GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Emma is a first-year masters student of Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in research at California State University, Northridge. She graduated summa cum laude from the University of California, Santa Cruz with a B.A. in Psychology in June of 2025. During her time at UCSC she also volunteered as a Domestic Violence Peer Advocate on the Walnut Avenue Family and Women's Center domestic violence hotline for one year. At CSUN, under the mentorship of Dr. Juventino Hernandez Rodriguez and Dr. Sara Berzenski, Emma plans to study the impact of traumatic experiences and new ways of promoting resilience, particularly in marginalized communities. Beyond this program, Emma plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in order to bring the most up-to-date research to those who need it the most! 

GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Katherine is a first-year M.A. student in the Clinical Psychology (Research Track) program at California State University, Northridge, under the mentorship of Dr. Bianca Villalobos and Dr. Jonathan Martinez. She graduated from UCLA with a B.A. in Psychology and College Honors. Katherine is committed to advancing mental health equity for Latinx, immigrant, and first-generation communities. As a Mexican American, first-generation, and former transfer student, she is passionate about advising and supporting others in achieving their goals in higher education. Her long-term goal is to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, where she hopes to bridge research and practice while uplifting underrepresented students.

UNDERGRAD RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Katherine is studying Psychology at California State University, Northridge and is an undergraduate research assistant in the SALUD Lab. She is interested in mental health disparities that impact her local community and cognitive-behavioral therapy. She plans to pursue a graduate degree in clinical psychology. She enjoys going to concerts and reading in her free time.  

UNDERGRAD RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Becky Mondragon is studying Psychology at California State University, Northridge and is an undergraduate research assistant in the SALUD LAB. She is interested in cultural neuropsychology, specifically understanding the role of culture on cognitive processing and functioning. She plans to pursue a graduate degree in clinical psychology with an emphasis in neuropsychology. She enjoys reading and playing with her six-year-old terrier mix in her free time. 

UNDERGRAD RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Esai Anthony Padilla (Ésai Antonio Padilla) is a Senior at CSUN, majoring in psychology and minoring in management. He is an undergraduate research assistant in the SALUD Lab and the P.U.E.N.T.E Lab. His research interests are the destigmatization of PMHS (Psychological & Mental Health Service) in Hispanic communities, especially men's attitudes toward PMHS, and facilitating the growth and recognition of female voices within their families/communities. Ultimately, he hopes to address the male suicide epidemic. He plans to pursue a graduate degree in clinical psychology to develop and publish culturally informed models and become a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, PhD. Ésai enjoys reading, writing, singing, and spending time with his family, friends, and dogs in his free time.  

POST-BAC RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Andrea graduated from California State University, Los Angeles, in 2023 and is a post-baccalaureate research assistant in the SALUD Lab. Her research interests focus on cultural responsiveness, as well as the socio-cultural and socio-economic factors that influence individual well-being, particularly within marginalized children and families. Andrea also has clinical experience working with children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and aims to pursue a graduate degree in clinical psychology. Outside of her academic and professional pursuits, she enjoys spending time with her pet and engaging in fitness activities.  

POST-BAC RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Brianna Flores earned her B.S. in Psychobiology from UCLA in 2023, with minors in Brain and Behavioral Health and Evolutionary Medicine. She is currently a post-baccalaureate research assistant in the SALUD Lab. She began her college journey at Santa Monica College, where she served as President of Psi Beta, the national honor society for psychology students at two-year colleges. She led two research studies there during Covid-19 on learning barriers for students of color and an AI intervention for anxiety and suicidality, presented at the Western Psychological Association conference. At UCLA, Brianna conducted research in the Neurosurgery and Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences Department where she investigated spinal neuroplasticity and helped develop a digital mental health app to improve suicidality outcomes in college students. She aspires to become a physician-scientist specializing in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, focusing on public health and bridging research with clinical care. Her diverse experiences in community and biological psychology have fueled her passion for integrating clinical practice with research, along with community-based research. In her free time, Brianna enjoys playing and coaching sports and spending time at the beach. 

UNDERGRAD RESEACH ASSISTANT

Isabella is a Full-Time Junior double majoring in Psychology and Child and Adolescent Development, Applied Developmental Science at CSUN. She is currently an Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) PODER Undergraduate Research Assistant receiving mentorship from Dr. Juventino Hernandez-Rodriguez as well as a participating Undergrad RA for the SALUD lab. Isabella’s introduction to research first started at ThinkNeuro’s Summer 2025 Bibliometrics Research Internship where she earned a certification for R Programming, earned first authorship on a group research poster and abstract, and gained leadership skills as an Associate researching topics on healthcare access and disparities. For Fall 2025, she is participating in the SSEAMS Research Internship who is currently in partnership with UC Berkley and the American Public Health Association. Isabella is working on an independent research poster on health equity for undocumented children receiving trauma informed care through the SSEAMS Internship. In the future, Isabella hopes to make a bigger impact on research and health policy for Latinx adolescents or minority adolescents who come from mixed status families in order to help them find their own voices under stigmatized mental health beliefs. Her plan is to earn her Masters in Public Health and earn her PhD in Clinical Psychology in order to achieve this goal. Beyond Isabella’s academic goals and achievements, she works part-time as a Behavior Interventionist for children with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder). She also enjoys going to concerts, going out every weekend, meeting up with her friends, spending time at the gym, and painting.