Megan McDaniel (She/Her)
Email: memcdaniel2@wisc.edu
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.
Huda Ahmed (she/her) is a first year M.S. student in the Data Science in Human Behavior (DSHB) program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Prior to joining the ASSIST Lab in 2024, she received her B.S. in Psychology from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, where she worked as a research professional at the Minnesota Alcohol and Pain Lab (MAPL) and as an undergraduate research assistant at the Research on Adolescent Depression (RAD) Lab. After completing her master’s degree, she hopes to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology to research suicidal ideation in the Muslim community, as well as to develop culturally and religiously informed interventions for the same. In her spare time, she likes watching TV shows, traveling and watching sunsets outdoors.
Maya McPolin (All pronouns)
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.
Jenna Chapman (she/her)
I joined the lab in spring of 2025. I’m a sophomore psych major, and I plan to pursue my doctoral degree in psychology (PsyD) after graduating from UW-Madison. Outside of the lab, I enjoy figure skating, making Spotify playlists, and spending time by the water.
Isabelle Liermann (she/her/hers)
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.
Saskatoon Damm (he/him)
Saskatoon joined the ASSIST Lab in 2024. He is majoring in Neurobiology and Psychology and enjoys learning about innovative mental health interventions for suicidal ideation. Outside of academics, he is interested in sports and music.
Jacob Sinai (he/him)
Links: Website
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.