People
Full- Time Research Assistants
Victoria A Lopez, B.S.
Victoria A Lopez received a Bachelor of Science in Human Physiology from the Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at Boston University in May 2022. Her research interests include expanding health access and equity for marginalized populations. Victoria is passionate about health policy development and implementation as long-term interventions to improve healthcare access and equity. She is a Research Assistant working in Dr. Lee’s lab.
Caroline Melancon, B.A.
Caroline Melancon graduated from the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences at Boston College in 2023. She earned a bachelor’s degree in International Studies with a concentration in Cooperation and Conflict and a minor in Hispanic Studies. She works as a Research Assistant in Dr. Lee’s lab, is passionate about evidence-based public policy, and has an interest in health policy affecting marginalized populations.
Doctoral Students
Ning Yawen, LCSW
Ning, LCSW, is a social worker, psychotherapist, and researcher. She is a first-year doctoral student at the Boston University School of Social Work with a research focus on the intersection of trauma, substance use, and sexual health. Ning earned her master’s at the University of Michigan and her bachelor’s at Michigan State University. Before coming to Boston University, she worked as a psychiatric social worker at Henry Ford Health System, working closely with individuals battling severe mental illness and substance abuse; her active engagements in multicultural non-profit work with underserved populations during that time intrigued her passion for understanding the impacts of complex trauma across the lifespan.
Graduate Research Assistants
Laurienna Kurucz, B.S., B.A.,
Laurienna Kurucz is a Master of Social Work student at Boston University School of Social Work studying Clinical Practice with a Behavioral Health Specialization. She received a Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Neuroscience and a Bachelor of Arts in French from the Ohio State University in May 2023. Lu currently works in behavioral health at the Boston Public Health Commission. Her clinical interests include multidisciplinary and somatic therapy approaches as trauma interventions, as well as research on differences in neural reactivity to distress and treatment according to environmental factors.
Maya Coykendall, BSSW
Maya Coykendall is an Advanced Standing Master of Social Work student at Boston University School of Social Work studying Macro Practice with a Trauma and Violence Specialization. She received a Bachelor of Science in Social Work degree from the University of New Hampshire in May 2021. Maya currently is an intern at the Baker Center for Children and Families Evidence Based Policy Institute. Her research interests include trauma-informed policy and reproductive justice work.
Undergraduate Research Assistants
Nicole Robertson is a recent graduate from the College of Arts and Sciences at Boston University (’24) – where she received a Bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience. She works as a Research Assistant at the Boston University School of Social Work and investigates health inequities to improve community interventions in Dr. Lee’s lab. She is also passionate about advancement in the fields of neuroscience and public health as interdisciplinary approaches to improve the delivery of health care.
Aakaash Dave
Aakash is a BA student at the Boston University College of Arts and Sciences studying Biology with a Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, and Genetics specialization, and pursuing a minor in Data Science. He is on the pre-medical track and is passionate about making advancements in the field of public health by removing obstacles that underrepresented communities encounter in accessing healthcare services. He works as a Research Assistant in Dr. Lee’s lab and investigates health inequities to enhance community interventions.
Alexandra Velev
Alex is an undergraduate student in the College of Arts and Sciences at Boston University (’24), where she is pursuing a bachelors in psychology with a minor in sociology. She is interested in clinical research with a focus on vulnerable populations suffering from trauma as well as advancing mental health awareness and access to underrepresented groups.
Nathalie Ramirez Rodriguez
Nathalie is an undergraduate student in the College of Arts and Sciences (‘25) pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She is on the pre-PA track, and is passionate about using Spanish as her second language in helping to eliminate healthcare disparities, such as language barriers. She is honored to be able to give back to underrepresented communities in Boston through her work as a Research Assistant in Dr. Lee’s lab by conducting interviews and translating.
Lab Alumni
- Carmen Zhou, Boston University MS
- Melanie Morris, LCSW, Columbia University MSSW
- Andrea Cantalupa (2021-2022), Boston University MSW/MPH
- Tyler Sparkman, PhD, Assistant Professor, University of Oklahoma
- Sylvie Tuchman (2020-2022), Boston University MSW/MPH
- Marianna Nicholls, PhD, Columbia University Health
- Peter Ward, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, Boston VA
- Koriann Cox, PhD, University of Washington