Natasha ChakuNatasha Chaku is an assistant professor in the department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Indiana University. Her core research interests involve understanding how puberty, specifically its timing and experience, can set youth on different cognitive and health trajectories, emphasizing that adolescent outcomes are multidetermined, person-specific, and the manifestation of their unique biopsychosocial context. To investigate these questions, she uses intensive longitudinal assessments (e.g., daily diary), physiological data collection (e.g., saliva), and behavioral assessments (e.g., neurocognitive testing) alongside secondary data analyses and community-orientated data collection (e.g., youth participatory action research) to better understand youth’s lived experiences.
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Manny EriboManny Eribo is the joint lab manager of the interACT Lab and the NICE Lab at Indiana University. He graduated from the University of Rochester, recieving B.A degrees in Psychology and Brain and Cognitive Sciences. His research interests include researching adolescent development within social and academic settings. Therefore, he is interested in investigating how each individual's cultural background can help shape their social experiences and academic performances throughout their adolescence. Manny hopes to help mentor undergraduate RA's within the lab in his role as lab manager, as well as working, learning, and collaborating with other members within the field! In his free time, Manny loves to skateboard, play soccer, and visit amusement parks!
meribo@iu.eduMarianne Chirica is a fourth-year Clinical Science doctoral student in the Psychological and Brain Sciences Ph.D. program at Indiana University. Marianne’s research broadly aims to identify potential risk and protective factors for anxiety and suicidal behavior, particularly among adolescents, in attempt to better understand and predict maladaptive outcomes. Using a developmental psychopathology framework, her research assesses various units of analysis across the lifespan, such as behavioral (i.e., self-harm behaviors), sociocultural (i.e., racial and ethnic differences) and biological (i.e., medications used) markers that interact both cross-sectionally and temporally to predict developmental trajectories. This work will ultimately help identify those at heightened risk for suicide and suggest potential targets for interventions. Before coming to IU in 2021, Marianne received her M.S. degree in Psychology: Clinical Counseling from Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science and is a licensed professional counselor. Mostly specializing in children with anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder, Marianne has expertise in cognitive behavioral therapy, exposure and response prevention, and is currently getting certified in parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT). In her free time, Marianne loves going on long walks, spending time in coffee shops or book stores, and teaching Pure Barre fitness classes!
Zinah is a first-year doctoral student in the Developmental Psychology program. Her research interests include investigating the effects of early life and adolescent experiences on socioemotional, psychobiological, and cognitive development. She is also curious about the effects of stress exposure on development during these stages of life. Developmental outcomes she wants to investigate include learning trajectories, academic achievement, and mental health and well-being. In her research, Zinah is interested in working with adolescents from diverse and disadvantaged backgrounds.
Taylor is a second-year doctoral student in the Clinical Science program. Her research interests focus on understanding how pubertal timing and changes in hormones influence psychological, neurological, and behavioral development across adolescences. She is also interested in examining how parent-child relationships and maternal depression play a role in this development. In her free time, she enjoys playing with her yorkie, Gwen, finding new paths to go for runs on, and reading crime novels.
Jasmine Bigelow is a second-year PhD student working with Dr. Natasha Chaku. Her research investigates the multifaceted dynamics of adolescent social development, focusing on the interplay between individual differences and the social environment. She is interested in how personal attributes and peer network dynamics and functions foster vulnerability to negative social development (e.g., aggression) and promote the facilitation of positive social development (e.g., prosociality). Ultimately, she hopes to apply her research in schools to support healthier and more positive adolescent social development. Apart from academia, Jasmine performs flute with the All-Campus band and plays pickleball with the Bloomington Pickleball Club.
Stewart Boring is a junior majoring in Psychology with an interest in developmental psychology, neuroscience, and psychiatry. He is interested in the topic of how middle children develop in comparison to their siblings. He recently started the premed track and wants to go to medical school for psychiatry after graduating and receiving his bachelor's degree. Stewart enjoys creating and writing stories, reading books, playing trivia, and playing a variety of video games.
Lauren Lesko is a junior undergraduate studying Biology (B.A.) and minoring in Spanish. She is on the premedical track interested in how parenting styles and differing environments affect child development, language development, and how culture influences child development. Post-graduation she hopes to attend medical school to become a pediatrician. Lauren loves all aspects of art including painting, pottery, drawing, digital design, sewing, and crafting. She enjoys reading, playing guitar and piano, and paddleboarding in her free time.
Marlow Kidd is a junior undergraduate student majoring in Clinical Psychology at Indiana University. Marlow is interested in how psychological pathologies develop, and hopes to study the lasting effects of adverse childhood experiences. In addition to working with the interACT lab, Marlow is active in several student organizations across campus. Their long term goal is to work in a clinical setting treating mental health disorders, whether through medicine or psychology.
Christopher Chang is a senior undergraduate student studying Clinical Psychology (B.S.) at Indiana University. Christopher is interested in mental health disorders and their treatments. He plans on going to graduate school and continuing his education after undergrad.
Keona is a sophomore undergraduate student studying Clinical Psychology with a Certificate in Neuroscience. She is really intersted is understanding what variables affect addolescent development surrounding behavior differeneces and discision making. She is also interested in the hormonal affects of adolescent development and how that changes behavior in the brain. She really enjoys plants, outdoors, playing Minecraft, stardew valley, and tennis.
Jailyn Rao is a sophomore undergraduate student majoring in Clinical Psychological Science, with a minor in Nutrition. She is very passionate about mental health and wishes one day to be able to help the individuals suffering from mental illness. She currently works at a non-profit day-care center for kids in grades 2nd-12th, setting them up to not just succeed in school but later on in life as well. Her interest focus lies in exploring underlying factors and predispositions to certain mental health outcomes, specifically along the transition from childhood to adolescence. In her free time she likes to do devotionals, listen to sermons, and spend quality time with family and friends.
Maria is a junior undergraduate student studying Clinical Psychology with a minor in Child and Adolescent Mental Health. She is currently also serving as a research assistant in Dr. Brian D'Onofrio's Developmental Psychopathology lab here at IU. Her research has primarily focused on preschool ADHD, examining symptoms, prevalence, treatment options such as medication and therapy, incidence, and characteristics. She enjoys baking, reading, and doing puzzles in her spare time.
