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Mission

The Center for Law, Brain & Behavior puts the most accurate and actionable neuroscience in the hands of judges, lawyers, policymakers and journalists—people who shape the standards and practices of our legal system and affect its impact on people’s lives. We work to make the legal system more effective and more just for all those affected by the law.

The MGH Center for Law, Brain, and Behavior regularly engages students in the Center’s work. Below are profiles of current and former student research assistants, research associates, and summer research interns. Students at the CLBB come to us from a wide variety of programs and diverse backgrounds, including undergraduates, law students, medical students, and post-docs.


Student Research Assistants – Summer 2023

Grace Gorman is studying psychology as a rising junior at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Grace has always had an interest in the mental health field and strives to apply her education to improve the lives of others. Grace is a member of her school’s chapter of Psi Chi, a psychology honor society. Outside of academics, she enjoys fitness, reading, and relaxing on the beach! Grace has held multiple positions in social media and public relations. She is honored to have the opportunity of being a research assistant with a focus on the marketing aspects of the program.

Rohan Kandeshwarath recently completed his first year at the University of Michigan Law School. He is a graduate of the George Washington University and holds a B.A. in International Affairs with a concentration in International Economics. Rohan previously worked as a Congressional Intern on Capitol Hill and is interested in the intersection of health, technology, and the law. In his free time, he enjoys fishing, gardening, and visiting National Parks.

Eric Little is a rising junior at Harvard University majoring in Psychology with a minor in Economics. He is originally from Atlanta, Georgia and is interested in the intersection between psychology and law. He is also a member of the Harvard Football Team. In his free time, he likes to watch sports and anime with friends, find new places to eat, and workout.

Najet Miah is a rising 2L at Albany Law School who is returning for a second summer opportunity with CLBB. She graduated from Queens College with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. She was also a public health fellow for the Bard Prison Initiative. There, she focused on the legal implications of New York’s Raise the Age legislation for violent adolescents in light of recent adolescent brain research. As a formerly incarcerated individual, she is passionate about reforming our criminal justice system to reflect the incredible human capacity for change, and she believes that exploring the intersection of law and neuroscience is critical to achieving this reform. She hopes to use her experiences and legal education to make society a safer place for vulnerable populations who have often been neglected or targeted by our legal system.

Awa-Victoria Morel is a rising senior at Middlebury College studying Psychology and Global Health. She is originally from New York City and has spent a semester studying Forensic Psychology in Stockholm, Sweden. Moreover, at her university, Awa serves as a representative of the Middlebury College Psychology StudentAdvisory Council. Besides her passion for psychology, she is also an avid women’s rights activist and lover of music. Thus, she splits her time between her research assistant position, where she surveys changes in abortion access across the US, and her supervisory role at the Mahaney Arts Center box office. Awa is passionate about justice system reform and the intersections of psychology, law, and forensic studies.

Elliot Ping is a first year J.D. candidate at Yale Law School. She holds a B.S. from The Ohio State University in Neuroscience, with a minor in the History of Environment, Health, Science, and Technology. Prior to law school, she worked in neuroscience research studying human information processing and decision- making, environmental history research on massive agribusiness complexes, and in public libraries. Outside of school, Elliot likes to self-study languages, play the guitar, and invent intricate inner lives for her dog (Dave) and cat (Smudge).

Nika Rudenko is a junior at Harvard College concentrating in Integrative Biology and receiving her secondary in Psychology. She is passionate about exploring the intersection of law and medicine. On-campus, Nika is a facilitator for Life Sciences courses, which entails supporting fellow students in understanding and learning challenging scientific concepts. She is also a research assistant for the Radcliffe Institute program that focuses on ensuring justice and equity in clinical settings as psychiatry embraces data and artificial intelligence to treat mental illnesses. Outside of the classroom, she is a co-chair of the Intercollegiate Bussiness Conference committee for Women in Business, where she organizes various exploratory events to expose undergraduate women to real-life opportunities.

Student Research Assistants – Fall 2022

Olivia White is a graduate of the University of Iowa with degrees in Psychology and Enterprise Leadership. She also took extensive courses in neuroscience and is passionate about all things related to brain sciences. Her work in this area includes doing research for publication with Des Moines University, as well as working in the clinical setting as a psychological technician. These opportunities allowed her to interact directly with clients and engage in a longitudinal case study as well as conduct research related to extensive degenerative brain disorder. Olivia’s plan for the future is to further her education by obtaining a law degree combined with advanced studies in neuroscience in order to facilitate better models of rehabilitation for those involved in the criminal justice system. In her spare time, she enjoys swimming, spending time outdoors boating, attending sporting events, and traveling with her family.

Student Research Assistants – Summer 2022

Naicha Christophe is a rising junior at the University of Massachusetts Amherst double majoring in Psychology and Public Health while perusing a certificate in Public Policy. On campus she works as an Undergraduate Admissions Representative, and sits on the executive board for the Students of Caribbean Ancestry. She is extremely passionate about combatting the racial injustice that occurs in this country to members of the black community from all angles; during her freshman year Naicha volunteered her time at a local climate action organization that focused on how the current climate crisis disproportionately affects communities of color. In her free time she enjoys cooking, reading and spending time with friends and family. This summer she is looking forward to working at CLBB and learning more about the important work that they do. 

Priya Bajwa recently completed her first year at Duke University School of Law. She holds a BS in Neuroscience with a minor in Political Science from the University of Nevada, Reno. She has previously worked as a Congressional Intern and is interested in the ability of neuroscience to effect changes in law and policy. In her spare time, Priya enjoys traveling, watching sports, and playing tennis.

Victoria Hawekotte recently completed her first year at University of Pennsylvania Law School. She holds a B.A. from University of California, San Diego in Sociology with a concentration in Science and Medicine. Before law school, she served in the National Health Corps alongside medical case managers, managing a caseload of chronically ill, low income Philadelphians. She spent her last year before law school working on housing equity in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia. She is interested in health policy and the intersection of bioethics and law. In her free time, Victoria likes to perform stand up comedy, listen to FBI podcasts, and is building a model ship. 

Riley Hoffman is a rising senior at Harvard College studying Psychology on the Cognitive Neuroscience and Evolutionary Psychology track. She is originally from Gaithersburg, Maryland and plans to pursue PhD studies after college. Riley has previously been a research assistant at McLean Hospital in the Center for Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Research. Outside of the classroom, she helps organize Harvard Model Congress and loves to read, knit, and spend time outside.

Adele Mah is a junior at Wellesley College majoring in Neuroscience. She is incredibly passionate about the implications of accurate neuroscience research and education to shape the legal system and advocate for a more just society. She desires to pursue a joint degree after graduation. In her free time, she enjoys dancing, editing videos, watching sunsets, and exploring new coffee shops.

Nika Rudenko is a sophomore at Harvard College concentrating in Integrative Biology and receiving her secondary in Psychology. She is passionate about exploring the intersection of law and medicine. On-campus, Nika is a facilitator for Life Sciences courses, which entails supporting fellow students in understanding and learning challenging scientific concepts. She is also a research assistant for the Radcliffe Institute program that focuses on ensuring justice and equity in clinical settings as psychiatry embraces data and artificial intelligence to treat mental illnesses. Outside of the classroom, she is a co-chair of the Intercollegiate Bussiness Conference committee for Women in Business, where she organizes various exploratory events to expose undergraduate women to real-life opportunities.

Emma Schultz is a rising second-year student at Boston College Law School. She has a BA in Chemistry and a minor in Science in Human Culture from Northwestern University. As an undergraduate, Emma worked in Professor Thomas V. O’Halloran’s research lab, and she currently serves as a section representative for the Health Law Society. Emma is interested in using scientific research to promote justice and equity in the law. In her free time, Emma enjoys swimming, reading poetry and memoirs, and exploring Boston.

Caitlyn Tabor, JD is a Master of Bioethics candidate at Harvard Medical School. She holds a JD from Albany Law School. Caitlyn teaches courses on the intersection of law and bioethics to MD and MA students at the Renaissance School of Medicine at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Caitlyn’s recent work in bioethics includes scholarship on access to care and considerations of justice in health care. She plans to expand her work into the realm of policy to achieve reform in the legal and medical spheres.

Student Research Assistants – Summer 2021

Ilham Abdalla Tagelsir Ali recently graduated from Harvard College with a Bachelor of Arts in History & Science and a secondary in Government. A native of Khartoum, Sudan, Ilham is deeply invested in constitutional reform in Sudan, social justice across the globe, and neuroscience that is relevant to law. Ilham has served as the co-chair for the Black Community Leaders and on the boards of Act on a Dream, the Harvard African Students Association, and the Black Pre-Law Association. Ilham hopes to pursue a Master of Philosophy in Socio-Legal Research before continuing to law school.

Mariah Bellamoroso recently completed her first year at Harvard Law School. She has a BA in Sociology and Anthropology from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, OR. Before law school, she worked as a science and technology writer in Seattle, WA. She is interested in bioethics and technology policy and criminal justice reform. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, hiking, and backpacking. 

Junchi Chu is a second-year master’s student at Brown CS, focusing on the design of Artificial Intelligence. He holds a BA in Pure Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of Maryland. He previously interned at a stock investment company in Shenzhen, China. He is also a writer and a part-time lecturer for an AI education company in Beijing. Outside of the classroom, Junchi loves fishing, playing basketball, studying stock investments, and writing his own novels. 

Heloise Evins-Mackenzie is a sophomore at Colby College, where she is pursuing majors in Biology (Neuroscience concentration) and Government. She has worked with people with serious mental illness and addictive disorders at Massachusetts General Hospital and has an interest in pursuing projects to increase the impact of psychiatric research on law and policy. In her free time, Heloise is an avid environmentalist and has started a nonprofit to fund research on coral reef renewal and conservation efforts in the Caribbean.

Annie Ilsley is a rising senior studying Neuroscience and Spanish at Duke University. Outside of class, she researches the neural basis of decision-making and conducts linguistic analyses of legal arguments in the Motivated Cognition and Aging Brain Lab at Duke. She is interested in combining the study of these areas in neuroscience and the legal system to illuminate how legal decisions are made. In the future, she plans to pursue a dual degree and apply her interest in neuroscience topics such as memory, the aging brain, and the developing brain to better inform policy and the justice system. Annie also enjoys volunteering as an English tutor for native Spanish speakers in the local community and in her free time, you can find her reading, hiking, or baking. 

Najet Miah recently graduated from Queens College with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Previously, she was a public health fellow for Bard Prison Initiative. There, she focused on the legal implications of New York’s Raise the Age legislation for violent adolescents in light of recent adolescent brain research. As a formerly incarcerated individual, Najet is passionate about reforming our criminal justice system to reflect the incredible human capacity for change. She believes that exploring the intersection of law and neuroscience is critical to achieving this reform, and she is excited to be directly involved with furthering this work at CLBB this summer. She intends to start a dual JD/Ph.D. program next year. In her free time, Najet likes to kickbox, write, and learn new languages. 

Alex Walker recently completed his first year at Harvard Law School. He holds a BA from Columbia University in Economics-Political Science and Linguistics. Prior to law school, he worked as a Spanish teacher and spent time volunteering as an ESL teacher. Outside of school, he enjoys rock climbing, conversing, and listening to audiobooks. 

Student Research Assistants – Spring 2021

Elizabeth Escalante is a rising senior at Tufts University majoring in Cognitive Brain Science with a minor in Computer Science. She has previously interned with the Department of Justice and worked with the Human Interaction lab at Tufts University, where she was part of an interdisciplinary project studying multitasking and driving. She loves to travel, and has studied in Talloires, France and Copenhagen, Denmark. At school, she is a director of the Junior Jumbos program, where she organizes a mentorship program between undergraduate students and preschoolers. She enjoys baking, reading, and drawing in her free time.

Katherine Fang is a second-year student at Yale Law School. She holds a BA in Global Affairs and Middle East Studies from Yale College. In law school, she co-runs the Capital Assistance Project, which pairs students with non-profit organizations on projects aimed at overturning the death penalty, and is a member of the Liman Project, a criminal justice advocacy and research clinic. Previously, she has worked providing legal aid to incarcerated individuals in Georgia. Outside of school, she pickles foods, figure skates, and keeps up her Arabic.

Ian Hayes is a third-year student at Harvard College where he studies Sociology and Global Health. Passionate about impacting underserved populations in both the fields of medicine and law, Ian plans to pursue a joint degree after graduation. Outside of the classroom, Ian interns at the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau at HLS, is a leader for the SoulFood Christian fellowship, and is involved with various other community service and cultural organizations. In his spare time, Ian enjoys singing, backpacking, and reading novels.

Shreyas Iyer is a sophomore at Harvard College, where he’s concentrating in Computer Science with a secondary in Economics. Shreyas is interested in the intersection of computer science and theoretical neuroscience, specifically using statistical models of the human brain to create and design intelligent systems. Outside of the classroom, Shreyas is involved in the Harvard College Consulting Group, enjoys playing tennis, and reads tons of non-fiction. 

Clarissa Kimmey is a second-year J.D. candidate at Yale Law School where she represents clients through the Worker and Immigrant Rights Advocacy Clinic and the Criminal Justice Advocacy Clinic. Before law school, Clarissa worked on cases challenging wealth-based detention and prosecutorial misconduct as an investigator at Civil Rights Corps and was a Fulbright scholar in Mexico. She is a graduate of Princeton University, where she studied public policy.

Layla Malamut is a first-year student at Yale Law School. She graduated from Princeton University in 2018 with a major in philosophy and a minor in cognitive science. She is fascinated by our understanding of human behavior and is excited to investigate how neuroscience can impact legal doctrine from contract law to compensatory damages. Layla is originally from Rio de Janeiro, is the youngest of five siblings, and loves to dance and choregraph.  

Madeleine Muller is a senior at Northwestern University majoring in Psychology and minoring in Legal Studies. She is particularly interested in the ways that neuroscience and psychology research can improve our legal system, especially to better serve and represent vulnerable populations. Prior to CLBB, Madeleine interned at De Novo Center for Justice and Healing where she worked to provide legal services to refugees seeking asylum in the United States. Outside of class, Madeleine mentors Chicago high schoolers through the college process and also enjoys playing on her intramural soccer team. Madeleine aspires to attend law school after graduation. 

Student Research Interns, Fall 2020

Ian Hayes is a third-year student at Harvard College where he studies Sociology and Global Health. Passionate about impacting underserved populations in both the fields of medicine and law, Ian plans to pursue a joint degree after graduation. Outside of the classroom, Ian interns at the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau at HLS, is a leader for the SoulFood Christian fellowship, and is involved with various other community service and cultural organizations. In his spare time, Ian enjoys singing, backpacking, and reading novels.

Sarah Lagan graduated from Harvard College in 2019 with a degree in Neurobiology and minor in History. She has worked in both child development and mental health research and is passionate about promoting youth and adolescent well-being through clinical research. Sarah is very interested in the potential of neuroscience to effect changes in law and policy and is thrilled to participate in this work with CLBB. In her free time, she loves to run, bake, and cheer on Boston sports teams.

Fenella McLuskie is a second-year student at Harvard Law School. She has a BA in Philosophy and Natural Sciences from the University of Cambridge and a Graduate Diploma in Law from City, University of London. While in London, she taught debate in prisons and represented children who had been expelled from school. She is interested in criminal justice reform, especially in alternative sentencing. A former college rower, Fenella spends much of her free time at the gym. She also loves languages and is currently learning Mandarin Chinese.

Jennifer Near is a junior at Harvard College concentrating in Neuroscience with a secondary in Global Health and Health Policy. She loves to learn about the intersection of cognitive science and public policy. She aspires to utilize her passion for scientific and psychological research to increase equity within the healthcare field, ultimately working to equalize the social determinants of health. On campus, Jennifer serves as the Co-President of Women in Science at Harvard-Radcliffe (WISHR), which aims to support diverse populations of undergraduates pursuing science degrees at Harvard. She is also the Secretary of Harvard’s chapter of the Foundation for the International Medical Relief of Children (FIMRC), through which she raises money to support health clinics throughout Central and South America. In her free time, Jennifer enjoys dancing with Expressions Dance Company at Harvard and discovering new books to read. She hopes to attend medial school after graduating from college.


Student Research Interns, Summer 2020

Elizabeth Escalante is a rising senior at Tufts University majoring in Cognitive Brain Science with a minor in Computer Science. She has previously interned with the Department of Justice and worked with the Human Interaction lab at Tufts University, where she was part of an interdisciplinary project studying multitasking and driving. She loves to travel, and has studied in Talloires, France and Copenhagen, Denmark. At school, she is a director of the Junior Jumbos program, where she organizes a mentorship program between undergraduate students and preschoolers. She enjoys baking, reading, and drawing in her free time.

Ian Hayes is a third-year student at Harvard College where he studies Sociology and Global Health. Passionate about impacting underserved populations in both the fields of medicine and law, Ian plans to pursue a joint degree after graduation. Outside of the classroom, Ian interns at the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau at HLS, is a leader for the SoulFood Christian fellowship, and is involved with various other community service and cultural organizations. In his spare time, Ian enjoys singing, backpacking, and reading novels.

Sarah Lagan graduated from Harvard College in 2019 with a degree in Neurobiology and minor in History. She has worked in both child development and mental health research and is passionate about promoting youth and adolescent well-being through clinical research. Sarah is very interested in the potential of neuroscience to effect changes in law and policy and is thrilled to participate in this work with CLBB. In her free time, she loves to run, bake, and cheer on Boston sports teams.

Fenella McLuskie is a first-year student at Harvard Law School. She has a BA in Philosophy and Natural Sciences from the University of Cambridge and a Graduate Diploma in Law from City, University of London. While in London, she taught debate in prisons and represented children who had been expelled from school. She is interested in criminal justice reform, especially in alternative sentencing. A former college rower, Fenella spends much of her free time at the gym. She also loves languages and is currently learning Mandarin Chinese.

Jennifer Near is a rising junior at Harvard College concentrating in Neuroscience with a secondary in Global Health and Health Policy. She loves to learn about the intersection of cognitive science and public policy. She aspires to utilize her passion for scientific and psychological research to increase equity within the healthcare field, ultimately working to equalize the social determinants of health. On campus, Jennifer serves as the Co-President of Women in Science at Harvard-Radcliffe (WISHR), which aims to support diverse populations of undergraduates pursuing science degrees at Harvard. She is also the Secretary of Harvard’s chapter of the Foundation for the International Medical Relief of Children (FIMRC), through which she raises money to support health clinics throughout Central and South America. In her free time, Jennifer enjoys dancing with Expressions Dance Company at Harvard and discovering new books to read. She hopes to attend medial school after graduating from college.

Kailey Nicholson is an undergraduate junior at Harvard College studying Neuroscience. Kailey works as an undergraduate research assistant at the Bilbo lab at MGH, which explores the role of neuroimmune systems in developmental disorders. Outside of the classroom, Kailey is an avid dancer, as well as a freshman mentor and peer counselor.

Job Okeri is an undergraduate senior at the University of Minnesota, where he is majoring in Global Studies and minoring in Business Law. When he is not at the Twin Cities campus, you can find him at the Minnesota Department of Transportation building, where he works as an intern for their legal unit. Job is fascinated by the workings of the brain and is interested in the legal breakthroughs that may result from a better understanding of neuroscience. Outside the classroom, he enjoys reading, writing poetry and playing basketball.

Ifeoma Okoli is a senior at Harvard University studying Psychology with a secondary in African American studies. Ifeoma is interested in the ways in which psychology (and adjacent fields, such as neurobiology) can be used to influence and create positive policy change for racial and social justice. On campus, she is involved with various cultural organizations including the Harvard Black Students Association and the Harvard Nigerian Students Association.



Student Research Interns, 2019-2020

Julia Hall is an undergraduate senior at the College of the Holy Cross, where she is majoring in Biology and minoring in Neuroscience. Julia works as a researcher in a Holy Cross cognitive neuroscience lab, which utilizes eye-tracking to explore how unconscious neural activity influences human behavior. Outside of the classroom, Julia is an avid gym-goer, the lead singer of a band, and a three-time orientation leader. Julia began working with CLBB as a summer 2019 RA and has continued working for the Center as one of its project managers.
Stacy Livingston is a first-year at Harvard Law School. She graduated from Dartmouth College in 2016 with majors in English and psychology, and is interested in finding ways to make the law more responsive to, and informed by, the realities of human behavior. Outside of class, Stacy also researches for the Access to Justice Lab at HLS, writes for the Journal of Law and Technology’s Digest section, solves crossword puzzles, and is (slowly) learning to play squash. 
Aldis Petriceks is an MD student at Harvard Medical School, where he is currently a Klingenstein Fellow in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Prior to Harvard he worked as a research and teaching assistant at Stanford University, where he taught anatomy and conducted research in medical education. He graduated from Kenyon College in 2017 with a BA in biology and a minor in Chinese, and is currently interested in psychiatry, health policy, and the integration of the two towards a more equitable and mentally healthy population.
Sina Sadeghzadeh is an undergraduate junior at Harvard College studying Neuroscience and Government. Sina has previously worked as an undergraduate research assistant at the Bellen lab in Houston, TX and as a legal intern at Cunningham Levy Muse LLP in Washington, DC. Outside of class, he rides with Harvard’s cycling team and is involved in cultural and community service organizations on campus.
Erin Shortell is a second-year student in Harvard’s JD/MPH program and a graduate of Harvard College, where she studied History and minored in Italian. Before law school, Erin worked as a paralegal at the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office and as a research assistant at the Harvard Department of Psychology, volunteering in her spare time at a Boston suicide helpline. Outside of school, she likes to practice Brazilian jiu jitsu, learn foreign languages, and read fiction.
Oliver Sussman is a junior at Harvard College currently taking a gap semester, during which he will be traveling and researching for CLBB. Oliver is pursuing a joint concentration in neuroscience and linguistics, and is fascinated by how advances in neuroscience can reshape our understandings and theories of human behaviors, be they individual (like language) or societal (like law). Outside of class, Oliver volunteers through Harvard’s Peer Health Exchange, coaches high school debate, and loves to run. After Harvard, Oliver hopes to pursue an MD-JD program and work to further cross-talk between the medical and legal disciplines.
Justin Wong is a sophomore at Harvard College joint concentrating in philosophy and neuroscience. At school, he is interested in how neuroscience and philosophical or societal concepts contribute to our understanding about the brain and ourselves. Justin is the research director for the Harvard Review of Philosophy and a board member for the Harvard Society for Mind, Brain, and Behavior and enjoys playing intramural sports for Dunster House.
Lois Yoo is currently a law student at Harvard Law School. She graduated from McGill University with a Bachelor of Science in Honours Neuroscience. Her undergraduate research examined the role of a circadian clock gene in the regulation of brain processes. After her first year of law school, she worked as a law clerk at the LA District Attorney’s Office in the cyber crime division. She is particularly interested in the legal and ethical issues arising from advances in neuroscience and other scientific disciplines. She also feels passionate about mindfulness meditation.

Research Interns, Summer 2019

Laura Drohan is a law student entering her third year at Boston University School of Law. She graduated from Stanford University in 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts in Human Biology and French Literature with departmental honors. After undergrad, she taught English in France, tutored, and worked as a volunteer legal assistant at the District Attorney’s Office in her hometown of Colorado Springs, Colorado. In law school, she is an Articles Editor and Peer Review Liaison for the American Journal of Law and Medicine and has worked as a legal intern at the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, and the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office. She plans to pursue a career in criminal prosecution, and her interest areas include juvenile justice, adolescent brain development, and criminal responsibility.
Regina C.E. Fairfax is a rising senior at Harvard College concentrating in Psychology with a secondary in English. She is currently pursuing her honors thesis for Psychology in the Richard McNally Lab for Emotional Disorders. At school, Regina mentors freshman on campus and tutors for Abnormal Psychology, is involved in Harvard Model Congress (HMC), a mock Congress conference that she helps run for high school students in Boston, San Fransisco, Asia, and Europe, interns at HLS’ Office for Public Interest Advising, and sits on the board the Small Claims Advisory Service (SCAS), a community service organization that provides free legal information to Massachusetts residents. She hopes to attend law school after graduating from college.
Ilai Gavish is an undergraduate at Harvard University planning to concentrate in neuroscience. He loves to learn about the brain and has a strong interest in cognitive science, philosophy, psychology, and linguistics. Ilai is particularly interested in the philosophical questions and insights that arise from neuroscientific discoveries. In addition to doing research, he works at Widener Library and runs with the Harvard College Running Club.
Julia Hall is an undergraduate senior at the College of the Holy Cross, where she is majoring in Biology and minoring in Neuroscience. She is particularly interested in the application of scientific research to the improvement of public and social policy. In pursuit of her senior honors thesis, Julia will be conducting research on nutrition education in United States medical schools in order to investigate  physicians’ lack of nutrition training despite the contribution of diet to chronic disease. Outside of the classroom, Julia is a researcher in a cognitive neuroscience lab, which utilizes eye-tracking to explore how unconscious neural activity influences human behavior, a three-time orientation leader, and the lead singer of an extracurricular band at Holy Cross.
Maha Al-Suwaidi is a recent graduate of Harvard College with a bachelors in Economics and minor in Psychology. She is very passionate about decision-making with a clinical focus; she has done research on other-directed harm at Joshua Buckholtz’s lab, the System of Neuroscience Psychopathology lab, and research on suicidal and/or self-injurious behavior at the Nock Lab, where she will continue to be a full-time Research Assistant. Her passion for psychological research stems from a passion to increase mental health equity and accessibility for vulnerable populations. She also volunteers at a juvenile center, and is passionate about working both on an individual and systemic level towards improving outcomes for youth in the juvenile system. Maha looks forward towards continuing this work through her position at the CLBB this summer.
Megha Majumder recently graduated from UC Berkeley and Harvard Medical School with degrees in Molecular Toxicology, Public Health, and Bioethics. Megha dedicated her academic and professional life to helping and to healing; to reinventing, subsidizing, and introducing modern health practices and technology to communities that would otherwise be unable to afford or even know about them. She plans to do a lot of quiet good, essentially. Megha will continue her graduate studies in medicine and neuropalliation as at the University of Cambridge sponsored by a Fulbright Schuman Innovation Grant and the Abbeyfield Foundation to explore issues at the intersection of neurodegenerative diseases and the pressing medico-ethical issues that arise at the end of life.