Director
Richard J. Macatee, Ph.D.
Dr. Macatee is the director of the BRAINS Lab and an assistant professor in the clinical psychology department at Auburn University. Dr. Macatee earned his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Florida State University in 2018 after he completed a pre-doctoral clinical internship at the Department of Psychiatry at University of Illinois - Chicago. At the BRAINS Lab, Dr. Macatee focuses on the multi-method measurement and treatment of biobehavioral risk and maintenance factors for internalizing and substance use disorders, with a particular emphasis on co-morbid presentations. In his spare time, Dr. Macatee enjoys spending time at home with his wife as well as his consultant, Professor Moose (see below).
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Graduate Students
Kaveh Afshar, M.S.
Kaveh graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a major in psychology and a minor in philosophy. He joined the Clinical Psychology PhD program at Auburn University in Fall 2019. His research interest is studying psychophysiological and neural biomarkers to better understand internalizing disorders and other related psychopathologies. In his free time, he likes to play chess, watch movies, read books, and ride his bike around Auburn.
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Julia Y. Gorday, M.S.
Julia is a third-year graduate student in the Clinical Psychology PhD program. She graduated from Florida State University with her bachelor’s degree in Psychology in August 2019. Julia is interested in cognitive factors that impact the etiology and maintenance of anxiety and fear-related disorders (e.g., metacognition, information processing biases). Julia’s long-term goals include the development of interventions that target risk factors to mitigate anxiety and fear-based symptoms.
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Thomas Preston, M.S.
TJ is currently a third-year graduate student in the Clinical Psychology program here at Auburn. He graduated from Florida State University in 2018 with a double major in Psychology and Sociology. TJ is interested in converging multi-method (EEG, behavioral, self-report) approaches to examine comorbid problematic substance use and posttraumatic stress disorder. In his free time, TJ loves buying too many plants, running, and telling his cat to get off the counter.
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Brandon Schermitzler, B.S.
Brandon earned his B.S. in Psychology with minors in Neuroscience and Public Health from the University of Minnesota in 2018. He joined the Clinical Psychology PhD program at Auburn University in Fall 2021. Broadly, his research interests focus on cognitive-affective mechanisms of substance use disorders (SUDs), examined through a combination of psychophysiological, behavioral, and self-report measures. He is also interested in the development of accessible interventions to help people who experience SUDs. In his free time, Brandon enjoys hiking, drinking coffee, and buying (and unfortunately killing) too many plants.
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Mallory Cannon, B.A.
Mallory graduated from Marist College in 2020 with a double major in Psychology and Philosophy and a Cognitive Science minor. She joined the Clinical Psychology PhD program at Auburn University in Fall 2022. Broadly, she is interested in studying how higher-level processes, such as emotional regulation and decision-making, relate to trauma experiences and anxiety or substance use disorder (SUD) symptoms – and how delineating these processes may help us implement strategies to improve therapeutic techniques and interventions. In her free time, Mallory enjoys traveling, hiking, working out, reading books, and wishing she had a pet to call her own.
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Sophie Solan, M.P.S.
Sophie graduated from Elon University in December 2021 with a major in Psychology and a minor in Criminal Justice. She then pursued her Master’s in Clinical Psychological Sciences from The University of Maryland and graduated in November 2023. She will be joining the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program at Auburn University in Fall 2024. Sophie is broadly interested in studying the intersection between internalizing disorders, distress intolerance, and substance use disorders (SUD). In her free time, Sophie likes trying new restaurants, reading books, and spending time with her family, friends, and dog!
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Aishwarya Chowdhary, MSc
Aishwarya is an incoming graduate student at Auburn University, starting in Fall 2024. She split her time between India and America growing up before deciding to pursue higher education in the UK. She graduated with a first class honours degree in BSc Psychology (Hons) from De Montfort University in Leicester and completed her masters training in MSc Applied Clinical Psychology from the University of Bath. She discovered her love for studying substance use disorders during her tenure at the Yale School of Medicine. There she contributed to research at various labs such as the Yale Stress Center, the Yale Tobacco Center of Regulatory Science lab, and the Racial Equity and Addiction lab. Her program of research is studying transdiagnostic factors—such as emotion regulation—that may contribute to the precipitation and maintenance of internalizing and substance use disorders and which foster resilience in these contexts. She feels passionate about improving access to mental health care resources for all; but especially for minorities and those from low-socioeconomic backgrounds. In her spare time Aishwarya enjoys spending time with her friends, reading, playing volleyball, and rewatching her favourite TV shows.
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Lab Managers
Vincent Le, B.S.
Vincent is currently the lab manager at the BRAINS Lab. They graduated from Virginia Tech in 2023 with a degree in Psychology and minors in Sociology and Adaptive Brain and Behavior. He plans on pursuing a PhD in Clinical or Counseling Psychology and is broadly interested in examining how sociocultural factors inform health and cognitive outcomes. In their free time, Vincent enjoys cooking, playing video games, and hanging out with his cat, Odis.
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Natalie McBrayer
Natalie is a Senior, majoring in Psychology and minoring in Biological Sciences. She is a Matthews Scholar Undergraduate Research Fellow. She plans to pursue an M.D. and eventually become a psychiatrist. When not in the lab or in class, Natalie enjoys watching the same shows over and over again, reading books, going on spontaneous adventures with her friends, and trying to wrangle her puppy, Riggs.
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Research Assistants
Madeleine Rein
Madeleine is a Senior majoring in Psychology and minoring in Sociology and Political Science. She is an Undergraduate Research Fellow and Secretary for the AU Psi Chi Honors Society. Madeleine plans to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology and do clinical work in a legal setting. When not in the lab, Madeleine is a member of the Auburn University Marching Band and enjoys watching horror movies.
Faith Miller
Faith is a Junior, majoring in psychology at Auburn University. She plans to pursue a career in clinical neuropsychology to work as a clinician with geriatric populations while also continuing with her passion for research. When Faith is not in the lab, she spends her time reading, binging terrible Netflix shows, and trying not to nap every day.
Elle McDonald
Elle is a senior majoring in Psychology at Auburn University. She plans to attend graduate school after graduating from Auburn and wants to focus on clinical mental health counseling, become a licensed counselor, and hopes to work in private practice. Elle loves all things Auburn, like attending gymnastic meets and football games, and her favorite activities are hanging out with friends and playing pickleball.
Kyley Trimm
Kyley is a Senior majoring in Biomedical Sciences with a minor in Psychology at Auburn University. After graduation, she plans on attending medical school and pursuing her career as a physician. In her free time, she enjoys Krav Maga, walking her two energetic dogs, and spending time with her beloved husband.
Annie Lucas
Annie is a Junior majoring in Psychology and minoring in Human Development and Family Sciences at Auburn University. She plans to continue her research and hopes to obtain a Ph.D. in either Clinical or Counseling Psychology. When Annie is not in the lab she enjoys reading trashy romance books, painting, and going on long runs around campus.
Chloe Beth Wood
Chloe Beth is a Senior, majoring in Psychology at Auburn University. She plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Forensic Psychology so that she can pursue research regarding new treatment and counseling options for people with conditions such as conduct disorders and psychopathy. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her friends and playing with her dog, Ralphie, and her cats, Noodle and Mamba.
Jordan Ozment
Jordan is a Junior at Auburn University majoring in neuroscience and psychology. She wishes to pursue a Ph.D. in cognitive and behavioral neuroscience to further her understanding of how the brain uses information to produce memories, language, and mental processes. She also aims to be involved in research involving neuropharmacology. Jordan spends most of her time working and studying but really enjoys going to music festivals and concerts.
Clarisse Nacilla
Clarisse is a junior majoring in neuroscience at Auburn University. She plans to attend medical school and continue pursuing a career as a physician. In her free time, she enjoys playing classical piano, hiking at Chewacla, playing with her cat, and reading memoirs of her favorite artists and authors.
Coleman Long
Colemon is a senior majoring in biomedical sciences. After graduation he plans on attending medical school. In his free time he enjoys organizing philanthropy events for his fraternity, visiting national parks, and playing pick up sports with his friends.
Carson Horn
Carson is a sophomore majoring in Psychology. He plans to pursue a career in clinical, geriatric, or neuropsychology. Carson desires to learn more about psychological conditions affecting elderly populations and ways to counteract those conditions. In his free time, Carson enjoys watching sports and working on his podcast about Auburn.
Abby Durkin
Abby is a sophomore majoring in Neuroscience with a double minor in Human Development and Family Sciences and Philanthropic and Nonprofit Studies. She plans to pursue her medical degree and practice clinical pediatric psychiatry. Abby also plans to open a mental health non-profit for children in an inner city. In her free time, she loves to go to the gym, read, and going concerts with friends.
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Camille Harrelson
Consultant
Professor Moose
Lab Alumni
Michael Griffin
Jessica Minieri
Hollis McMahon
Jenna Fairbrother
Mallie Greer
Olly Davis
Jessica Minieri
Hollis McMahon
Jenna Fairbrother
Mallie Greer
Olly Davis