Staff & Research Assistants

Megan joined the ASSIST Lab in 2024 as the Lab Manager. She earned her B.A. in Psychology at the University of California, Berkeley. Prior to joining the lab, she worked in research at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and San Francisco Department of Public Health. Her research interests are exploring temporal and interpersonal risk and protective factors for suicidal thoughts and behaviors and self-injury among marginalized populations. In her spare time she enjoys playing video games, attending concerts, and spending time with her two dogs, Simba and Churro.

Maya is a senior undergraduate research assistant who joined the ASSIST lab in early 2025. They are a psychology and English literature double-major who plan to pursue a Master’s degree in psychology and, eventually, a PsyD. Outside of human behavior, their passions include doodling in the margins of their class notes, writing various short stories, watching race cars, and making lots of noise on their beloved motorcycle.

Isabelle is a recent addition to the ASSIST Lab, having only joined in 2025. She is currently double-majoring in Psychology and Gender & Women’s Studies. She is on track to graduate early and hopes to get into a PhD program where she can continue her work in the realm of psychology. In her free time she enjoys writing, listening to music, and daydreaming.

Jacob Sinai is an undergraduate student at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he is pursuing a major in Psychology and a minor in Philosophy. He joined the ASSIST Lab in 2024, where he contributes to ongoing research focused on advancing mental health treatment and support systems. Jacob is passionate about understanding the human mind and behavior through both scientific inquiry and philosophical reflection.

Looking ahead, Jacob plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with the goal of becoming a licensed therapist. He is particularly interested in working with adolescents and young adults, and hopes to integrate evidence-based therapeutic practices with a compassionate, individualized approach to care.

Outside of his academic and research pursuits, Jacob—who also goes by Jake—enjoys a wide range of hobbies. He loves experimenting in the kitchen by cooking new and creative dishes, and finds playing the piano to be a relaxing and expressive outlet. Jake also values spending time in nature, whether it’s hiking, biking, or simply enjoying the outdoors, and he cherishes quality time with friends.

Carl joined ASSIST in Spring 2025. He will be starting his second year at UW this fall, where he will continue his major in Psychology. After undergrad, he hopes to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology and pursue a mix of therapy practice and scientific research. In his spare time, he enjoys watching movies and TV shows, and always has a pair of earbuds in for his Spotify playlists.

Iman joined the lab in Spring 2025 and is currently an undergraduate student double-majoring in Psychology and Legal Studies. She plans to purse law school in the future, with a focus on policy support in the mental health sector. She is especially passionate about understanding factors such as social connection and their connection to mental health, with an emphasis on minoritized communities. She’s also interested in at-risk prison populations, particularly in relation to mental health, and developing policy-embedded interventions. In her spare time, she loves roller skating, making jewelry and doing henna.