Ashley Nechyba
Program Year: 2024-present
Lab/PI: Dr. Jennifer Thomas
Research Emphasis: Brain and Cognitive Science
Hometown: Miami, FL
Undergraduate School: University of Florida, Gainesville
Tell us something interesting about a research project you are working on: We are using Oura Rings to learn more about young adults with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
What do you do in grad school besides academics? Yoga, running, and reading books!
What are your current career goals and plans? Clinical psychology Ph.D.
What is something you learned during the program that you think others would also benefit from learning? I took the college teaching pilot course and really enjoyed it! I’ve taught at the preschool/elementary school level and I forgot how much I loved it.
What is your biggest piece of advice? Take the time to enjoy what you’re doing and San Diego! I moved a few times for school and my favorite thing to do is create a bucket list for whatever city I’m in. I never get to do everything because things fly by so quickly, but I’m always grateful for taking the time to try new things.
Share a fun fact that others might not know about: I worked for a lab near a lake with gators in Gainesville. The fence was broken…
Hector Reyes
Program year: 2023-present
Lab/PI: Lifespan Human Senses Lab, Dr. Claire Murphy’s Lab
Research Emphasis: Brain and Cognitive Science
Hometown: Calexico/Mexicali
Undergraduate School: Cal Poly – San Luis Obispo
Tell us something interesting about a research project you are working on: I was recently looking at group differences in cognitive and sensory abilities between carriers and non-carriers of a gene that increases the risk for Alzheimer’s Disease. I found that carriers actually performed significantly better than non-carriers on an olfaction test. It was interesting because I would expect those at higher risk to perform worse!
What do you do in grad school besides academics? I’m a member of the psychology department DEI committee and the WPA student representative for SDSU.
What are your current career goals and plans? My goal is to become a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist!
What is something you learned during the program that you think others in this program would also benefit from learning? Deadlines are real, and they move quickly so time management is key. Two years is not a long time!
What is your biggest piece of advice? NETWORK!!! Networking will open doors and get you places. Talk to your professors, go to office hours and always try to network.
Share a fun fact that others might not know about: I own six instruments: two acoustic guitars, one 12-string guitar, ukelele, electric keyboard, and an accordion!
Robbi Melvin
Program year: 2024-present
Lab/PI: Motivation & Social Identity Lab (Dr. Dustin Thoman)
Research emphasis: Social and Applied Psychology
Hometown: Toronto, ON, Canada
Undergraduate School: Colby College
Tell us something interesting about a research project you are working on: We’re starting a new study this semester focusing on the experiences of undergraduate and graduate research assistants, using an experience sampling method (i.e., daily surveys). We’re primarily interested in finding out how social experiences within research labs might shape students’ perceptions of their field and their future career plans.
What do you do in grad school besides academics? I enjoy working out at the ARC, swimming at the aquaplex, watching sports, and playing video games. I also like hanging out at the beach and driving along the coastline.
What are your current career goals and plans? As of right now, I plan to pursue a Ph.D. after I’ve finished this program, hopefully on the way to a faculty position somewhere. I really enjoy doing research and want to keep doing it! It would be cool to eventually lead my own lab and be a mentor for future students.
What is something you learned during the program that you think others in this program would also benefit from learning? You can get free headshots taken in the student union!
What is your biggest piece of advice? “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
Share a fun fact that others might not know about: The word “bed” looks like a bed.
Tori Walters
Program year: 2024-present
Lab/PI: The Collective Lab
Research emphasis: Mental and Physical Health
Hometown: Pomona, CA
Undergraduate School: University of Oregon
Tell us something interesting about a research project you are working on: I get to work with Teen help lines to improve their trainings.
What do you do in grad school besides academics? Bake A LOT
What are your current career goals and plans? Getting a Ph.D. and working in suicidology.
What is something you learned during the program that you think others in this program would also benefit from learning? The environment of where you work definitely helps with your productivity.
What is your biggest piece of advice? Its important to maintain good relationships with people in the field, depending on the size of the field you will definitely bump into people, your reputation matters.
Share a fun fact that others might not know about: I powerlift
Savannah Scarlett
Program year: 2024-present
Lab/PI: Brain Development Imaging Lab
Research emphasis: Brain and Cognitive Science
Undergraduate School: University of California, Santa Cruz
Tell us something interesting about a research project you are working on: I found that there are significant structural differences in a pathway responsible for social perception between children with autism and typically developing children!
What do you do in grad school besides academics? I conduct MRI scans to obtain neuroimaging data on participants for my lab’s research studies.
What are your current career goals and plans? I want to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology after I complete the Master’s program.
What is something you learned during the program that you think others in this program would also benefit from learning? I have learned effective strategies for time management. I use Google Calendar and write out To-Do lists that really help me structure my time efficiently.
What is your biggest piece of advice? Communicate with the people you work with as much as possible to ensure that everyone is on the same page about what contribution is expected from each person.
Share a fun fact that others might not know about: The Greek root of the word ‘arctic’ is ‘bear’. There are bears in the Arctic but not Antarctica, so they are literally named “Bear” and “No Bear.”
Nicole Nazareth
Program year: 2024-present
Lab/PI: Body Image, Sexuality, and Health (BISH) Lab
Research emphasis: Mental and Physical Health
Hometown: Singapore
Undergraduate School: Yale-NUS College, Singapore
Tell us something interesting about a research project you are working on: I am currently working on how body image outcomes are affected by adherence or lack of adherence to gender roles in sexual and gender minority men.
What do you do in grad school besides academics? My roommates are in the graduate opera and theatre programs and so, as a theatre kid myself, I love going to their shows! I also love exploring San Diego since I am new to the city (and country as a whole)!
What are your current career goals and plans? I would love for my career to be a mix of academia and clinical practice. Getting into a Ph.D. program is obviously the first step, but I would love to continue working in the realm of eating disorders in queer folk.
What is something you learned during the program that you think others in this program would also benefit from learning? It is okay to not know things! I came into the program feeling very insecure about not knowing information since I was switching my area of focus from sleep and cognition. But asking questions, even ones you think are “dumb” is not only accepted, but encouraged!
What is your biggest piece of advice? If you are scared to do something, that’s fine, just do it scared!
Share a fun fact that others might not know about: I had a sailing license for a bit as a teenager!