The Fani Lab Fam.

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Dr. Negar Fani

Negar Fani, PhD, ABPP is a clinical psychologist specializing in neuropsychology and tenured Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at Emory University; she is also an affiliate faculty of the Emory Neuroscience and Molecular and Systems Pharmacology Graduate Programs. Her clinical work and research centers around 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 non-invasive deep brain stimulation (temporal interference)—to boost treatment response, specifically targeting problems with attention and emotion regulation, issues faced by many trauma-exposed people.

 

RESEARCH COORDINATOR

Allie Guelfo, MPH, CCRP

Allie Guelfo joined the lab in February 2019 as an undergraduate research assistant and went on to become the research coordinator for the lab in March 2021. Allie received her Masters in Public Health from Emory Rollins School of Public Health in May 2024 and is recognized as a Certified Clinical Research Professional through the Society of Clinical Research Associates. Her research interests include exploring intervention experiences and outcomes using qualitative & quantitative methods.

 

POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW

Dr. Timothy McDermott

Tim McDermott, Ph.D., joined the FaniLab as a post-doctoral fellow in August 2023. Dr. McDermott received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Tulsa and the Laureate Institute for Brain Research under the mentorship of Dr. Robin Aupperle, and he completed his pre-doctoral internship at McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School on the PTSD track. His program of research uses neuroimaging methods, including fMRI and EEG, to investigate altered neural mechanisms in PTSD and determine how these mechanisms relate to treatment outcomes. His NIMH F32 research fellowship will examine EEG correlates of anhedonia and cognitive control deficits in trauma-exposed people with PTSD and will assess the impact of vibration-augmented breath-focused mindfulness.

 

GRADUATE STUDENT

Aziz Elbasheir

Aziz Elbasheir graduated from Hunter College with a B.A. in 2020 in psychology and a behavioral neuroscience concentration. He is currently a fourth year PhD candidate in the Neuroscience Graduate Program at Emory University. His interests include, trauma, PTSD, cognition and neural mechanisms of racial discrimination.

 

GRADUATE STUDENT

Travis Fulton

Travis Fulton graduated from Arizona State University first with a B.A in Biochemistry then with a Master's in Biology. He is currently a third year in Emory's Molecular and Systems Pharmacology PhD program. His research interests include trauma, inter-personal violence, and addiction, with a focus on identifying critical periods of vulnerability when individuals can benefit most from intervention. Travis hopes to stay in academia, splitting his time between research and teaching.

 

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. 

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

Madeeha Anjum

Madeeha is a fourth-year undergraduate at the Georgia Institute of Technology majoring in Neuroscience with a concentration in Health and Medical Sciences. She joined the FaniLab to explore her interests in the neural correlates underpinning racial trauma and PTSD in minority populations. She is interested in learning more about how this research can promote future treatment and systemic change. She plans to attend medical school after graduation.

 

RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Irene Jang

Irene is a fourth-year undergraduate at Emory University majoring in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology. She joined the FaniLab to explore her interests in the neural mechanisms underlying the progression from trauma exposure to post-traumatic stress disorder. She is interested in learning about how various non-invasive intervention methods can aid in the treatment of trauma-exposed individuals. Irene plans to pursue an MD after graduation.

 

RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Christie Cineus

Christie Cineus is a second-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

Alas Ozen Sezgin

Alas is a third-year undergraduate at Emory University, majoring in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology with a minor in Artificial Intelligence. Alas joined the lab to explore how PTSD and related disorders affect brain structure. Particularly, Alas is interested in research how temporal interference can be used to treat major depressive disorder and PTSD. Alas aims to contribute to centering data from underrepresented communities to inform modern therapeutic practices. Additionally, Alas is a dedicated coffee hobbyist and music producer!

Lab Alumni

  • Amrita Kaimal - Research Assistant

  • Anusha Challa - Research Assistant 

  • Nayan Tiwary - Research Assistant

  • Onyebuchi Okeke, MD - Medical Student

  • Bianca Robinson - Research Assistant

  • Drew Teer, PhD - Graduate 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

  • Dominique LaBarrie, Ph.D. - Post-Bac Research Assistant

  • Tiffany Tucker - Post-Bac Research Assistant 

  • Cherita Clendinen - Research Study Coordinator

  • Sadiya Dhanani, MD - Medical Student Research Assistant

  • Jenani Srijeyanthan - Undergraduate Research Assistant

  • Jenn Huo - Research Assistant

  • Kaitlyn Bappert - Research Assistant

  • Shannon Meyer - Research Assistant

  • Raven Hardy - Graduate Research Assistant

  • Sindhuja Surapaneni, MD - Research Interviewer

  • Leyla Eghbalzad, Ph.D. - Postdoctoral Fellow

  • Judy Kim - Research Assistant

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

  • Maya Karkare - Research Specialist

  • Kayla Huynh - Research Assistant

  • Kevin Hoffman - Research Assistant

  • Jiwon Lee - Research Assistant

  • Alexa Kondas - Research Assistant

  • Jenna Holton - Research Interviewer