Undergraduate Students
Current Team
Allie Weedon is a sophomore double majoring in Psychology and Pre-Health. She is from Chicago and lives in Ryan Hall on campus. After graduation, she plans on attending medical school. On campus, she is involved in planning her dorm's service events, Psychology Club, and Compassionate Care in Medicine Club. Off campus, she volunteers at the Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC). In her free time, she likes to go for walks around the lake, read, and spend time with friends. She is very excited to be a part of the PAL lab and interact with families in the South Bend community.
Grace Merfeld is a senior majoring in Neuroscience and Behavior with a supplemental major in Gender Studies. Grace is from Charlotte, NC, and lives in Ryan Hall. She enjoys cooking, taking long walks, and lifting weights at the Smith Center. She works as an EMT on campus with Notre Dame Fire Department. Grace is very passionate about mental health and is interested in cognitive development. She loves meeting new people and is grateful to be a part of such an awesome team!
Gillian Renouard is a sophomore majoring in Biology on a pre-health track, with plans to minor in Foundations of Business. She lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin but now stays in Cavanaugh Hall. She worked as a CNA during the summer and is very excited to continue gaining exposure to healthcare and patient interaction in the lab. She loves working with kids of all ages and is very excited to start her research career by working with families and learning more about neuroscience and mental health. Outside of the classroom, Gillian loves to spend time hiking outside, cooking new foods, and spending time with family and friends.
Henry Oh is a senior double majoring in Psychology and Pre-Health. He is from Baltimore, Maryland. He is interested in adolescent development, particularly the personality and moral development processes. He is excited to work in the PAL Lab and with families too. In the future, he hopes to attend medical school to explore the field of psychiatry. Outside the classroom, he enjoys rock climbing and spending time with friends and family.
Isabella Monachello is a sophomore majoring in Neuroscience and Behavior with minors in Theology and Science and Patient Advocacy. She's from Kansas City, Missouri. Her research interests include cognitive and developmental psychology, so she is looking forward to the opportunity to work with kids in the PAL Lab! Outside of school, she enjoys baking, crocheting, and spending time with friends and family.
Jack Cullison is a sophomore (Class of 2029) from Sacramento, California. He is studying biology with hopes of attending medical school and eventually working as a family medicine doctor. Jack recently spent a couple of months in Mumbai, India teaching math and English to children with intellectual disabilities. When he is not abroad or studying, Jack enjoys weight lifting, skiing (back home!), and spending time with his friends.
James Riemer is from Northville, Michigan. He's currently going into his Junior year of college, and he studies Biology with a minor in Chemistry. He's very interested in seeing how an EEG can be used for research. He really look forward to learning how to use one too. As for his hobbies, he enjoy spending time outside. He likes to mountain bike, hike, swim, and paddleboard. Additionally, He loves to spend time with his dog Orla. He can’t wait to get started in the lab this year!
Jasmin Melancon is a senior from New Orleans, Louisuana majoring in Neuroscience and Behavior with a minor in Science and Patient Advocacy. On campus, she lives in Welsh Family Hall, go Whirls! She is a POSSE and Gilman Scholar. Post undergrad, she would like to pursue medical school in hopes of becoming an OB/GYN. She also has a deep passion for mental health advocacy. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, laughing, a game or three of pickleball, boxing, dancing and spending quality time with her loved ones. She is thrilled to join the PAL lab and connect personally with the South Bend community.
Julia Arulandu is a sophomore majoring in Neuroscience and Behavior with hopes of attending medical school. She is from the suburbs of Chicago, but on campus calls Flaherty Hall home. Julia is interested in how social and environmental factors influence physical and mental health across the lifespan, and she is excited to work with individuals of all ages! Outside of the lab, she enjoys staying active, playing intramural sports, spending time with friends, shopping, and trying new foods.
Marie Smith is a sophomore studying Neuroscience and Behavior on the pre-med track in the Glynn Family Honors Program. She is from Frederick, Maryland, but calls Pasquerilla East Hall home on campus. Her interests lie in medical research and understanding the biological basis of health and disease, while also examining the personal and ethical factors that shape healthcare. She is excited to dive deeper into these interests through her work in the PAL Lab!
Mariana Novoa is a senior from San Salvador, El Salvador, majoring in Psychology with minors in Health, Humanities, and Society and Marketing at the University of Notre Dame. She became a member of the PAL Lab since she is particularly interested in psychopathology and its influence on behavior across the lifespan, with a focus on how psychological disorders emerge and manifest in early development. Mariana is motivated by a strong commitment to understanding mental health through a developmental and empirical lens. Outside of her academic interests, she enjoys baking and listening to music.
Mia Chiong is a senior Psychology major with a minor in Compassionate Care in Medicine. She is from Tampa, Florida. Working as a teacher’s assistant for an elementary school in the Philippines before she entered college, she saw first-hand how mental health is often overlooked in young school children, especially amongst those in poverty. With that experience, she grew interested in the field of psychopathology with a desire to research more about the psychological disorders that affect young children, adolescents, and their families. Outside of academics, she really enjoys playing the guitar and watching movies.
Noelle Coyne is a sophomore majoring in Psychology and Pre-health, with a minor in Compassionate Care in Medicine. She is from Jupiter, Florida. She loves working with children, and is very interested in psychophysiology and cognitive development, along with children's mental health. After graduating, she plans on attending medical school and becoming a doctor. Outside of research, she enjoys volunteering, reading, playing sports, and spending time with family and friends.
Patricia Carrillo Cruz is a sophomore majoring in Neuroscience and Behavior (B.A.) with a minor in Science and Patient Advocacy. Originally from Caguas, Puerto Rico, she currently resides in Welsh Family Hall. Her interest in pursuing neuroscience and psychology studies post-grad as well stems from her passion for medical care that targets the root causes of diseases, not just symptoms, and curiosity about the complexity of psychological and neurological processes. In her free time, she enjoys dancing, listening to music, going to the beach, and hanging out with her friends and family.
Patrick Kenny is a senior majoring in Neuroscience and Behavior. He is originally from Seattle, Washington, but his home on campus is Graham Hall. He is interested in studying the psychophysiology and psychopathology of various disorders such as depression. He is excited to work with members of the community of all ages and to participate in the research being conducted in the PAL lab. Outside of school, he enjoys baking desserts and hiking with family and friends.
Valerie Wu is a junior at the University of Notre Dame, majoring in Psychology with minors in Poverty Studies and Health, Humanities, and Society. She is a resident of Pasquerilla East Hall and originally from Hangzhou, China. She has a longstanding interest in criminology, psychopathology, and psychophysiology, and she hopes to further explore areas such as EEG research, child development, and mental health disorders. She previously worked in the CAM Lab, which focuses on attention, cognitive abilities, and memory. Looking ahead, she aspires to pursue a Ph.D. in forensic science or clinical psychology, where she hopes to combine her academic training with her passion for understanding and addressing complex psychological issues.
Sarah Herzner is a junior on the pre-PA track studying Neuroscience and Behavior with a minor in Compassionate Care in Medicine. She is originally from the greater Cincinnati area, but on campus, she lives in Grojean Hall. Her specific interests in neuroscience pave the way for her increased interest in pathophysiology and how disorders manifest throughout development according to childhood experiences. She is very excited to work with the children and families in South Bend through her work in the PAL Lab, and is also excited to actively contribute to positive change in the community. Outside of academics, she enjoys dancing, reading, taking workout classes, volunteering, and hanging out with her friends and family.
Alumni
Adriana Simons is a junior majoring in Business Analytics and Psychology with a minor in Musical Theatre. She is from Panama City, Panama. Her previous work with local NGOs in Panama focused on mental health sparked her passion for understanding the cultural and societal factors that influence mental health, particularly in children and their families. She is excited to collaborate with members of the PAL Lab and deepen her knowledge in this area. Outside the classroom, she enjoys hiking with her family, cooking, and listening to music.
Caroline Isom is a senior from Miami, Florida studying Applied and Computational Mathematics and Statistics (ACMS) and Psychology with a minor in Theology. She loves working with children and value the importance of families to mental health and development. She is a clarinetist in the marching band, and in her free time, she enjoys cooking, reading, working out, and anything outdoors. After graduating, she hopes to blend psychology and my passion for the Catholic faith to serve children and families in the community.
Kate Wiser is a senior studying Psychology. Her research interests are depression, anxiety, eating disorders and body image. In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors, especially hiking, biking, running and playing sports. She loves dogs and have a mini bernedoodle named Bella.
Annie Coffey is a senior majoring in Psychology, and is currently applying to clinical psychology PhD programs to pursue a career in psychological research and behavioral assessment. Her past work centers around improving communication resources for participants, evaluating a new tool assessing autism symptom severity, and analyzing physiological markers of stress in caregivers of children during their autism evaluation. This year Annie is working closely with Dr. Hill to analyze the support provided by Bailey’s first EEG, a children’s book for families with children receiving EEGs. Outside of the PAL Lab, Annie is a peer educator for the Center for Student Support and Care; she also enjoys gardening and music in her spare time.
Caroline Keefe is a senior majoring in Neuroscience and Behavior with a minor in Science and Patient Advocacy. After graduation, she hopes to attend medical school. She is originally from Columbia, Illinois, a small suburb outside of St. Louis. She is interested in how environmental and genetic factors can affect both physical and mental health outcomes.
Carson Kniola is a senior majoring in Neuroscience and Behavior on the pre-medical track and Film, Television, and Theatre. He is from Fishers, Indiana, and he comes from a family full of Fighting Irish fans. He is really interested in research connecting the neuroscience/psychophysiology and mental health fields. Outside of research, his hobbies include volleyball, tennis, pickleball, listening to music, binge-watching TV shows, and spending quality time with family and friends.
Deborah Garcia is a senior at Notre Dame, majoring in Neuroscience and Behavior. She is originally from Phoenix, Arizona but currently live in Ryan Hall. She has a strong passion for psychophysiology and a love for working with families. She is thrilled to be a part of the PAL Lab, where she looks forward to exploring the intricacies of affect and engaging with families in South Bend.
Daniel Parilo is a senior studying Neuroscience and Behavior and Data Science. His primary interests are perception and consciousness. He is curious about how the structure of neuronal signals encodes the structure of experience. He loves reading, getting outdoors, and good coffee.
Jairo Soto Leon is a senior studying Neuroscience and Behavior + Spanish. Additionally, he is on the pre-medical track. His research interest revolves around psychophysiology. Specifically, how it can illuminate psychological states like stress, emotion, and cognition. He really enjoys how it deepens the understanding of human behavior. He is excited to be part of PAL lab and engage with people from with community.
Jenisse Jarquin is a senior on the pre-med track studying Neuroscience and behavior with a minor in science and patient advocacy. She was born and raised in Miami, Florida, but currently living in Lyons Hall. Her research interests include childhood trauma and how it pertains to altering brain functionality and connectivity. She started her research during the fall semester abroad in Galway, Ireland with Dr. Canon and will continue onward with psychophysiology research and how it all interconnects. Her hobbies include reading, going to the gym and hanging out with friends and families. In the future, she hopes to complete a master’s degree in clinical neuroscience and then continue into medical school to pursue an MD.
Loren Alfaro González is from San Juan, Puerto Rico. She is currently a senior majoring in Neuroscience and Behavior and minoring in History and Italian. After graduating, she plans on attending medical school and becoming a doctor. She joined the PAL Lab because, among other things, she is highly interested in how affective disorders manifest and develop differently across the various stages of life, and am very excited to work with individuals of differing ages, particularly children. She also enjoy reading, hanging out with friends and family, and generally relaxing in her free time.
Leia Jones is a senior majoring in Neuroscience and Behavior (pre-med) with a minor in Korean. She is originally from Greenwood, Indiana, but currently live in McGlinn Hall. On campus, she is part of the Galvin Scholars Program and am a tutor for general chemistry. Off campus, she spends time tutoring elementary school students at the RCLC and volunteering at Elkhart General Hospital. In her free time, she likes to play the guitar and go to concerts. In the future, she hopes to go to medical school and, eventually, go into a career in neurology.
Leslie Gamboa is a senior, majoring in Neuroscience and Behavior with a minor in Latino Studies. I am originally from Weslaco, Texas, but currently reside in Flaherty Hall. Her interest in psychology and neuroscience stems from her passion for holistic medical care and curiosity about the complexity of psychophysiological processes. She is very excited to extend her experience using EEG and witness its utility in research. After graduation, she plans to take a gap year and proceed to apply to medical school. Outside of research, her hobbies include reading, doing service work, volleyball, and going for walks.
Mary Rice is currently a senior at the University of Notre Dame, majoring in Neuroscience and Behavior (B.A.) with a supplemental major in Spanish. She has grown up in the South Bend community, with her family currently living in Niles, Michigan. She has gained previous psychology research experience through an internship at the William J. Shaw Center for Family and Children. Her extensive experience working with children has deepened her interest in understanding emotional regulation and physiological changes in children, particularly when compared to adults, and their implications for mental health. She is eager to continue her work in the PAL Lab after studying abroad the past 2025 spring semester, and looks forward to deepening her connection to the community she grew up in.
Natalie Wood is a senior at the University of Notre Dame, majoring in Neuroscience and Behavior with a minor in Science and Patient Advocacy. Originally from Samaná, Dominican Republic, she now considers Davenport, Florida, and Breen-Phillips Hall her homes. Natalie's research interests focus on how maternal adversity in prenatal care influences children's mental health and behavioral patterns long-term. She is a Teaching Assistant for Organic Chemistry and Neuroscience labs, roles that reflect her passion for research and the importance of "enjoying science". In her free time, Natalie enjoys baking cakes for friends and diving.