The Fani Lab Fam.

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Dr. Negar Fani

Negar Fani, PhD, ABPP is a clinical psychologist specializing in neuropsychology. She is a tenured Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at Emory University, where she also serves as Associate Vice Chair of Translational Research and Director of the Temporal Interference Neuromodulation Program. She is an affiliate faculty of the Emory Neuroscience and Molecular and Systems Pharmacology Graduate Programs. Her clinical work and research centers around helping people with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), with a focus on those who have experienced interpersonal trauma. She is passionate about using various technologies—from sternal vibration to a form of non-invasive deep brain stimulation, temporal interference—to boost treatment response. She targets problems with attention and emotion regulation, issues faced by many trauma-exposed people.

 

POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW

Dr. Joshua Brown

Joshua Brown, Ph.D., joined the Fani Lab as a post-doctoral fellow in August 2025. Dr. Brown received his Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Florida State University under the mentorship of Dr. Wen Li, and continued as a postdoctoral fellow in the Li lab at UTHealth in Houston, Texas. His current research utilizes temporal interference as a novel non-invasive brain stimulation technique to modulate the neural bases of fear and anxiety disorders, including PTSD. Additionally, Dr. Brown has research experience using concurrent EEG, fMRI, and transcranial electrical stimulation to investigate fear memory, PTSD, and pain.

 

POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW

Dr. Spencer Kinsey

Spencer Kinsey, Ph.D. joined the Fani Lab as a Postdoctoral Fellow in September 2026. Dr. Kinsey completed his Ph.D. in Neuroscience at Georgia State University under the mentorship of Drs. Vince Calhoun and Armin Iraji with a focus on data-driven analyses of human fMRI data. Prior to earning his Ph.D., Dr. Kinsey completed his M.A. in Philosophy at Georgia State University under the mentorship of Dr. Daniel Weiskopf with a specialization in neurophilosophy. His current work focuses on temporal interference neuromodulation and the ongoing development of novel multivariate neuroimaging analysis methods to further the discovery of brain systems and associated clinical biomarkers.

 

GRADUATE STUDENT

Sara Guedez Saurez

Sara Guedez graduated from Georgia State University in 2025 with a B.S. In Neuroscience. She is a rising second-year student in Emory's Neuroscience PhD Graduate Program. Her interests include investigating neural signatures of interpersonal trauma, physiological and molecular biomarkers of PTSD, brain-body connectivity, and investigating non-invasive techniques to boost treatment response in trauma-exposed people.

 

RESEARCH COORDINATOR

Rachel Jones

Rachel graduated from the University of Georgia in 2025 with a B.S. in Psychology, a concentration in Neuroscience, and a minor in Statistics. Her primary research interests include trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, and the use of neuromodulation as a treatment approach for psychological conditions.

 

RESEARCH COORDINATOR

Alisha Sylvester

Alisha Sylvester graduated from Georgia Southern University in 2024 with a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Human Development. Her primary research interests include neuro-translational research examining how sociocultural, physiological, and neural factors shape psychopathology risk and recovery, with a focus on marginalized communities affected by trauma and socioeconomic adversity. 

 

PSYCHOLOGICAL SPECIALIST

Taylor Shade

Taylor graduated from Emory University in 2020 with a B.S. in neuroscience. She has worked in epilepsy research for 5 years at Emory focusing on epilepsy, memory, language, and cognitive function, particularly understanding how seizures and epilepsy surgery affect brain function. She is also a cognitive coach for the HOBSCOTCH program providing CBT for those with epilepsy and memory issues. 

 

NEUROIMAGING ANALYST

Timothy Ely

After completing his BA in Chemistry at Duke University in 1982, Tim worked as a research specialist under Clinton Kilts, Ph.D. and Jonathan Davidson, M.D. in the Department of Psychiatry at Duke. The focus of this laboratory was mainly on dopamine and neurotensin systems and their involvement in schizophrenia, depression and stress. In 1992, Tim relocated to Emory University where he managed the research lab of Clinton Kilts, Ph.D. in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. The lab continued the work from Duke but also branched out into the fledgling science of neuroimaging. Initially utilizing Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and later moving into functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). During this time, Tim trained in neuroimaging analysis with Scott Grafton, M.D. and John R. Votaw, Ph.D. In 2009, under Kerry J. Ressler, M.D., Ph.D., Tim joined The Grady Trauma Project to aid in the development of a neuroimaging branch of the project.

 
 

RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Christie Cineus

Christie Cineus is a fourth-year undergraduate at Emory University majoring in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology with a minor in Applied Mathematics. She joined the lab to explore the neurological and behavioral patterns associated with psychiatric conditions such as PTSD and depression. Christie is particularly passionate about how these conditions impact underserved and minority communities, with the goal of helping address health disparities in mental health care and diagnosis. In her free time, Christie enjoys watching Criminal Minds!

 

RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Ammar Razzak

Ammar is a fourth-year undergraduate at Emory University majoring in Chemistry and Applied Mathematics. He joined the Fani Lab to explore his interests in neurological mechanisms and how they affect individuals in their daily lives. He is particularly interested in how brain-body interactions shape mental health outcomes and hopes to contribute to research that informs future treatments. Ammar plans to pursue an MD/PhD after graduation.

 

 

RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Hilary Barkey

Hilary is a fourth-year undergraduate at Emory University majoring in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology. Hilary joined the lab to learn more about the ways in which trauma can impact the neurological functioning and the lives of exposed individuals. She is especially interested in potential treatments for those who have been affected by trauma. After graduation, Hilary hopes to pursue a PhD in either neuroscience or clinical neuropsychology.

 

RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Noor Ali

Noor is a third-year undergraduate at Emory University majoring in Psychology. She joined the Fani lab to explore the neurological mechanisms underlying PTSD and to better understand its behavioral, cognitive, and emotional impacts on individuals. She is particularly interested in examining how PTSD affects minoritized communities, including the ways systemic inequities and barriers to care shape both diagnosis and treatment outcomes. After graduation, she plans to attend medical school and pursue a career in psychiatry.

 

RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Irene John

Irene John is a third-year undergraduate at Emory University majoring in Human Health with a focus in Epidemiology. Irene joined the lab to further understand how trauma can impact both the brain’s function and behavior. She was particularly drawn to the lab’s focus on neuromodulation to study and treat conditions such as PTSD, specifically in underrepresented populations. 

 

RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Oliver Hegyi

Oliver is a third-year undergraduate at Emory University double majoring in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology, and Economics. He joined the lab to explore how trauma and stress impact brain function, behavior, and overall mental health. He is particularly interested in using these underlying mechanisms to develop better diagnostic tools and accessible treatments for trauma-related disorders, as well as depression and anxiety. After graduation, he plans to attend medical school and use his economics background to address healthcare inequities.

 

RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Sanjana Mirchandani

Sanjana is a third-year undergraduate at Emory University majoring in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology with a minor in Political Science. She joined the Fani lab to explore how social experiences shape brain function and behavior. She is particularly interested in the long-term effects of discrimination on mental and neurological health, specifically its influence on PTSD and neurodegenerative diseases. Sanjana plans to attend medical school after graduation.

 

RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Katie Kang

Katie is a second-year undergraduate at Emory University double-majoring in Neuroscience & Behavioral Biology and Data Science. She has developed an interest in data-driven approaches to neuroscience. She joined the lab to deepen her understanding of how trauma affects the brain and behavior, with a particular interest in how these effects show up differently across underserved communities. After graduation, Katie plans to pursue a PhD in neuroscience while also exploring opportunities in industry.

 

Lab Alumni

  • Amrita Kaimal - Research Assistant

  • Anusha Challa - Research Assistant 

  • Nayan Tiwary - Research Assistant

  • Bianca Robinson - Research Assistant

  • Madeleine Kloess - Research Assistant

  • Jahnvi Jain, M.D. - Research Assistant

  • Akira Wang, MPH - Research Assistant

  • Rebecca Gibbons - Research Assistant

  • Vijwala Yakkanti - Research Assistant

  • Anna Kottakis - Research Assistant

  • Sarah Abdul-Ghani - Research Assistant

  • Amanda Miao - Research Assistant

  • Rachel Bond - Research Assistant

  • Neha Prabhu - Research Assistant

  • Khaled Choucair - Research Assistant

  • Alex Daube - Research Assistant

  • Chloe Pierre-Mitchell - Research Assistant

  • Alas Ozen Sezgin - Research Assistant

  • Madeeha Anjum - Research Assistant

  • Anika Banjeree - Research Assistant

  • Irene Jang - Research Assistant

  • Timothy McDermott, Ph.D. - Postdoctoral Fellow

  • Leyla Eghbalzad, Ph.D. - Postdoctoral Fellow

  • Emma Lathan-Powell, Ph.D. - Postdoctoral Fellow

  • Aziz Elbasheir, Ph.D. - Graduate Student

  • Travis Fulton, Ph.D. - Graduate Student

  • Raven Hardy - Graduate Student

  • Drew Teer, Ph.D. - Graduate Student

  • Onyebuchi Okeke, M.D. - Medical Student

  • Allie Guelfo, MPH, CCRP - Clinical Research Coordinator

  • Cherita Clendinen - Clinical Research Coordinator

  • Sindhuja Surapaneni, M.D. - Research Interviewer

  • Jenna Holton - Research Interviewer

  • Maya Karkare - Research Specialist

  • Dominique LaBarrie, Ph.D. - Research Assistant

  • Tiffany Tucker - Research Assistant 

  • Sadiya Dhanani, M.D. - Research Assistant

  • Jenani Srijeyanthan - Research Assistant

  • Jenn Huo - Research Assistant

  • Kaitlyn Bappert - Research Assistant

  • Shannon Meyer - Research Assistant

  • Judy Kim - Research Assistant

  • Kayla Huynh - Research Assistant

  • Kevin Hoffman - Research Assistant

  • Jiwon Lee - Research Assistant

  • Alexa Kondas - Research Assistant