim to apply a growing knowledge of genetic risk to biopsychosocial models of behavior in order to identify eating and activity-related risk both in eating disorders and across psychiatric conditions. Further, we aim to use this information to promote empirically-based, individually-tailored treatment approaches that enhance mental health. Curriculum Vitae
Graduate Students
I graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2021 with a BA in Psychology and minor in Poverty Studies. After graduating, I worked for two years as a clinical research coordinator at the Center for Healthy Weight and Wellness at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. As a third year clinical psychology PhD student in the EMBARK Lab, I am passionate about improving the detection, prevention, and treatment of eating disorders. Currently, I am working on projects related to determining and sharing expected body weights in eating disorder treatment. Outside of studying psychology, I love traveling, reading, running, and live music!
Curriculum Vitae
I graduated from Clark University in 2023 with a BA in Psychology, minor in Biology, and concentration in Health, Science, and Society. Following graduation, I worked in Boston for two years as a clinical research coordinator with the Massachusetts General Hospital Eating Disorders Clinical and Research Program. In prevention measures, and treatments for eating disorders and body image disturbances. I am particularly interested in (1) understanding how, when, and under what conditions health-seeking eating and exercise behavior become rigid and pathological and (2) how to best intervene on these maladaptive patterns while also fostering adaptive relationships with food and exercise. Additionally, I am passionate about eating disorder prevention and the promotion of positive body image, with a a particular interest in utility of mindfulness skills. In my free time, I love being outside, practicing yoga, reading, cooking, and spending time with friends! Curriculum Vitae
Research Coordinators
I graduated from the University of Louisville in May 2021 with a BS in Psychology. I began working at the EMBARK Lab summer of 2023 and have enjoyed learning more about eating disorder pathology in relation to maladaptive exercise while also gaining more clinical experience. I hope to join a Clinical Psychology PhD program in the future and further research on how to decrease barriers to eating disorder treatment and increase research efforts in diverse populations. Outside of research, I like to spend my time drawing, reading, and finding new cafes to do either of those activities in!
I graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in May 2024 with a B.S. in Human Development & Family Studies and Psychology, along with certificates in Disabilities Rights & Services and Leadership. I started working at the Embark Lab in June of 2024 at UW-Madison, and have continued working within the lab at UT-Austin. I am interested in translational research aimed at understanding, preventing, and treating obsessive and compulsive features as transdiagnostic mechanisms across a range of internalizing disorders through evidence-based interventions and therapies. In the future, I hope to join a Clinical Psychology PhD program & become an independent researcher! Outside of research, I love to read, do arts & crafts (or any grandma hobby) and spend my free time with the people I love! Curriculum Vitae
Research Assistants
I am a first-year undergraduate student at UT Austin majoring in Psychology (B.S.) on the pre-med track and a student in the Liberal Arts Honors Program. I am an undergraduate research assistant in the EMBARK Lab, where I serve as the lab’s social media coordinator. I am fascinated by risk factors for eating disorders, particularly why similar eating and exercise behaviors contribute to pathology for some individuals but not others. In the future, I hope to attend medical school and pursue a residency in psychiatry. Outside of the lab, I enjoy playing tennis, reading, running, and exploring restaurants around Austin!
Hi! I am a second-year undergraduate student at UT Austin majoring in Psychology BA with a minor in social work. I am currently a research assistant at the EMBARK lab! I am interested in common mental health issues in young adults such as depression, anxiety, and eating disorders with a focus on how lifestyle, genetics, and experiences can shape mental health. My goal is to pursue a counseling or clinical psychology Ph.D program and be a practitioner. I enjoy going on long walks, trying new things, matcha, and getting to know new people!!