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Hannah Apostolou
Graduate Student College of Arts & Sciences Psychology
Research Expertise: “Cognition and Brain Structure Loneliness”
I am a fourth-year graduate student in the geropsychology concentration. I am originally from Michigan and received my B.S. in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience, at the University of Michigan. I am interested in how social factors contribute to changes in brain structure and cognitive outcomes.
Mentor(s): Ian McDonough and Lindsey Jacobs
Michael R. Buxton
Graduate Student College of Arts & Sciences Psychology
Michael’s main research interests involve prevention and treatment of substance use and suicidality in older adults, professional geropsychology training and practice, and intersectionality, identity, and transitions in later life. Michael is a PhD student in the Clinical Geropsychology program at The University of Alabama. He was born and raised in England but moved to Florida several years ago. He graduated from the University of South Florida with a BS in Aging Sciences and Behavioral Healthcare. After graduating, he worked in the department of Mental Health Law & Policy at USF and was involved with a NIMH-funded behavioral activation study for depression in older adults. Since moving to Alabama, Michael has been involved with several projects with mentors Dr. Rebecca Allen and Dr. Lindsey Jacobs. Apart from interests in aging research, Michael is a big foodie and enjoys a good sense of humor.
Mentor: Dr. Rebecca Allen
Phatt Thaitrong
Registered Dietitian College of Human Environmental Sciences Department of Human Nutrition and Hospitality Management
Research Interests: Human Nutrition; Geriatric Nutrition, Gerontology, Nutrition Management, and Chronic Diseases; Public Health, Community, and Public Health Nutrition; Heath, Mental, and Spiritual Wellness
I am an international student from Thailand. I am also a registered dietitian. I am particularly interested in working with the aging population. As the aging population is rapidly increasing, it is important to understand the process of aging and develop the best nutrition and health care for them to “age” into good health. My passion about aging and nutrition made me want to gain more in-depth education and experience in geriatric nutrition. I am interested in older adults, dementia, geriatric nutrition, and qualitative research studies.
Mentor: Dr. Joy Douglas
Regina George
Doctoral Student College of Arts & Sciences Psychology
Research Interests: Quality of care in nursing homes, care giving
Regina George is a doctoral student in the Ph.D. Clinical Psychology program at the University of Alabama. Her research interests include quality of care in nursing homes, care giving, and creativity and aging.
Mentors: Dr. A. Lynn Snow, Dr. Michelle Hilgeman
Shayne Lin
Ph.D. Student College of Arts & Sciences Psychology
Research Interests: Neuropsychological assessment and neurobiological underpinnings of dementia
Shayne Lin is currently a fourth-year clinical psychology Ph.D. candidate at the University of Alabama, who specializes in clinical geropsychology. Shayne’s primary research interest focuses on the neuropsychology and neuroscience of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Shayne will be moving onto a clinical neuropsychology internship at University of Missouri for training in neuropsychological assessment for older adults.
Mentors: Rebecca Allen; Ian McDonough
Sorour Sarihi
PhD student College of Human Environmental Sciences Human nutrition
Research Interests: neurodegenerative diseases, nutritional interventions, and dietary patterns
I had my master’s degree in Nutrition from Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. I am a Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist with experience and training in medical nutrition therapy in Iran and have worked as a chief dietitian at general hospitals.
Mentor: Dr. Amy c Ellis
Tim Ly
Graduate Student College of Arts & Sciences Psychology
Research Interest: Cognition, medical decision-making, cultural and contextual factors influencing cognitive aging trajectories
I am currently a graduate student in clinical geropsychology working with Dr. Rebecca Allen. My research interests involve understanding how different cultural and contextual factors influence cognitive aging trajectories across the lifespan, how these factors influence medical decision-making in later life, and how to integrate these factors into developing culturally salient and sensitive interventions for an increasingly diverse older adult population.
Mentor: Rebecca S. Allen
Valerie E. Luskey
Graduate Student College of Arts & Sciences Psychology
Research Interests: Valerie’s main interests involve serious mental illness, capacity, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in older adults.
Valerie E. Luskey, B.S., is a graduate student in the Clinical Geropsychology program at the University of Alabama. Before coming to Alabama, she worked at the Minneapolis VA in research investigating treatments for veterans with PTSD, and she worked at the Cajal Institute examining the link between social hierarchy and the CA2 region of the hippocampus. She graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2016. Valerie has a love for Alabama’s nice weather, her plants, and her cat, Enoch.
Mentors: Lindsey Jacobs and Rebecca Allen
Heaven Cauble
Graduate Student College of Arts & Sciences Psychology
Research Interests: decision-making, risk-taking, Alzheimer’s Disease, health and cognition
Heaven Cauble is a second-year doctoral student in the Cognitive Psychology concentration working with Dr. Sheila Black. She received her BS in psychology with a minor in biology from the University of Alabama in 2021. Her primary research interests include decision-making, Alzheimer’s Disease, and the effects of health on cognition in older adults. She is also interested in health disparities and cognition across cultures. Outside of research, she enjoys traveling, DIY projects, and cheering on the New Orleans Saints!
Mentor: Dr. Sheila Black