Director
Tiffany Ho, Ph.D.
Dr. Tiffany Ho is an Associate Professor and the Jeffrey and Wenzel Endowed Term Chair in Behavioral Neuroscience in the Department of Psychology. She holds a joint appointment in the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, and is a participating faculty member in the Brain Research Institute and Interdepartmental Graduate Program in Neuroscience (NSIDP) at UCLA. Dr. Ho studied Cognitive Science as an undergraduate at UC Berkeley before earning her Ph.D. in Psychology at UC San Diego. Dr. Ho returned to the Bay Area to receive postdoctoral training in clinical neuroscience at UC San Francisco in the Department of Psychiatry and in affective science at Stanford University in the Department of Psychology. From 2018-2019, Dr. Ho was an Instructor at Stanford University in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. From 2019-2022, Dr. Ho was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at UC San Francisco. Outside of the lab, Dr. Ho enjoys checking out open houses and new restaurants with her husband and two kids.
Study Coordinators
Cheryl Sun, B.A.
Cheryl graduated from UCLA in 2024 with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in statistics. Her research interests include how social factors influence the development, diagnosis, and treatment of psychological disorders. When not in the lab, she enjoys baking and traveling. Cheryl hopes to apply to a Ph.D. program in psychology and to conduct research on the neural bases of social and affective processes.
Postdoctoral Scientists
Dr. Katie Bessette
Dr. Katie Bessette is a postdoctoral project scientist in the CANDY Lab, and previously worked as a clinical trials therapist through the PCORI-funded Partners in Caring For Anxious Youth (PCAY) study, and continues to train as a pediatric neuropsychology fellow at the Medical Psychology Assessment Clinic (MPAC) in the Semel Institute. She received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Illinois Chicago in 2022, where she specialized in the neuropsychology of mood disorders in youth and young adults. Dr. Bessette completed her APA-accredited pediatric neuropsychology internship at UCLA. She uses a developmental psychopathology approach to understand the neurodevelopmental trajectories of mood disorders in youth, with a particular interest in multimodal interactions of cognitive control and mood regulation.
Graduate Students
Melanie Dratva, B.S.
Melanie Dratva (she/her/hers) is a rising third-year Clinical Psychology Ph.D. student at UCLA. She graduated in 2023 from UC San Diego with her B.S. in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience and a minor in General Biology. She is interested in neurobiological mechanisms underlying adolescent depression and anxiety as well as neuroplasticity, sex differences, and antidepressant treatment responsiveness. Outside of her research, Melanie enjoys traveling, crafting, working out, and spending time with friends.
Shiyin Liu, B.S.
Shiyin Liu (she/her) is a rising third-year clinical psychology Ph.D. student in the CANDY Lab. She graduated from Emory University in 2022 with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology (NBB). After college, Shiyin worked as a clinical research coordinator under Dr. Michael Treadway, studying the neuroscience behind avolition and anhedonia in depression. In her graduate studies, Shiyin is interested in exploring the development of depression from a social neuroscience perspective. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her dog, Bagel, trying new boba spots in LA, and binge-watching TV shows.
Anu Mummaneni, B.S.
Anurima Mummaneni (she/her) is a rising third-year Ph.D. student in NSIDP at UCLA. She graduated from the University of Chicago in 2024 with a B.S. in Neuroscience and worked with Dr. Monica Rosenberg applying predictive modeling to large data sets (ABCD, HCP). She is interested in the neural underpinnings of sleep and the mechanisms underlying sleep’s relationship with cognition and affect. Outside of the lab, Anu enjoys hiking, dancing, and looking for the best boba in LA.
Rotating Graduate Students
Nicolette Recchia, B.S.
Nicolette is a Ph.D. student at UCLA in NSIDP working under the mentorship of Dr. Shula Green. She received a B.S. at SUNY Binghamton in Integrative Neuroscience. She is interested in understanding how the brain regulates sensory and interoceptive information and how these neural computations go awry in individuals with autism and who engage in self-injurious behaviors.
Jessica Simonson, B.S.
Jess is a Ph.D. student at UCLA in NSIDP working under the mentorship of Dr. Stephanie Leal. She received a B.S. at UC Santa Barbara in Psychology. She is interested in understanding hormonal influences on hippocampal activation, structure, and associated memory-related processes.
Collaborating Graduate Students & Postdocs
Saché Coury
Saché is a Ph.D. student at UCLA in the Developmental area working under the mentorship of Dr. Jennifer Silvers. She received a B.A. in Psychology from Stanford University and worked with Dr. Ian Gotlib on a wide range of longitudinal neuroimaging studies examining the effects of early adversity and depression on adolescent brain development.
Jasper Laca
Jasper is an incoming Ph.D. student in Neuroscience at the University of Southern California. Jasper received a B.A. in Psychology from Occidental College and worked on a variety of developmental psychology and neuroimaging projects at UCLA, including several in the CANDY Lab. Jasper is particularly interested in developing novel methods to examine the topology and organization of functional brain networks to improve mechanistic understanding of depression.
Elizabeth McNeilly
Elizabeth received her Ph.D. student from the University of Oregon in Clinical Psychology working under the mentorship of Dr. Nicholas Allen. She is focused on understanding the effects of social media usage on adolescent brain development and mental health outcomes and leveraging passive sensing technology as a lens for assessing cognition and affect ecologically.
Amar Ojha
Amar received his Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh in Neuroscience working under the mentorship of Drs. Bea Luna and Cecile Ladouceur and is now a postdoc with Dr. Arielle Keller at the University of Connecticut to understand early life environmental factors shape the experience-dependent neurodevelopment of brain circuits that support affective and cognitive control processes.
Haley Wang
Haley received her Ph.D. student at UCLA in Clinical Psychology working under the mentorship of Dr. Katie Karlsgodt and is now a postdoc with Dr. Carrie Bearden. She completed her BSc at Beijing Normal University and MSc at King’s College London then worked at the Imaging Research Center at UC Davis before coming to UCLA. Haley is interested in using computational methods to map brain network heterogeneity with transdiagnostic symptom dimensions. Outside of the lab, she enjoys rock climbing, scuba diving, and spending time with her dog.
Volunteer Research Assistants
Golnaz Ahmadieh
Golnaz is a rising fourth-year Psychobiology major at the University of California, Los Angeles and her research interests include how cultural differences in family upbringing influence emotional expression, social relationships, and the onset of mental disorders during adolescence. She wants to explore how exactly cultural stigma and inadequate support from family members can worsen mental health among adolescents and their development into adulthood. She hopes to become a clinical psychologist! Outside of the lab, she loves listening to music, going to concerts, going on walks, and spending time with friends and family.
Hadi Alhoussayni
Hadi is a rising fourth-year Psychobiology major at the University of California, Los Angeles. As a pre-med student, he is interested in health equity and understanding how research can be used to improve care for underserved populations. More specifically, he hopes to better understand how brain, environment, and access to care interact to shape health outcomes across communities. Outside of the lab, Hadi enjoys biking, baking, and trying new restaurants around Los Angeles.
Candice Au-Yeung
Candice is a rising fourth-year at the University of California, Los Angeles, studying Psychobiology. Her research interests include how social and environmental factors directly influence biology, particularly at the neural level, and their consequent effects on the development of mental disorders. She is also interested in seeing how social processing is altered in individuals with depression, how social support and social networks affect recovery, and how different types of therapy influence responsiveness. When not in the lab, she enjoys reading and writing fiction, going on walks in nature, and exploring cafes. She intends to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and become a clinical psychologist.
Jordan Barrera
Jordan is a rising fourth year at the University of California, Los Angeles and is interested in areas such as social neuroscience and psychophysiology, especially how biological and social factors come together to influence behavior and mental health. She is also curious about the clinical applications of cannabis, women’s health, and neuropsychiatric disorders. She is drawn to research that helps us better understand how the brain and body interact, and how that understanding can lead to better, more personalized care. Her long-term goal is to become a pediatric orthopedic surgeon. Outside of the lab she is part of UCLA KIN and Music Mends Minds, and enjoys going outside, especially backpacking and hiking. At home, she enjoys baking and spending time with her siblings.
Shiyu (Shirley) Cao
Shirley is a recent graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles, and is interested in risk factors for mood disorders, specifically depression and anxiety; How stress affects adolescent development. She aspires to become a psychiatrist or enter the research field in psychiatry. Outside of the lab, she is part of a K-pop cover dance team at UCLA called KOREOS! She loves dancing, filming, video editing, food exploring, and cafe hopping with friends. She also loves traveling to new places and is working as a ER scribe at a local trauma center, as well as a crisis counselor at National Crisis Textline.
Sydney Di Lena
Sydney is a rising fourth-year Psychology major and Applied Developmental Psychology minor. She is especially interested in cognitive development and behavior across the lifespan. After completing her undergraduate degree, she hopes to continue her education and work towards earning a Ph.D. in clinical or developmental psychology. Overall, she hopes to contribute to research, and provide quality interventions that enhance mental health and well-being.
Hannah Fu
Hannah is a rising second-year at the University of California, Los Angeles, studying Psychology. Her research interests include emotional development, gender stereotypes, and mood disorders. After completing her undergraduate degree, she hopes to continue her education and work towards a Ph.D in clinical psychology with a focus on developmental psychology. Outside of the lab, she enjoys sailing, crocheting, and exploring new places.
Valerie Kuo
Valerie is a rising fourth-year at the University of California, Los Angeles studying Psychobiology. Her research interests include mental disorders and their treatments – specifically in adolescents. When not in the lab, she enjoys playing musical instruments, journaling, and volunteering at the Ronald Reagan Hospital.
Siobhan Nelson
Siobhan is a rising fourth year at the University of California, Los Angeles and is interested in neuropsychology and neuroscience, and hopes to become a clinical psychologist one day. She is also involved in two other labs (Lacoboni Lab and UCLA Parenting and Children’s Friendship Program), and serves as a board member for UCLA Psi Chi and UCLA’s Undergraduate Research Journal of Psychology. She enjoys listening to music and going for runs!
Aran O’Sullivan
Aran is a rising fourth year at the University of California, Los Angeles who is highly interested in mental health research, especially as it relates to developmental neuroscience. He hopes to attain a PhD in clinical psychology and one day practice as a licensed clinical therapist! Outside of the lab, he loves to sing, play tennis, hike, and he also plays Pokemon competitively! For on-campus organizations, he is involved with UCLA’s Community Service Coalition (CSC) and serves as a Ronald Reagan Care Extender.
Negin Poursoltan
Negin is a rising second-year at the University of California, Los Angeles studying Psychology. Her research interests include the evolution of mental disorders in correlation to trauma and adolescent development. Outside of the lab, she enjoys reading and spending time with family and friends. She hopes to utilize her experiences in ultimately pursuing a legal career after attending law school.
Kennedy Shultz
Kennedy is a rising fourth-year at the University of California, Los Angeles studying Psychobiology. Her research interests include clinical psychology and neuroimaging. When not in the lab, she enjoys reading and spending time with friends. Kennedy hopes to attend medical school and become a psychiatrist.
Huong Tran
Huong is a rising fourth-year at the University of California, Los Angeles studying Psychobiology. Her career aspirations are to become a nurse practitioner either in the psychiatry or labor and delivery. Outside of the lab she works as a medical assistant in the Podiatry field at the UCLA medical plaza. She is a part of BruiNecessities and MedLife. She likes working out at the gym, listening to music, and exploring new places!
Elaine Xu
Elaine is a recent graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles with a B.S in Psychology. She is especially interested in mental health related to reproductive events such as puberty, pregnancy, menstrual cycle, and menopause. Outside of the lab, she enjoys playing tennis, swimming, and trying out new recipes.
Dana Yang
Dana is a rising second-year studying Psychobiology. Her research interests include investigating the social and biological factors that impact psychopathology. She is interested in attending med school and studying psychiatry, or becoming a clinical psychologist. In her free time, she enjoys drawing, reading, and hiking.
Julia Zhang
Julia is a rising fourth-year at the University of California, Los Angeles and is studying Cognitive Science. Her research interests include behavioral sciences, social psychology, and developmental psychology. Outside of the lab she enjoys art, design, media, event organization, skiing, and going on walks with friends.
Dan Pham
Dan is a rising fourth-year at the University of California, Los Angeles and is interested in adolescent mental health and culturally responsive approaches to supporting youth well-being. Her research interests include how family relationships, stress, and social environments shape adolescent development. In the future, She hopes to pursue graduate training and build a career that bridges research, clinical practice, and community-based initiatives to support adolescents and young adults in Vietnam.
Outside the lab, she serves as the Executive Director of Active Minds, where she works to promote mental health awareness and create supportive spaces for students. In her free time, she enjoys journaling, video editing, curating playlists, and exploring new food and drinks!
Lauren Cheng
Lauren is a rising first year at the University of California, Los Angeles and her research interests center on understanding how early life experiences and its interactions with biological and environmental factors can influence health and well-being. Outside the lab, Lauren enjoys cafe-hopping, traveling, photography, and playing musical instruments.
Miles Tardif
Miles is a rising first year at the University of California, Los Angeles and is primarily interested in researching how social connection influences resilience following traumatic events, the physical and chemical influence of PTSD on the brain, and how problematic smartphone use influences emotional regulation. She intends to work as a Clinical Psychologist focused on treating PTSD using therapies such as EMDR and Somatic Experiencing. She loves spending my free time screenwriting, and she had fun participating in the 48 Hour Film Project as part of a film club. This year she got to see her short film screened at Filmapalooza in Lisbon! Outside of film, she loves to read and hike, with her favourite book being Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl.
Kayla Rashti
Kayla is a rising fourth year at the University of California, Los Angeles and is interested in neurodevelopment, psychopathology (especially OCD), women’s mental health and sex differences, the relationship between the mind and body, including inflammation and other biological mechanisms, and efficacy of treatment modalities. Her long-term goal is to build a career as a clinician while continuing to stay involved in research, using scientific findings to inform evidence-based clinical care. Outside of lab, she is involved in the Pediatric Aids Coalition, and UCLA’s Persian Sorority. She loves staying active, spending time with friends and family, and art.
Katie Mccarthy
Katie is a rising second year at the University of California, Los Angeles and is specifically interested in researching empathy and the way individuals’ experiences across the life course shape the way they interact with others. She is also interested in researching emotions, clinical diagnoses, and treatments. She is a part of Chinese Music Ensemble, BIOA, and Open Origins. She can play the cello and piano, and she loves animating.
Volunteers (Non-Undergraduate)
Audrey Whang
Audrey is interested in studying adolescent mental health, the neural basis of behavior, and how neurological and psychiatric disorders affect brain function. In the future she hopes to become a neuropsychiatrist. Outside of the lab, she enjoys painting, archery, taekwondo, and hanging out with friends. She is also involved in TeenLine at Didi Hirsch, and works at a local cafe.
Kendall Meinhardt
Kendall is a rising junior interested in researching the adolescent brain and development, especially topics related to mental health, substance use, and addiction. In the future, she hopes to study psychology or neuroscience, and her long-term goal is to pursue a career as a psychiatrist. Outside of the lab, she enjoys playing field hockey, baking, spending time with friends, and traveling.
Alumni
Check out our alumni page to see where they are now…!