Undergraduate and Postbac Research Assistants

Rachel Barham (she/her/hers)

Rachel Barham is a senior at Old Dominion University who is pursuing dual degrees in psychology and biomedical science. After finishing her degree, she intends to continue her education and attend medical school. Her professional interests are in epigenetics, pathology, neuroscience, and the human microbiome. Outside of academics, Rachel enjoys cooking, playing guitar, making art and spending time with her dog, Potato. 

Anita Thomas (she/her/hers)

Anita is a senior at Old Dominion University majoring in Psychology with a minor in Children’s Rights and Advocacy and a second minor in Human Services. After finishing her degree she intends on furthering her education by obtaining a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. Anita aspires to conduct research with BIPOC youth who have experienced trauma and apply her findings to advocate for culturally-informed prevention/intervention programs for this population.

Kayla MacPherson (she/her/hers)

Kayla MacPherson is a senior at Old Dominion University majoring in Psychology with a minor in Children’s Rights. She hopes to later attend grad school to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology with special interests in trauma prevention and trauma in adolescents. In her free time you can find Kayla in a coffee shop, thrift store, traveling, or spending time with those she loves. 

Kaytlin Armitage (she/her/hers)

Kaytlin Armitage is a junior at ODU majoring in Psychology with a minor in Addiction Prevention and Treatment. After graduation, she plans to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology with a focus on trauma, specifically within the veteran community. Her interest in military mental health stems from her service in the Virginia Army National Guard and the stories of her fellow service members. In her free time, Kaytlin enjoys working out, spending time with friends, studying in the library, or watching her team, the Steelers, lose another game.

Mellyssa Deoliveira (she/her/hers)

Mellyssa is a junior at the University of Massachusetts Boston. After graduation, she hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. Her military experience in the Navy informs her academic interests in PTSD susceptibility, diagnosis, and treatment. Outside of an academic setting. she enjoys lifting, reading, and hiking with her two dogs.

Selah Ball (she/her/hers)

Selah is a senior at the College of William & Mary majoring in psychology and minoring in kinesiology. After graduation, she hopes to pursue grad school for Occupational Therapy (OT).  Throughout her coursework, she has developed a research interest on the relationship between mind and body. In her spare time, she is either behind a camera shooting a short film or attempting to read books that have been collecting dust on her shelves.

Mira Hopkins (she/her/hers)

Mira is a Senior at ODU majoring in Psychology with a minor in Biology. Her goal is to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology, specializing in the epigenetics of PTSD and effective treatment modalities. In her free time, she enjoys going on walks with her 3 dogs, pinning butterflies, listening to music and spending time with her daughter and husband.