Abbie Shannon
Abbie is an undergraduate at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, double majoring in Psychology (B.S.) and Medical Anthropology with a minor in Neuroscience. As someone who loves working with children and is interested in learning about how different life experiences affect mental health and aspects of child development, she is so excited to join the CIRCLE Lab. After graduation, Abbie hopes to attend graduate school and pursue a career in the healthcare field. In her free time, Abbie enjoys going on walks, playing piano, and swimming. (Pronouns: she/her/hers)
Anushree Ramanujam
Anushree Ramanujam is an undergraduate at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is from Concord, NC and is majoring in Neuroscience on the pre-med track. She is excited to join the Circle Lab and explore clinical psychology. She is interested in gaining hands-on experience in a research setting and furthering her knowledge in neuroscience and psychology. (Pronouns: she/her/hers)
Aria Merrill
Aria Merrill is an undergraduate at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill majoring in Neuroscience and Chemistry with a minor in Philosophy. Originally from Washington, D.C., she hopes to one day earn her MD-PhD and pursue a future at the intersection of pediatric neuroscience and trauma. Her research passions lie in understanding how adverse childhood experiences shape brain development, with a special interest in the epigenetic mechanisms that may underlie generational trauma and their implications for long-term mental and physical health outcomes. Aria’s primary love has always been working with children, and she is eager for a career that serves them both clinically and through research & advocacy. In her free time, she enjoys curling up outside with her philosophy readings, mentoring young students, and exploring Chapel Hill coffee shops.
Ché McDowell
Ché McDowell is an undergraduate at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, double majoring in Neuroscience and English & Comparative Literature. She is interested in utilizing her passion for mental health to study how traumatic experiences during early childhood impact behavioral and neural development long term. In the future, she plans to expand upon this passion in graduate school, where she hopes to study the specific impact of gun violence on development for minority youth before applying what she has learned to the betterment of future generations as a professor. She is very excited to have the opportunity to learn and further nurture this goal through the CIRCLE lab. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies, spending time with loved ones, and continuing to write her science fiction novel! (Pronouns: she/her/hers)
Kate Drury
Kate Drury is an undergraduate at UNC Chapel Hill majoring in Neuroscience. She is from New Orleans, Louisiana and is very excited to join the CIRCLE Lab team! She has been interested in neuroscience since she volunteered on a medical mission trip in Mexico during which she noticed that mental health was one of the primary health problems and that there were too few healthcare providers who focused on the brain and mental illness. She is looking forward to expanding her understanding of the brain, neurology, and the links between early experiences and later cognitive function. In her free time, she loves playing and watching soccer, listening to music, and running. After college, she hopes to eventually attend medical school and become a Neurologist or Cardiologist.
Katherine Agudelo-Marin
Katherine Agudelo-Marin is an undergraduate at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, majoring in Psychology with a minor in Neuroscience and Education. She is interested in child psychology focusing on developmental disorders. She is excited to joining the CIRCLE Lab to broaden her understanding of how life experiences affect brain development. After graduating, Katherine plans on earning her Psy.D in Child Psychology and advance doing clinical work. In her free time, Katherine loves to cook, listen to music, and spend time with friends and family. (Pronouns: she/her/hers)
Pranav Swarna
Pranav Swarna (he/him/his) is an undergraduate pursuing a major in Neuroscience (B.S.) with minors in Biology and Data Science. He has always been interested in human development and has found deep interest in studying trauma and/or mental illness as he progressed through his journey of higher education. He is excited to join the CIRCLE Lab and contribute to the team, while also furthering his knowledge of child development and gaining hands-on experience in a professional research environment. After he graduates, he hopes to pursue further education and a career in the field of cardiology or neuroscience as a surgeon.
Rahiem Brooks
Rahiem Brooks is a transfer undergraduate at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, majoring in Psychology (B.A.) and double minoring in Neuroscience and History. Originally from Philadelphia, PA, Rahiem is passionate about child development and is particularly focused on creating educational resources to support early childhood learning. His current research interests center on developing an Early Childhood Education Kit for children aged 0-5 years, specifically aimed at helping parents and caregivers from low-income and underserved communities prepare their children for kindergarten. This project aligns with his broader aspiration to promote resilience, well-being, and educational equity for children in marginalized communities. After graduation, Rahiem plans to pursue graduate studies in psychology, with the goal of becoming a tenured professor and continuing his work on developmental psychology and educational preparedness. In his free time, Rahiem enjoys spending time with his two children and is an avid reader with a particular interest in history. (Pronouns: he/him/his)
Ria Patel
Ria Patel is an undergraduate at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill pursuing majors in Neuroscience and Biology along with a minor in Medical Anthropology. Ria has a strong passion for working with children, especially with those who have neuropsychological disorders. Ria is enthusiastic and excited to join CIRCLE Lab, where she hopes to gain insight into the world of research, collaborate with motivated peers, mentors and doctors as well as first-handedly get to understand the complexities of child cognitive development. Ria hopes to attend medical school where she can explore clinical approaches to treating and alleviating the effects of neuropsychological disorders in children to improve educational experiences.
Saakshi Patel
Saakshi Patel is an undergraduate at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill pursuing majors in Neuroscience and Information Science along with a minor in Chemistry. Saakshi is currently working at the UNC Medical Center and has a strong interest in the relationship between life experiences, brain development, and behavior. She is excited to join the CIRCLE Lab to explore how early environments and experiences—such as stress, adversity, and substance use—affect cognitive and emotional development. Saakshi is passionate about neuroscience and hopes to build on her current research experience by learning more about neuroimaging methods and child development. She hopes to attend Physician Assistant (PA) school in the future to further her ability to integrate clinical practice with research-informed care, particularly in underserved populations. Through CIRCLE Lab, she looks forward to contributing to meaningful research, collaborating with a motivated team, and gaining insights that can support more effective, evidence-based care for children and adolescents. In her free time, Saakshi enjoys watching romance movies, walking outdoors, and cooking. (Pronouns: she/her/hers)
Sharon Mabasa
Sharon is an undergraduate at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill majoring in Neuroscience with a minor in Chemistry. She is excited to combine her interests in developmental psychology, health, and the brain as she joins the CIRCLE Lab. Sharon is especially eager to explore how early childhood adversity may impact long-term health outcomes and the various observable mechanisms within the brain that can be further analyzed. After college Sharon hopes to attend medical school and specialize in neurology. (Pronouns: she/her/hers)