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Principal Investigator
Carissa A. Low, PhDGoogle Scholar
Dr. Low received her PhD in clinical and health psychology from UCLA in 2008 and completed her clinical internship and postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Department of Psychiatry. Her research focuses on interactions between behavior, biology, and patient-centered outcomes in the context of cancer. She is particularly interested in the use of mobile technology to monitor and change health behaviors and symptoms during cancer treatment. Her work has been funded by the National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Mental Health, Pittsburgh Health Data Alliance, UPMC Aging Institute, and Sony Corporation. |
Program Manager
Krina DuricaKrina Durica received her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and her Master of Arts degree in Applied Psychological Research from Penn State University. She is currently working towards a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. Before joining Dr. Low’s lab, Krina worked as a Research Coordinator at Penn State Hershey managing social skills projects for adolescents and young adults with high-functioning autism.
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Research Coordinator
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Michaela DankoMichaela Danko received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences and Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology from the University of Pittsburgh. Before joining the BOT Lab, she worked as a Research Technician for a biorepository and in museum education. She spends her free time advocating for healthcare access and crafting. In the future, Michaela hopes to combine her interest in education and healthcare by pursuing a MS in Genetic Counseling.
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Senior Software Engineer
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Data Scientist
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Current Research Assistants
Monica HendersonMonica Henderson is a sophomore at the University of Pittsburgh. She is working on a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and minor in Sociology. Monica is interested in public health and health psychology. She wants to pursue a career in research or patient interaction along the lines of pediatrics and oncology. Post-graduation plans being considered are as follows: child-life specialist, epidemiologist, genetic counselor, clinical psychologist. Other hobbies include long-distance running, Disney, learning the ukulele, and cancer advocacy.
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Carly JonesCarly Jones is a junior at the University of Pittsburgh. She is working towards a major in Psychology and a minor in Administrative Justice. She is an active member of Pittsburgh Attacks Cancer Together (PACT), a club on campus that raises money for cancer research at the Hillman Cancer Center. After graduation, she plans to go to graduate school to earn her Master’s degree in either Social Work or Public Health.
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Lab Alumni
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Alberto BarrientosAlberto Barrientos graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in Spring 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a minor in Sociology. Alberto currently works part-time as a Personal Trainer and volunteers at North Shore University Hospital in Long Island, New York. He hopes to attend Medical School to become an Orthopedic Surgeon.
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Blessy BellamyBlessy Bellamy graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in April of 2015, with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, a minor in Chemistry, and a certificate in the Conceptual Foundations of Medicine. Following graduation, she worked in the Department of Psychology at the University of Pittsburgh as the Lab Manager of the Personality Processes and Outcomes Laboratory. She is currently a graduate student at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and she hopes to attend medical school to become a pediatric physician.
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Hannah BitzerHannah Bitzer graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in the spring of 2015 with a BS in Psychology and a double major in Religious Studies. She has been working at the University of Pittsburgh Concussion Research Lab in the Southside since September 2015 where she works primarily with athletes of all ages and veterans.
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Carolyn Brown
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Samantha BuccinaSamantha Buccina graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in Fall 2014 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology on the Pre-Physician Assistant Track. After working as a Milieu Therapist at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, she completed the Marietta College Physician Assistant Program in Summer 2018.
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Umeka GanjooUmeka Ganjoo graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in April 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Sociology and a Certificate in Helping Professions. After working as a Recruiting Assistant in the Office of Human Resources at the University of Pittsburgh, she started the Master of Health Administration in Health Policy and Management Program within the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health in August 2018. Upon graduation, she hopes to pursue a career as recruiting management within the healthcare industry
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Lisa FarrellLisa Farrell graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in Fall 2015 with Bachelors in Psychology. She then worked as a research coordinator for Anesthesiology at Magee Women’s Hospital. She has been traveling the world and climbing for the past year, but will start a post baccalaureate program at Columbia in the fall in the hopes of becoming a physician.
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Erin McPhersonErin McPherson is a junior at the University of Pittsburgh, majoring in Psychology with a certificate in Public and Professional Writing. She is an active member of Rho Psi Eta, a national health professions sorority, as well as the secretary for Pitt CHAARG. Her plans after graduation are to attend graduate school for Public Health, with a focus in Epidemiology.
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Stephanie NamStephanie Nam graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in Spring 2015 with a major in Psychology and a minor in Chemistry while on the Pre-Medical Track. She has been working as a full-time Research Coordinator for UPMC's Department of Anesthesiology Clinical Trials Program since graduating. She plans to attend school to become a Physician Assistant.
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Lillian SmithLillian Smith received her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology as well as a minor in Theatre Arts from the University of Pittsburgh. Before joining Dr. Low, she worked as a Research Assistant at the University of Pittsburgh administering EEG testing to children and also completed an independent research project examining the development of play in infants at-risk for autism. In the summer of 2018, Lily began a transition into UX/UI-related disciplines and is taking every opportunity to develop her skills in that area. She’s currently the UI Developer for Carnegie Mellon-born Bloomfield Robotics and plans to enter a master’s program in the fall of 2019.
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Lindsay SniderLindsay Snider is a junior at the University of Pittsburgh. She is working towards a Psychology major, minor in Sociology, and a certificate in Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies. Lindsay enjoys working with others and hopes to be able to develop and improve the well-being of patients dealing with cancer treatment with modern technology. Her plans after graduation include pursuing a counseling degree with a focus on addiction treatment.
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Stephen WorrallStephen Worrall graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2017 majoring in Emergency Medicine with a Minor in Chemistry. Since graduation Stephen has been working full- time as a paramedic at various ambulance companies around the city of Pittsburgh. Stephen plans on continuing on to medical school at some point in the future to become a physician.
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Jenny ZhangJenny Zhang is a senior at the University of Pittsburgh, majoring in Psychology and Economics with a minor in Chinese. She is interested in the application of biopsychological principles to elucidate issues in physical and mental health and promote wellness. Her future plans include attending graduate school.
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Nika ZharichenkoNika Zharichenko is a senior at the University of Pittsburgh, majoring in Psychology and Microbiology and on the Pre-Medical Track. She is an active member and secretary of the American Medical Student Association as well as volunteer chair for Tri Beta, the Biological Sciences Honors Society, and academic chair for Phi Chi, a pre-medical society.
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