Simay Inci Ipek graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. in Neuroscience and Psychology. At UPenn, she worked with Dr. Melissa Hunt on testing the acceptability and efficacy of a self-help mobile app for Irritable Bowel Syndrome patients called Zemedy. This mobile app delivered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to IBS patients and was compared to an educational and relaxation training control app designed by the research team. She also worked in Dr. Ayelet Ruscio’s Anxiety and Depression lab to investigate the behavioral manifestations of the comorbidity of Major Depressive Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. At MGH, Simay wishes to improve her research skills and knowledge on anxiety and mood disorders. After MGH, Simay hopes to attend a Ph.D. program in the field of Clinical Psychology.

Rachel Quist graduated from Dartmouth College in 2022 with a B.A. in Psychology and English. At Dartmouth, she worked as a research assistant under the supervision of Nicholas Jacobson, PhD, where she contributed to research on digital phenotyping for depression and the development and training of a generative AI mental health chatbot. At CORD, Rachel works under the supervision of Jennifer Greenberg, PsyD and contributes to her work on OCD and related disorders as well as research on improving mental health in children and adolescents. Rachel plans to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology and a research-focused career. Her research interests include the development and implementation of scalable mental health solutions, especially those that can impact children, adolescents, and underserved communities.

Peyton Miyares graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a B.A. in Psychology and minors in Spanish and Health and Society. At Carolina, she conducted a senior honors thesis on adversity and resilience among LGBTQIA+ young adults, as well as assisted on studies in Dr. Jonathan Abramowitz’s Anxiety and Stress Lab. Outside the lab, Peyton gained experience in clinical settings volunteering at the UNC Neurosciences Hospital and working for a psychology outpatient clinic. She was also involved in gender-based violence prevention work and received an award for her advocacy efforts on campus. Peyton’s overall interests are making research and care accessible to underserved populations, such as the LGBTQIA+ and LatinX communities. After MGH, Peyton plans to pursue a doctorate in clinical psychology and potentially work abroad.

Caroline Armstrong holds a B.A. in Psychology and English from Duke University, where she contributed to research on adolescent friendships and perfectionism. Prior to joining CORD, she spent two years at Georgetown University Medical Center coordinating a multi-site trial comparing the effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and escitalopram for the treatment of anxiety disorders. She also managed a study examining the physiological mechanisms of these treatments via the NPU threat test paradigm. Caroline plans to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology and a research-focused career. Her research interests include most topics related to anxiety and OCD/related disorders, especially: their etiology and developmental psychopathology more broadly; transdiagnostic risk factors, processes, and approaches to prevention; and dissemination and implementation of evidence-based treatments.

McKenzie Schuyler graduated from Tufts University with a BS in both biology and psychology. As an undergraduate, she worked as a research assistant in Dr. Catherine Freudenreich’s molecular genetics laboratory studying proteins and pathways that protect against chromosome fragility at DNA repeats. Following this, McKenzie was a Summer Scholar in the laboratory of Dr. Larry Feig investigating the role of Ras-GRF1, a protein implicated in the stress response, in activity-based anorexia and stress-induced alcohol intake in mice. Throughout her undergraduate career, McKenzie was also heavily involved in the Tufts chapter of Active Minds, an organization dedicated to increasing mental health awareness among students and promoting positive policy change on campus. Most recently, she worked for over a year as a Community Residence Counselor at McLean Hospital’s Klarman Eating Disorder Center providing direct care to young women with eating disorders. McKenzie currently works with Dr. Daniel Geller on studies of pediatric OCD and Tourette’s syndrome. After her time at MGH, she plans to attend medical school and explore a career in psychiatry or neurology.