Our Team

Lab Director

Michael T Perino, PhD

Michael T. Perino, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Psychiatry Department (Child Division) at the Washington University School of Medicine. His work is focused on identifying novel intervention targets that can be leveraged to reduce youth aggression. To identify these mechanisms, he uses insights from developmental, clinical, and forensic psychology, sociology, and network neuroscience. He is particularly interested in how our social environment (neighborhood resources, peers, family, mentors, schools) interacts with neurodevelopment in ways that lead to maladaptive, antisocial behaviors. His work has been externally funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and the American Psychological Foundation (APF). In his free time, he enjoys hiking, fishing, cooking, watching horror films, cheering on the New York Rangers, and playing with his son.

Staff

Katie Lee, BA

Katie Lee is a Neuroimaging Research Technician at the SHARK Lab. She graduated from Washington University in St. Louis in May with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Writing. Katie is interested in understanding the neurodevelopment of psychiatric illnesses and exploring both psychopharmacological and psychotherapy treatment approaches. She hopes to attend medical school in the fall of 2025 and integrate her research experiences into patient care. Katie loves to read classic fiction, sing, and write poetry.

Shelby Kessler, BS

Shelby graduated from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville with a B.S. in Psychology. Shelby has experience working with adolescents and adults in multiple settings such as residential, hospitals, and youth centers. Shelby currently coordinates multiple studies.

Students

Graduate

Obed Usenbor, BS

Obed Usenbor is a Master’s Student in the Applied Health and Behavior Research Program. He earned his B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Neuroscience from the University of Delaware while working with Dr. Timothy Vickery. Obed’s research is focused on the antecedents of aggressive behavior, with a focus on bullying and Borderline Personality Features in youth. More broadly, he is interested in how environmental, biological, and psychological factors interact and lead to the development of aggression. Obed is currently applying to Clinical Psychology doctoral programs to further his research and clinical interests.

Undergraduate

Emilia Feria

Emilia is a fourth-year undergraduate student at WashU pursuing a B.A. in Biology (Neuroscience) with a second major in Anthropology (Global Health & Environment). She is interested in exploring health intersectionality through neurodevelopment and public health research.

Raghav Kale

Raghav is a second-year student at WashU working as an undergraduate research assistant at the SHARK Lab. He is majoring in Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology and Minoring in Anthropology: Global Health and Environment on the pre-med track.

Kate Smith

Kate is a third-year undergraduate student at WashU from Cincinnati, OH. She is studying Neuroscience on the pre-med track. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, cooking, and rock climbing.

Martin Ibarra

Martin Ibarra is a senior studying computer science and pursuing the pre-med track at Washington University in St. Louis. He is currently working in the SHARK lab to identify mechanisms underlying maladaptive behaviors and externalizing psychopathology. When not in the lab, he likes to play volleyball and sing.