Saaraa Aggarwal (she/her). I am a sophomore and an international student from India at the University of Minnesota. I am pursuing a degree in developmental psychology (BS) with a minor in family therapy. My research interests are firmly centered on investigating the intricate relationship between substance abuse and a disrupted environment and their impact on the development of psychopathological conditions in children. I plan to attend graduate school in clinical psychology.
Sophia Ahlborn (she/her). Sophia is a sophomore at the University of Minnesota, pursuing a Dual Degree with a Bachelors of Science in developmental psychology and a Bachelors of Arts in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies with a Chinese emphasis. Her research interests include the relation between psychopathology in children and drug addiction, depression, and anxiety. She will be graduating in the Spring of 2024 and hopes to attend medical school for psychiatry.
Sofiya Briguene (she/her). Sofiya is a senior studying Developmental Psychology and Sociology of Law, Criminology, and Justice (B.S.). Her research interests include behavior, parenting styles, and psychopathology. She hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology after graduating from the University of Minnesota.
Monique Foster (she/her). Monique is a senior from Rochester, Minnesota pursuing a Developmental Psychology (BS) degree with a minor in Family Therapy. Her research interests include how ACEs influence the development of psychopathology, the benefits of holistic treatments on anxiety disorders, and the social impacts of depression. She hopes to attend grad school for clinical psychology after graduation.
Lily MacNaughton (she/her). Lily is a junior at the University of Minnesota pursuing a degree in Psychology (BS) with an emphasis on leadership and genomics. Her research interests include the holistic view of psychopathology. She is currently working as a PCA where she aids to enhance the life of disabled individuals. She plans to attend graduate school and eventually pursue a career in genetic counseling.
Joseph McKnight. Joseph is a junior from Eagan Minnesota, with a major in Developmental psychology with a minor in public health. Joseph will graduate in spring of 2024, research interests are substance use, primarily FASD and how it affects different individuals, and plans to pursue a career in helping families who are affected by FASD.
Julia Porras (she/her). Julia is a senior from Eagan, Minnesota pursuing a Developmental Psychology degree with a leadership minor. Her research interests primarily lie in how ACEs and environmental disturbances can shape psychopathology in youth. She currently works with elementary-age children in a daycare setting and would love to work in a classroom setting after she graduates in the Spring of 2024.
Marissa Puser (she/her). Marissa is a senior at the University of Minnesota pursuing a degree in Psychology (BS) with a minor in Family Therapy. Her research interests include the relationship between social factors, adverse childhood experiences, and the development of psychopathology in children. After graduating in May 2024, Marissa will be attending UW-Milwaukee to pursue a masters degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.
Ellie Schwartzman (she/her). Ellie is a sophomore studying developmental psychology with minors in family violence prevention and family therapy. Her research interests include understanding how stress and early childhood environments influence a child’s developmental trajectory. She hopes to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology after graduating from the U.
Kiera Sharkey (she/her). Kiera is in her senior year at the University of Minnesota, where she is double majoring with BAs in Developmental Psychology and Sociology. Her research interests include internalizing and externalizing psychopathology, as well as social, emotional, and behavioral development in children who have had extensive medical treatments and experiences in hospitals. Kiera intends to attend graduate school and pursue a career as a Child Life Specialist after she graduates in Spring 2024.
Delaney Voor Vart (she/her). Delaney is a junior from Overland Park, Kansas pursuing a degree in Developmental Psychology (BS) with a minor in Family Therapy. Her research interests include how adverse childhood experiences impact the development of psychopathology, particularly in adolescence. After graduating in the spring of 2025, she plans to attend graduate school and pursue a career as an adolescent therapist.