The Team
Who We Are
Maria M.Galano
Lab director
Dr. Maria M. Galano is interested in how early-life exposure to violence affects mental health and development in diverse populations. The goal of her research is to understand how various environmental factors — including family context, social support, and experiences of racism and discrimination — impact exposure to violence as well as shape the development of PTSD and related disorders following exposure to various forms of violence. She then aims to translate these findings to improve the effectiveness of current evidence-based treatments for children with PTSD, as well as develop preventive interventions for children exposed to chronic violence. Outside of work, Dr. Galano enjoys baking, sewing, and spending time outdoors.
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Minji Lee
Graduate Research Assistant
Minji Lee is a PhD student in ViTAL Lab at UMass Amherst. Her research focuses on the effects of early life violence and trauma on children and families’ mental health outcomes. She is particularly interested in research tailored to reduce mental health disparities by addressing societal and cultural factors: marginalized identity (e.g., racial/ethnic minority, gender/sexual minority, refugee), perceived discrimination, and the acculturation process. Her current research is an inquiry into the extent to how racial climate and experiences of discrimination affect relationships between adverse childhood experiences, coping, and various mental health outcomes in young adults. She holds an MA and a BA in Psychology from Sungkyunkwan University. She enjoys cooking and good (and spicy) food, traveling, and musical theatre. She is also fascinated by all kinds of plants and flowers.
Ana Uribe
Graduate Research Assistant
Ana Uribe is a PhD student in the Clinical Psychology division at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst working with Dr. Maria Galano. Ana is primarily interested in the role trauma plays in the development of psychopathology in children and adolescents. Specifically, she hopes to better understand how intimate partner violence (IPV) exposure may contribute to the development of post-traumatic stress in youth. Ana is also interested in exploring the way that relevant trauma characteristics and appraisals may influence these symptoms throughout development. In her free time, Ana enjoys catching up with friends and family, listening to podcasts, and visiting new places.
Kristin Howell
Graduate Research Assistant
Kristin Howell is a Clinical Psychology PhD student in the ViTAL Lab at UMass Amherst. Primarily, Kristin is interested in understanding the link between early-life stress and psychopathology, with a particular focus on the etiology of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). She is motivated to think about how minoritized identity (along with the systemic and institutional realities it sustains) is relevant in the interplay of various risk and resilience factors that can either thwart or advance the development of psychopathology in the wake of intimate partner violence (IPV) exposure. Kristin hopes to champion community-based research that can provide evidence-based, culturally-responsive interventions for populations exposed to stress and trauma and better understand intergenerational transmission of risk to protect children from cycles of psychopathology and traumatic disruption. In her spare time, she loves reading, eating, and bingeing reality TV.
Anamaría Rey Bollentini
Graduate Research Assistant
Anamaría Rey Bollentini is a Clinical Psychology PhD student at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst working with Drs. Maria Galano and Evelyn Mercado. Her research focuses on how violence and trauma affect mental and physical health. Specifically, Anamaría is
interested in studying how dating violence impacts mental health among the Latinx community. She completed her bachelor’s degree in psychology at the University of Puerto Rico and her master’s in clinical psychology at Northwestern University. She was born and raised in Puerto Rico and is also half-Italian. Anamaría likes to bake, read, and travel in her free time.
Shaheed Abraham
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Shaheed Abraham is a senior undergraduate research assistant pursuing a BA in Psychology with a minor in the Arabic language and a certificate in Civic Engagement & Public Service at the University of Massachusetts Amherst . He is interested in clinical psychology and joined the ViTAL Lab as a member of the Research Assistant Mentoring Program, to develop skills and knowledge in research that aligns with his interests. Alongside studying the intricacies of various psychological disorders, his research interests include intergenerational trauma, trauma in early childhood and adolescence, and trauma concerning people from cultures that stigmatize mental health issues. He also works with the Amherst Survival Center, and In his free time enjoys skateboarding, reading, poetry, cooking, going to the gym, volunteering, and exploring nature.
Yasmeen Zureiqi
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Yasmeen Zureiqi is a senior Psychology B.A student in the Commonwealth Honors college. She plans to pursue a certificate in Criminology and Criminal Justice. Yasmeen is currently working on a publication based off of Resolution After Child Sexual Abuse with UMass Psychology Professor, Dr. Wilinsky. Her areas of interest include examining how the legal system impacts children, preventive measures towards protecting children in the legal system, and how adversity in childhood impacts adult mental health. Yasmeen joined the ViTal lab to get hands on experience from being in a lab, and is excited to learn from the other experienced RA’s around her. Besides this lab, Yasmeen is a teacher’s assistant for Adolescent Psychology and is enrolled in a Peer Mentor program with other Psychology majors. Outside of classes, Yasmeen enjoys going thrifting and garage sales, cooking, meeting new friends and traveling.
Isidora Carcamo
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Isidora is a junior Psychology major at UMass Amherst and a member of the Commonwealth Honors College. Born and raised in Santiago, Chile, Isidora joined the ViTAL Lab to learn how trauma and violence affect children and adults of diverse cultures and backgrounds. She is also interested in understanding the long term effects of traumatic events on children and alternative ways to treat PTSD. In the future, she hopes to go into the field of Clinical Psychology and work with children. In her free time, she loves to do yoga, read, journal, and spend time with friends.
Rou Chen
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Rou Chen is a senior psychology B.S. and pre-med student in the Commonwealth Honors College. She is interested in how childhood experiences can shape a person’s growth and development and influence their mental and physical well-being. Through the ViTAL Lab, Rou wishes to explore more about how violence and trauma can impact individuals of diverse backgrounds. Outside of the lab, she likes to watch movies, and she also works at the Edwin C. Gentzler Translation Center at UMass Amherst.
Talia Caloon
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Talia Caloon is a senior undergraduate student at UMass Amherst majoring in Psychology (B.S) and minoring in Biology and Sociology. She is interested in learning how trauma affects the brain primarily in children and understanding how it affects their development. She wants to find ways to help adolescents and adults dealing with trauma and PTSD. She is very excited to get lab experience with ViTAL lab and contribute to meaningful research. She hopes to continue research and pursue a PhD after graduating. Outside of ViTAL lab Talia works at the W.E.B. DuBois Library on campus and the eCampus Bookstore. Talia loves being outside and going on walks and hikes, spending time with friends and family and cooking in her free time.
Felicity Clamp
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Felicity Clamp is a senior undergraduate student majoring in psychology (BA) and a minor in sociology at UMass Amherst. Part of what drew them to the ViTAL lab was the importance of seeing research on trauma in diverse groups and engaging with community members. They are excited to learn from the team around them and get to see the research process. Their research interests are trauma in childhood and adolescence, IPV, and somatic therapy. Outside of the lab they enjoy painting, wood burning, thrifting, and watching shows.
Mariah Christopher
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Mariah Christopher is an undergraduate junior transfer majoring in Psychology (B.S) and English (B.A), with a minor in Japanese. She is interested in Clinical Psychology and plans to go to graduate school to pursue a career as a clinical psychologist. She is currently part of the RAMP Program, and this is her first semester in the ViTAL lab. She is interested in trauma and the long-term effects it has on the brain due to mental illness, and other traumatic events. Specifically, how and why those events seem to affect the brain the older you get, and why there seems to be a decline socially, and mentally due to past traumatic events. In her free time, she loves to workout, write poetry, play video games and journal. She is very excited and grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this lab and cannot wait to gain hands on experience and learn from her peers.
Kristina Pruitt
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Kristina Pruitt is a psychology (B.S.) major living in the Commonwealth Honors College. She plans on going to medical school to pursue a career as a clinical psychologist in the department of pediatrics. She is part of the RAMP program and is interested in learning about psychology research here on campus. Her research interest is in adolescent psychology and how childhood experiences and environment affect behavior. She is also interested in the rise of mental illness, especially after COVID-19, and how this has affected adolescent development. She is excited to be a part of the RAMP program to get hands-on experiences and learn about research through psychology. Outside the lab, she enjoys shopping, watching movies, eating, listening to music, and hanging out with loved ones.
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Kaitlyn Chavez
Undergraduate Research Assisstant
Kaitlyn Chavez is a sophomore undergraduate student at UMass Amherst. She plans to pursue a (B.A) in Psychology with a minor in Biology and a certificate in Social Work & Social Welfare. Kaitlyn joined the ViTAL lab as a member of the Research Assistant Mentor Program. And she is very excited to be able to gain first-hand experience to be able to develop her knowledge and skills in research. Her research interests include how early childhood experiences influence the development of psychopathology among adults. She also is interested the effects of mental health stigma affecting marginalized communities and looks for ways on reducing it. Outside of the lab, Kaitlyn is involved in FSA (Filipino Student Association) and KDC (K-pop Dance Club). During her free-time, she enjoys drawing, reading, listening to music, shopping, and spending quality time with her family and friends.
Riya Patel
Undergraduate Research Assisstant
Riya is a junior Neuroscience and Biochemistry double major! A little about her is that she is a RA for Lewis House, a peer advisor at the CNS Center, and a PLTL leader for organic chemistry. In her free time, she loves to draw, spend time with friends, and read. What drew her to this lab specifically was being able to connect with people from marginalized communities and be a part of a project that strives to understand the effects trauma has on the brain. I want to work in the mental health field (as a psychiatrist or psych PA), so being able to use the knowledge she gains from this lab and apply it to the patients she works with is super important to her. She is also super passionate about studying health inequalities, specifically how people of color and those who are low-income are impacted by our healthcare system.
Jessa Flores
Undergraduate Research Assisstant
Jessa Flores is a junior at UMass Amherst pursuing a Pre-Veterinary Science (B.S.) major, a Sociology minor, and a certificate of Social Work & Social Welfare. Jessa is interested in learning how cultural norms and expectations impact a marginalized individual's perception of and access to mental health care. Outside of the ViTAL Lab, she serves as a peer advisor for the Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences and she previously taught Animal Science 101 students as a teaching assistant. Additionally, she is co-treasurer of the mental health advocacy RSO Active Minds. In her free time, she enjoys playing the alto saxophone, video games, embroidery, and hanging out with her friends, family, and the many critters around campus.
ViTAL Lab Alumni
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Former Lab Members
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Stevaughn Smith, Lab Manager
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June Xin Ang, Undergraduate RA
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Obinna Asia, Undergraduate RA
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Yana Deeley, Undergraduate RA
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Alejandra Dilán, Undergraduate RA
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Lachelle Do, Undergraduate RA
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Fiona Fox, Undergraduate RA
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Yingxin Liang, Undergraduate RA
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Klarissa Lopez, Undergraduate RA
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Timiekka McCants, Undergraduate RA
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Nathaniel Price, Undergraduate RA
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Lila Rosendorf, Undergraduate RA
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Orin Rozenberg, Undergraduate RA
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Yae Hyun (Hannah) Song, Undergraduate RA
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Darla Sutton, Undergraduate RA
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Emmanuella Umoye, Undergraduate RA
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Chen Zou, Undergraduate RA
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Angela Cubias, Undergraduate RA
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Chizaram Asia, Undergraduate RA
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Chiao-Min Chang, Undergraduate RA
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Lanelle Garica, Undergraduate RA
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Kaitlyn Gatza, Undergraduate RA
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Raphaela Machado, Undergraduate RA
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Elizabeth Powers, Undergraduate RA
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Siddhi Sharma, Undergraduate RA
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Grace Traboulssi, Undergraduate RA
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Juliah Breen, Undergraduate RA
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Danielle Badoe, Undergraduate RA
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Kim Cruz, Undergraduate RA
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Sam Ford, Undergraduate RA
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Julianna Rocha, Post-Baccalaureate RA