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.
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 autistic adults and middle schoolers. 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.
Nicole Warren, B.A., is a lab assistant on the RISE study. She graduated from Furman University with degrees in Psychology and French in 2024, and has spent the past year working as an English Teaching Assistant in France. As an undergraduate, Nicole served as a research assistant in both the Early Social Development Lab at UofSC, studying early identification of ASD, and the Resilience And Intergenerational Social Emotional Development Lab at Furman University, studying resilience to adversity. In the future, she hopes to pursue a PhD in School Psychology. Outside of work, Nicole enjoys crochet, embroidery, and cooking.
Undergraduate Research Assistants
Our awesome undergraduate members; learn more about them below!
- Devan Nahal is a human biology major in Lyman Briggs college. He enjoys watching movies, spending time with friends and going to the gym
- Ananya Naik is a Psychology major in the College of Social Science. She enjoys dancing, listening to music, photography, and traveling.
- Hala Shaaban is a Psychology and Human biology major in the college of social science and natural science. She enjoys traveling, going to the beach and being with friends and family.
- Olivia Bowman is a psychology major in the College of Social Science who enjoys reading, musical theatre, and watching movies.
- Alexis Brunsden is a psychology major in the college of social science who enjoys walks and spending time with family and friends.
- Elizabeth Doran is a psychology major in the College of Social Sciences. She enjoys spending time with her friends and family, reading, and listening to music.
- Kavya Jonnalagadda is a Human Biology major in the Lyman Briggs College who enjoys playing tennis, travelling, and spending time with her friends.
- Charlotte Cline is a psychology major in the College of Social Science who enjoys reading, watching movies, and art.
- Michael Vu is a human biology major in Lyman Briggs College. He enjoys watching sports, running, and listening to music.
- 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.
- Lisa Cela is a Human Biology and Psychology dual major in the College of Natural Science and Social Science and on a pre-med track. She has a strong interest in pediatric psychiatry. She likes figure skating, reading, and learning more about her Albanian heritage.
- 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.
- Ella Sturtz is a senior majoring in Psychology and Criminal Justice in the College of Social Science, with a minor in Youth and Society. She has a strong interest in pediatric psychology and enjoys spending time outdoors, running, and making art as a creative outlet.
- Robbie Kado is a human biology major who likes to read literature, play sports and go to the gym.
- Elif Yazgan is a Psychology major in the College of Social Science who enjoys painting, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.
- Evelyn Fairbanks is a psychology major in the College of Social Science who enjoys golfing, skiing, and spending time with friends and family.
- Hayley Rose is a neuroscience and psychology dual major with a cognitive and computational concentration. She enjoys traveling, skiing, hiking, and baking.
- Stephanie Barroso is a Human Biology major with a Business minor at Michigan State University. She enjoys exploring new places with friends, singing in the choir, and staying active through activities like volleyball, soccer, and karate.
- Dana Mansour is a Human Biology major through Lyman Briggs College with a minor in Business. She enjoys pickleball, crocheting, hanging out with friends, and going to football games.
- Izabela Terolli is a Psychology major in the College of Social Science on the pre-med track. She enjoys seeing friends and family, traveling, and nature walks.
- Nealy Patel is a Human Biology major in the College of Natural Science who enjoys traveling, shopping, and trying new things.
- Brianna Deeble is a Special Education major at the College of Education. She hopes to get further education in Occupational Therapy. She enjoys reading, history, and nature!
- Asjoat Kaur is a Neuroscience Major on the Pre-Physician Assistant track. In her free time, she enjoys going home to spend time with her 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, Ph.D., Post Doc at University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
- Karís Casagrande, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, 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, MSW, Social Worker, Boston College
- Kyle Frost, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, 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
- Thuan Tran, M.S., Doctoral Student at Louisiana State University
Looking to join us?
See information for prospective graduate students and
prospective undergraduate RAs!
