STARK Research Team

Christina graduated from Washington University in St. Louis, where she earned her B.A. in Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology with minors in Music and Biology. As an undergraduate, she has worked as a research assistant on several studies in the St. Louis Children’s Hospital Emergency Department and Dr. Tammy English’s Emotion and Relationships Lab. Christina is the study coordinator and primary contact for STARK, and she will also be conducting clinical interviews.

Julia graduated with a Bachelor of Social Work from Olivet Nazarene University in 2019 before completing a Master of Social Work with a focus in Mental Health from Washington University in St. Louis in 2020. During her graduate work, Julia completed a practicum at St. Louis Play Therapy Institute and was a Research Assistant for the Center for Mental Health Services Research. Julia has experience in clinical work with children and families effected by serious mental illness, trauma, and adverse life events. Julia works on the STARK study ​completing child interviews. During her free time, Julia can be found with family and friends at a park, getting coffee, or catching up on the latest book club read!

Lisa graduated with a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh. She also majored in Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies. Before attending Pitt, Lisa interned in the Personality Measurement and Development Lab with Dr. Josh Jackson and the Optimism Study with Dr. Laura Hennefield, both at WashU. At Pitt, she was an Undergraduate Research Assistant with Dr. Jana Iverson at the Infant Communication Lab and the Pitt Parents and Children Lab with Dr. Daniel Shaw and Dr. Leah Hunter. She also was a social work intern at the Allegheny Department of Children, Youth, and Families. She conducts assessments for the STARK study.

Hayley graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a B.A. in Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology where she also worked as a research assistant in Dr. White’s Developmental Neuropsychology Laboratory. She is currently a medical student at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis where she hopes to go onto a career in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. She works on the STARK study conducting clinical interviews.

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 relational and self-directed aggression. He works on STARK administrating clinical interviews and is involved in data analysis. Obed is currently applying to Clinical Psychology doctoral programs to further his research and clinical interests.