Interested in Joining Our Team?
Throughout the year, there may be opportunities to join our team. If you are interested in potentially working with the lab, please email a CV or resume along with a cover letter to team.sleep@berkeley.edu
Post-Baccs
Gabriel Griggs
Gabe is in the post-baccalaureate program in psychology at UC Berkeley. He has been involved in the lab since Fall 2025 and his responsibilities have involved recruiting efforts and qualitative coding. His interests in the field are still emerging, but broadly speaking he is interested in developing effective treatments, learning about methodology, and better understanding psychopathology.
Emma Hakkakzadeh
Emma is a Post-Bacc student at UC Berkeley, who previously graduated from UC Santa Cruz in 2024 with a BA in Psychology and a minor in Philosophy. In the lab, she helps administer assessments to evaluate participant eligibility, perform data checks, and recruit new participants. Her research interests include treatment development and implementation, especially for adults with schizophrenia and substance use disorders. In her free time, she likes to travel, cook, knit, read, and listen to music.
Current Research Assistants
Farah Al Asadi
Farah Al Asadi is a third-year student at UC Berkeley studying Molecular & Cell Biology and Public Health. She is a research assistant in the NIA and Koala studies, where her primary responsibilities include administering assessments to evaluate participant eligibility and monitor progress throughout and after treatment, performing data checks, and contributing to recruitment. Farah intends to pursue a career in medicine where she can bring a multidisciplinary approach to patient care. In her free time, Farah enjoys going to the beach, trying new cafes, and going to the gym.
Ghassan Azizeh
Ghassan is a fourth year senior undergraduate at the University of California, Berkeley. He majors in Molecular and Cell Biology with an emphasis in Neurobiology and Public Health. He plans to pursue medical school after he graduates. Outside of academics, he enjoys hiking, going to the gym, and running.
Zack Berger
Zack is a third year student at UC Berkeley studying psychology and journalism. He works on the NIA Sleep Buddies study for adults over 50 who have compounding sleep and mood conditions. In his free time he likes to write, listen to music, and play basketball with his friends.
Vanessa Montserrat Castillo
Vanessa Castillo is a fourth year undergraduate student at UC Berkeley studying Psychology with a double minor in Anthropology and Music. As a research assistant in the NIA study, she is responsible for working with patient data. She plans to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology, and her interests include child development, psychopathology, implementation and dissemination, and mental health accessibility. In her free time, she enjoys baking, collecting vinyls, and playing guitar and piano.
Esme Chen
Esme Chen is a rising senior student double majoring in Comparative Literature (languages: Japanese, Chinese) and Psychology at the University of California, Berkeley. She had worked on the Koala study and is currently a Lead Data Cleaner of the NIA Study. She also interns at the Stanford Stice Lab, where she assisted with fMRI scans and experiment setup. Her research interests include suicide, NSSI, double depression, anxiety, PTSD, and borderline personality disorder. In her free time, she enjoys fighting with her cat, people-watching, and writing.
Maryam Ghazzali
Maryam is a fourth-year psychology student at UC Berkeley, currently serving as an MCI Sleep Coach for the Sleep and Habits Study. Her research interests include shaping psychology policy, low-cost clinical treatment development, self-concept, and exploring how access to mental health resources influences self-diagnosis. With plans to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology, she envisions founding her own lab and practice. In her free time, Maryam enjoys spending time with her loved ones and building Legos.
Ashley Hong
Ashley is a rising third year undergraduate student majoring in Neuroscience and Psychology. As a research assistant at the GBSMRC, she engages in tasks involving clinical data. She is particularly interested in clinical psychology and hopes to attend medical school to pursue a career in psychiatry. In her free time, she enjoys cafe hopping in search of the best matcha latte in Berkeley and can often be found doodling or reading a good book.
Danaz Z Khoshnow
Danaz is a second-year Neuroscience major at UC Berkeley. She is a research assistant on the NIA study’s Sleep Buddies team, and her primary responsibilities are in data collection, data cleaning, administrative support, and recruitment. Her research interests are in neuroscience, developmental psychology, and mental health, with a focus on brain development, cognitive processes, and the societal factors that shape psychological well-being. In Danaz’s free time, she enjoys watching Marvel movies, hiking, and listening to music.
Kye Lin
Kye is a third-year student at UC Berkeley studying Chemical Biology. As a research assistant, they co-supervise the NIA study’s Sleep Buddies team, which is responsible for data cleaning, administrative work, and participant recruitment efforts. Kye’s main research interests include mood disorders, schizophrenia treatment, and expanding health equity for underserved communities. In their free time, they enjoy playing guitar and reading.
Sarai Lopez
Sarai Lopez is a fourth-year Psychology student at UC Berkeley and a Research Assistant for the National Institute of Aging sleep treatment development study. Her research interests include clinical psychology, mental health treatments, and the biopsychosocial model. Sarai intends to attend graduate school, where she hopes to further explore transdiagnostic processes in clinical psychology. In her free time, she enjoys baking, working on arts and crafts, and meditating.
Anvitha Siri Yalamanchili
Anvitha is a first year Neuroscience Major at UC Berkeley. She/Her/Hers is a research assistant on the NIA study’s data collection team, and her primary responsibilities are in data stewardship, administrative support, and recruitment. Her research interests are psychiatric and mood disorders and children’s development. In Anvitha’s free time, she enjoys sketching fashion designs, reading psychological thrillers, and playing volleyball.
Mila Yosiff Reyes
Mila Yosiff Reyes is a rising fourth year at UC Berkeley studying neuroscience. She is a research assistant on the NIA study, for which she is a co-team leader for the Sleep Buddies team as well as an RA on the assessment team. Her responsibilities as a team lead include leading supervision, helping troubleshoot any challenges that arise, and helping to ensure things are completed in a timely manner. In her future, Mila hopes to attend medical school and eventually work with underserved populations. In her free time, Mila enjoys shopping, going to museums, and trying new restaurants!