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.
Graduate Students
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
Ayesha Rehman, M.S., is the lab manager at the MSU Autism Lab. She received her M.S. from Michigan State University, East Lansing with a degree in Child Development. She worked as a research assistant at the research in autism and development disabilities (RADD) lab. She completed her thesis titled “Exploring Barriers and Practices related to Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) in Pakistan”. In the future, she hopes to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology. Ayesha enjoys cooking, playing games with her friends and going on walks in her free time.
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.
- 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.
- Layla Acosta is a Psychology major with a minor in Human Behavior and Social Services. She hopes to pursue a career in child psychology. She loves reading, traveling, and spending time with her friends and family.
- Michael Vu is a human biology major in Lyman Briggs College. He enjoys watching sports, running, and listening to music.
- 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.
- Kristina Johnson is a Molecular Genetics and Genomics major in the College of Natural Science. She enjoys listening to music, watching movies, and watching football with friends and family.
- Layal Farhat is a neuroscience major on the premedical track. During her free time she enjoys walking her dog, hanging out with family and friends, and playing piano.
- Robbie Kado is a human biology major who likes to read literature, play sports and go to the gym.
- Reva Jategaonkar is a Neuroscience major with a minor in Business. She is on the pre-med track and hopes to pursue a career in Pediatrics. In her free time, she enjoys dancing, being outdoors, and spending time with her friends and family.
- Abby Plavnick is a Social Relations and Policy major through James Madison College and a Psychology major through the College of Social Science. She enjoys travelling, dancing, and spending time with friends and family.
- 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!
- 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.
- Taylor Brogan is a Neuroscience major with a minor in Peace and Justice Studies. She has a strong interest in anesthesiology and enjoys exploring the outdoors, thrifting, and crocheting.
- Audra Graham is a physiology major in the college of natural science who enjoys figure skating and spending time with her friends and family.
- Sarrah Shakir is a Human Biology major with a minor in Health Promotion and enjoys playing lacrosse, reading, and traveling with her friends and family.
- Anshika Yersai is a psychology major on the pre med track who loves running, cooking, and spending time with her friends & family.
- Gisselle Solis is a Psychology major minoring in Business and Youth and Society. She is from New York and enjoys playing sports, running, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.
- Helen Hughes is a Psychology major with a minor in Spanish. She enjoys reading, rooting for MSU sports, and spending quality time with her friends!
- Arthur McCarthy is a Psychology major with a minor in Youth and Society. He likes to spend time running, playing basketball, watching sports, and growing in his faith with friends.
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
- Anamiguel Pomales-Ramos, Post doctoral fellow at the Center for Mental Health, Psychiatry Department, Penn Medicine Autism Clinic
- Mehreen Z. Hassan, Ph.D., Post doctoral research fellow at the Nisonger Center at the Ohio State University
- Isabelle Babore, B.A., Masters Student at Northwestern University
- Nicole Warren, B.A., Doctoral Student at Michigan State Univerisity
Looking to join us?
See information for prospective graduate students and
prospective undergraduate RAs!
