Lab Director
Brooke Ingersoll, PhD, BCBA-D, is the director of the MSU Autism Lab. Dr. Ingersoll’s research focuses on the development, evaluation, and dissemination of social communication interventions for individuals with autism. She also conducts research on the impact of ASD on the family and the broader autism phenotype. A major emphasis of her current work is on the development of community-focused, parent-mediated interventions for young children with ASD.
Post-Docs
Mehreen Z. Hassan, PhD, is a Postdoctoral Fellow on the RISE Study. She received her PhD in Human Development and Family Science from Purdue University, where she also completed her M.S.Ed. in Applied Behavior Analysis. Mehreen’s work focuses on early interventions for children with disabilities, particularly parent-mediated approaches. Her training has centered on providing telehealth parent coaching on social-communication interventions for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities. Mehreen’s research interests explore how cultural factors and family characteristics shape the experiences and outcomes of diverse families engaging in early intervention programs.
Gökhan TÖRET, PhD, is a Postdoctoral Researcher on the RISE study. He is a full-time associate professor at Hacettepe University in Türkiye. He received his PhD in Special Education from the Gazi University in Türkiye and completed his dissertation on the examination of the effectiveness of Reciprocal Imitation Training on social communication of young children with ASD. Clinically, his work has focused on natural behavioral and developmental interventions. His research has focused on the development of social communication among young children with ASD, eye tracking methodology, and social robots and child interaction in ASD.
Graduate Students
Anamiguel Pomales-Ramos, M.A., is a doctoral candidate at Michigan State University’s Clinical Science program. Ana grew up in Puerto Rico and attended college at the University of Pittsburgh. After graduation, she completed a two-year postgraduate research fellowship at the Yale Child Study Center, where she studied telehealth-delivered and caregiver-mediated Pivotal Response Treatment. Her research is centered on adapting parent-mediated interventions, such as Project ImPACT, to increase access and provide culturally responsive care for linguistically, ethnoculturally, and racially minoritized families. In her free time, Ana enjoys cooking new recipes, watching movies, and traveling.
Hannah Tokish, M.A. is a third-year doctoral student in MSU’s Clinical Science program. Before joining the MSU Autism Lab, she completed her B.A. in Psychology at Cornell University and a post-baccalaureate fellowship at the Marcus Autism Center. Hannah’s research focuses on parent characteristics and provider strategies that influence parent engagement in early parent-mediated interventions for autism. Through her work, she hopes to reduce barriers to active parent engagement and inform provider training methods within community service systems. Outside the lab, Hannah enjoys doing yoga, dancing, and exploring new places with friends and family.
Lauren Duvall, B.S., is a graduate student in MSU’s Clinical Science program. Before joining the MSU Autism Lab, Lauren earned her BS in Psychology and Dance from the University of Alabama. After graduating, she worked as a research assistant and research early interventionist at the Center for Autism Service, Science and Innovation at the Kennedy Krieger Institute. Lauren is interested in studying implementation of parent-mediated early intervention for youth on the autism spectrum and how approaches to caregiver coaching may impact provider and parent self-efficacy, well-being, and parent-child bond. In her free time, Lauren enjoys traveling, working out, and knitting.
Lab Staff
Isabella Babore, B.A., is a research assistant at the MSU Autism Lab. She received her B.A. from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a degree in English and Applied Psychology. As an undergraduate, Isabella served as a research assistant for the Koegel Autism Center working with adults and middle schoolers with ASD. Her research interests includes studying the efficacy of social skills interventions and its effects on anxiety in children diagnosed with ASD. In the future, she hopes to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology. Isabella enjoys cooking, scuba diving and going on walks in her free time.
Thuan Tran, M.S., graduated with a B.A. in psychology from Luther College and an M.S. in developmental disorders from Nottingham University. She has clinical and research experience working with autistic children. Thuan completed a year of post-baccalaureate work at Stanford University in a neuroimaging lab, where she administered PRT. She aims to further explore early comprehensive autism interventions that are adaptable and feasible for underserved areas, taking into account rural barriers. To balance her work life, she enjoys cooking, working out, and exploring new restaurants.
Undergraduate Research Assistants
Our awesome undergraduate members; learn more about them below!
- Mikayla Meyer is a neuroscience major with an additional major in psychology in the College of Natural Science who enjoys traveling, reading, and playing spikeball.
- Bridget Hafner is a psychology major in the College of Social Science. She enjoys reading, listening to music, and spending time with family and friends.
- Claire Bongiorno is a psychology major in the College of Social Science. She enjoys spending time with her friends and family, swimming, and being outside.
- Olivia Bowman is a psychology major in the College of Social Science who enjoys reading, musical theatre, and watching movies.
- Saahiti Kurella is a neuroscience major in the College of Natural Science who enjoys dancing, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.
- Seth Siskonen is a neuroscience major in the College of Natural Science who enjoys climbing, traveling and exercising.
- Ashley Poothurail is a psychology major in the College of Social Sciences who enjoys traveling, spending time with family & friends, and doing different forms of Indian dance.
- Charlotte Cline is a psychology major in the College of Social Science who enjoys reading, watching movies, and art.
- Ali Steurer is a neuroscience and psychology double major in the Lyman Briggs College who enjoys reading, crocheting, and spending time with her friends.
- Lexi Zydeck is a physiology and psychology dual major who enjoys figure skating, traveling, and trying out new coffee shops.
- Allison Miller is a neuroscience major in Lyman Briggs College who enjoys being outside with friends and family.
- Haley Price is a psychology major in the College of Social Science who enjoys painting, journaling, and being outside.
- Mahmoud Abolibdeh is a Psychology major who enjoys exercising, reading, and spending time with friends and family.
- Malka Alfadel is a psychology major in the College of Social Sciences who enjoys rowing, drawing, baking, and spending time with friends and family.
- Kiara Kapusansky is a psychology major in the College of Social Science who enjoys running, traveling, and spending time with her friends and family.
- Megan Nichols is a neuroscience major in the College of Natural Science who enjoys figure skating, traveling, and reading.
- Audrey Burgess is psychology major in the College of Social Science who enjoys creative writing, traveling, and creating art.
- Robbie Kado is a human biology major who likes to read literature, play sports and go to the gym.
- Brian Kim is a human biology major in the College of Natural Science. He enjoys playing tennis, listening to music, and running outside.
- Taylor Nicholsen is a Biochemistry major in the college of Natural Science, who enjoys playing soccer, country music, and spending time with family and friends.
- Elif Yazgan is a Psychology major in the College of Social Science who enjoys painting, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.
- Haoshan Zhao is a psychology major in the College of Social Science. She enjoys spending time with her friends and family, dancing, and travelling.
- Evelyn Fairbanks is a psychology major in the College of Social Science who enjoys golfing, skiing, and spending time with friends and family.
Lab Alumni
- Katherine Walton, PhD., Assistant Professor, Ohio State University
- Allison Wainer, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Rush Medical College
- Natalie Berger, Ph.D., Assistant Professor & Pediatric Neuropsychologist, Rush University Medical Center
- Katherine Pickard, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Marcus Autism Center, Emory University
- KC Berry, Ph.D., ABA Behavior Therapies and Testing
- Kate Shannon, Ph.D., Behavioral Resources and Institute for Neuropsychological Services (BRAINS), Grand Rapids
- Nikki Bonter, MSW, Social Worker, Great Lakes Psychology Group
- Kate Bailey, M.A., Doctoral student at Vanderbilt University
- Kaylin Russell, B.A., Doctoral student at University of California, Santa Barbara
- Karís Casagrande, Ph.D., Post Doc at the University of Washington.
- Julia Nauman, B.S., Doctoral student at the Ohio State University.
- Mya Howard, B.S., Doctoral student at the University of Virginia
- Sanchia Fernandes, B.A., Masters student at Boston College School of Social Work.
- Kyle Frost, Ph.D., Post Doc at UMass Chan Medical School
- Diondra Straiton, Ph.D., Post Doc at University of Pennsylvania
- Anthuanet Espinel, B.S., Doctoral Student at University of California, Santa Barbara
Looking to join us?
See information for prospective graduate students and
prospective undergraduate RAs!
