About Me
My Professional Path
My first experience as a research assistant during my freshman year of college involved lots of routine administrative tasks, like cleaning kits and downloading heart rate data. One of the project leads, a senior research assistant, often talked about her experiences as an assessment administrator, working directly with caregivers and children with neurogenic syndromes. I realized research could be exactly what I was looking for: science that can translate into real-world impact for children and families. I later trained in that same role, continuing to pursue research and clinical experiences with children with developmental disabilities.
My clinical experiences further strengthened my interest in the developmental disability community and naturalistic behavioral interventions. Every conversation with a caregiver as a Direct Support Professional was a reminder of the importance of community services for families. My interests expanded at Camp ANDY, where I implemented evidence-based naturalistic behavioral intervention, helping campers consistently meet their individualized goals by the end of the summer. These experiences reinforced my motivation to pursue research that has real-world impact for children with autism and their families.
Where I am Now
As a Clinical Research Coordinator for a behavioral intervention RCT, I have continued to build on my prior experiences supporting caregivers and children with neurogenetic syndromes and co-occurring intellectual disability. Conversations with families have continued to shape me, highlighting that caregiver priorities and voices matter in both intervention research and clinical settings. I am particularly interested in intervention research for children with autism and developmental disabilities, examining how child and family characteristics, such as developmental profiles or caregiver treatment priorities, can guide individualized treatment approaches and outcomes. I plan to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology to build on these broader research and clinical interests.
Outside of Work
Outside of work, I enjoy crafting, reading, and hiking with friends. I especially enjoy creative projects, like painting and crochet, where patience turns into something fun and rewarding. I also enjoy reading, whether as a paperback on the train to work to discuss with my friends later, or as an audiobook while crafting. Hiking is one of my favorite ways to explore new places, especially when it leads to a new national park.
