I am currently a postdoctoral associate at the Child Development Lab directed by Dr. Nathan Fox in the University of Maryland. I received my doctoral degree in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro. I completed my master of science degree in Clinical Community Counseling at Johns Hopkins University and my bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education at Bogazici University. I investigate how the caregiving context (e.g., caregivers’ self-regulation, personality, parenting) and children's own characteristics (e.g., temperament, autonomic regulation) play a role in the development of children’s self-regulation and mental health problems. My current research is supported by the National Institute of Mental Health. When I'm not doing research, I play with my 2 fluffy cats, play tennis, travel, and go to concerts (when COVID is not on the rise). 

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I graduated from The Catholic University of America in 2022 with a B.S. in Psychological and Brain Sciences and a minor in Philosophy. As an undergraduate, I was a research assistant in the Positive Development Lab, where I assisted on a project that explored the relationship between personality, physiology, and risk-taking behaviors in young adults. Within the Positive Development Lab, I also completed a senior thesis project focusing on behavioral inhibition and emotion regulation strategies of toddlers in the presence of fearful stimuli. Outside of my University lab as an undergraduate, I also interned for the Developing Brain Institute at Children’s National Medical Center, researching the effects of maternal prenatal stress, depression, and anxiety on the infant’s developing brain. Currently, I am a faculty research assistant working on the Mother-Child Dynamics in the Transmission of Social Anxiety study. In the future, I plan to pursue a PhD in Neuroscience

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Hello! My name is Rasheedah Geneste and I am currently studying psychology. I am also an undergraduate RA on the mother-child dynamics study at the Child Development Lab. One of my most significant research interests is how parental behavior can influence a child's behavior, which is why I am excited to be on this team! A  few fun facts about me are that I am about to become a first-time aunt, my family is from Haiti and I love collecting plants. 

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Hi! My name is Krita and I am a sophomore psychology major at UMD. I am a research assistant working on the mother-child dynamics study in the Child Development Lab! A future career goal of mine is to get a PhD in neuropsychology, and a research topic that fascinates me is fetal microchimerism. I love crocheting, painting,  cooking, and watching anime, and a fun fact about me is that I’m currently rewatching New Girl for the fourth time.

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Hello! I am an undergraduate research assistant working on the Mother-Child Dynamics study in UMD's Child Development Lab. I am a sophomore pursuing a bachelor's degree in Psychology with a minor in Human Development. In the future I hope to continue researching child development along with working towards a PhD in Psychology to become a Clinical Psychologist. In my free time I love to paint, crochet, read, go on hikes, and explore new culinary recipes. I also have a green thumb and have a passion for propagating plants!

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Hi! I’m a sophomore research assistant working on the Mother-Child Dynamics study in the Child Development Lab at the University of Maryland. I am pursuing a B.S. in Psychology, as well as a minor in Survey Methodology. In the future, my goal is to attain a PhD in social psychology in order to continue learning about the interpersonal relationships and underlying mechanisms that guide people's behaviors. In my free time I am involved in many extracurriculars. I am an active member of the sorority Alpha Xi Delta, I work at Ritchie Coliseum - a gym on campus, and I am an ambassador for the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences.  

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Hello! My name is Aamna and I am currently working on the study regarding mother-child dynamics and children's social learning as a research assistant here at the Child Development Lab! I am a sophomore at the University of Maryland on the pre-med track. I plan to one day go into the field of psychiatry or surgery. Outside of research, I love going to cafes, shopping, and watching movies! 

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Hi! I'm a junior research assistant working in the mother-child dynamics study in the Child Development Lab. I am a Biology major with a Human Development minor. My research interests include children's mental health and what factors have an influence on their behavior and development. After graduation, I hope to attend medical school and become a Psychiatrist. Some fun facts about me are that I am an amateur artist and love to cook!

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Hi! My name is Shaina and I am a research assistant working on the mother-child dynamics study in the Child Development Lab. I am a junior psychology and human development double major at UMD. In the future, I want to continue my education to earn a PhD in Child Psychology. In my free time, I enjoy reading, cooking, going on walks, hanging out with my friends and watching tv.

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