scn lab
LAB DIRECTOR
Benjamin A. Tabak, Ph.D. is the Director of the Social and Clinical Neuroscience Lab and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at SMU. He received his B.A. in Psychology from Skidmore College and his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Miami. He also completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the UCLA Department of Psychology where he worked in the Social and Affective Neuroscience Lab, the Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Lab, and the Anxiety and Depression Research Center.
GRADUATE STUDENTS
Talha Alvi, M.A. is a fifth year graduate student in the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program at SMU. He received his B.S. in Psychology from the University of Texas at Dallas and his M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Teacher's College, Columbia University. Prior to joining the SCN lab, he held research positions at the UTD Center for BrainHealth, the National Institutes of Heath, and Columbia University School of Social Work. His research interests broadly include the neuropsychological and psychosocial aspects of mental health and their influence on psychopathology, particularly mood disorders. In the future, Talha hopes to practice as a clinician, while continuing research in these fields.
Cecile (Cici) Sunahara, M.Sc. is a third year PhD student in the Clinical Psychology program at SMU. Prior to joining the SCN lab at SMU, she completed her B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Psychology at McGill University, investigating the neurobiological and social cognitive underpinnings of human affiliation and prosociality. In the SCN lab, she aims to continue exploring the psychological and neurobiological mechanisms which support our ability to connect with others (e.g., the ability to accurately perceive and vicariously experience the emotions of others, the tendency to trust and to forgive others, as well as the capacity to regulate one’s emotions during interactions with others). She is particularly interested in examining the role of oxytocin and vasopressin in socioemotional processes relevant to psychopathology.
RESEARCH ASSISTANTS
Feaven Fasil is a rising sophomore from Dallas, Texas. She is majoring in Biology and Health and Society and minoring in Neuroscience and Psychology. She joined the SCN lab to broaden her research skills, and explore her interests in the blend of psychology and biology. After graduation, Feaven plans to go to medical school to become a neurologist.
Bhavna Singh is a sophomore from Longview, TX. She is on the pre-med track, double majoring in Biological Sciences and Health and Society with a minor in Psychology. Bhavna joined the SCN Lab to strengthen her research skills and learn about the overlap between psychology and biology. After graduation, Bhavna plans to attend medical school in hopes of becoming a surgeon.
Kiri Holck is a Sophomore from San Antonio, TX. She is on the pre-med track, double majoring in Biological Sciences and Spanish. Kiri joined the SCN Lab to gain research experience exploring the relationship between social cognition and behavior. After graduating, Kiri plans to attend medical school to become a surgeon.
Saam Shahandeh is a sophomore from Plano, Texas. He is double majoring in Psychology and Biological Sciences and minoring in Neuroscience. Saam joined the SCN Lab to further explore his interest in the relationships between cognitive science and biological processes, as well as strengthen his research skills. After graduating, Saam hopes to attend medical school to become a pediatric psychiatrist.
Celia Handing is a sophomore from Austin, Texas, pursuing a dual degree in Dance Performance, B.F.A. and Psychology, B.S. She joined the SCN Lab to gain more insight into the research practices in psychology. After graduating, she hopes to dance professionally, as well as get involved in Dance Movement Therapy.
Sophia Farlekas is a sophomore from Mendham, New Jersey. She is majoring in Mechanical Engineering. Sophia joined the SCN lab to further develop her research skills while being able to explore her interests in both psychology and the biology of the brain. Sophia is very excited to be a part of the lab and to see where the experience will lead her.
Lauren Dick is a sophomore from Columbus, OH. She is on the pre-dental track and majoring in biology with minors in neuroscience and psychology. Lauren joined the SCN Lab to strengthen her research skills and understand the connections between biology and psychology. After graduation, Lauren plans to attend dental school to become a dentist.
Saifiyah Zaki is a sophomore from Plano, TX double majoring in Psychology and Marketing with minors in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science. She joined the Social and Clinical Neuroscience lab to explore her interest in biological indicators of social cognition and behavior. She hopes to eventually contribute to improving diagnostic testing and assessment measures for social disorders.
Ruth Theodros is a junior from Huntsville, AL. She is on the pre-med track, majoring in Biology and minoring in neuroscience. Ruth joined the SCN Lab to strengthen her research skills and learn more about the connections between neuroscience, biology, and psychology. After graduating, Ruth plans to go to medical school to become a neurologist.
Conrad Small is originally from Lubbock, TX. He is currently a junior at SMU and is majoring in Electrical Engineering with a Biomedical Specialization on a pre-med track. He joined the SCN lab to explore the world of psychology. Through working in the lab, he hopes to gain research skills and to broaden his understanding of psychological concepts while simultaneously studying engineering.
Rachael Pham is a junior from Richardson, TX. She is majoring in Biochemistry on the pre-med track. Rachael joined the SCN lab to strengthen her research skills and learn more about how psychology and biology overlap. She hopes to attend medical school and work with underserved populations.
Thatcher Dunlap is a junior from Frisco, TX, and is pursuing majors in Psychology and Philosophy with minors in Neuroscience, Cognitive Science, and Computer Science. He joined the SCN lab to strengthen his knowledge of data collection and analysis and explore the cognitive processes at play in social decision making. His research interests are in social anxiety, moral psychology, and neuroethics. After graduating, Thatcher intends to pursue a PhD in cognitive psychology and continue to conduct social cognition research.
Meghana Gadde is a junior and comes to SMU from Frisco, TX. She will be pursuing a major in Biology on the pre-med track and hopes to also further her studies in Political Science, Psychology, and Neuroscience. Meghana originally wanted to get involved with the lab to further explore the intersection between biology and psychology and build off of her research experience in a sleep lab at the University of North Texas. She is ecstatic to be a part of the SCN lab, especially as a freshman, and cannot wait to see what her future in the lab has in store for her.
LAB ALUMNI
Adam Teed, Ph.D. was a Postdoc in the SCN Lab from 2018-2019. He is currently a Postdoctoral Associate in the Kahlsa Laboratory at the Laureate Institute for Brain Research (LIBR).
Stejara Dinulescu graduated in 2019 and is currently a PhD student in Media Arts & Technology at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Page Hurley graduated in 2019.
Aisha Ahmed graduated in 2019 and is currently a medical student at the Long School of Medicine at UT Health San Antonio.
Elena Skaribas graduated in 2019 and is currently a medical student at McGovern Medical School at UT Health.
Preston Cobb graduated in 2020 and is currently a software engineer at Fannie Mae.
Taylor Rients graduated in 2020 and is applying to medical school.
Sophia Deahl graduated in 2021 and is interested in becoming a dietician.
Drishtant Gupta graduated in May 2021.
Erin Kerwin graduated in 2021 and is currently applying to masters programs in Speech Language Pathology.
Miles Beattie graduated in 2021 and is currently a student in the masters program in clinical psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University.
Pranjal Chokshi graduated in 2021 and is currently a medical student at the University of North Texas.
Deemah Pulak graduated in 2022 and is planning on obtaining her MPH and MD.
Jaden Greenberg graduated in 2021 and is currently a research assistant at the Feinburg School of Medicine at Northwestern University
Jenna Semenova is currently a Junior at SMU and is majoring in Marketing.
Katie Neal graduated in 2022 and plans to apply to medical school.
Madison McMahan graduated in 2021 and plans to apply to Nursing programs in the near future.
Savannah Ostner graduated in 2021 and will be attending the Clinical Psychology PhD program at Arizona State University in the Fall of 2022.
Matt Hutnyan graduated in 2021 and will be attending the Clinical Psychology PhD program at UTSW in the Fall of 2022.
Joseph Smoot graduated in 2022 and is planning on applying to medical school to become a psychiatrist.
Hannah Sheard graduated from SMU in May 2022 and will be starting medical school at UTSW in the coming months.