Undergraduate Research Assistants

Meseret Alemu

Research Assistant

Meseret Alemu is a junior at The Ohio State University, majoring in Psychology with a minor in Neuroscience. She is passionate about understanding the connection between the brain and behavior and aims to advance research in neuropsychology, particularly in memory-related disorders and neurodegenerative disorders. As a former Clinical Research Assistant at the FEAR BUCK Lab, she contributed to projects examining anxiety in adults with dementia and mild cognitive impairment, as well as in individuals with substance use disorders. She has also served as a PASS Mentor, a Student Ambassador for the Center for African Studies, an Ambassador for the College of Arts and Sciences, and a volunteer at The James Cancer Hospital. Through her research and mentorship experiences, she hopes to develop the skills and insight needed to become a Neuropsychologist and contribute to both clinical practice and research.

Talk to Meseret about:

Brain-behavior relationships and Anxiety functioning
Mentorship and student success
TV shows and Movies

Lewis Gallagher

Research Assistant

Lewis Gallagher is a sophomore at The Ohio State University majoring in Psychology on the pre med track. He is passionate about advancing health equity for underserved populations experiencing adverse health outcomes. As an undergraduate research assistant Lewis hopes to gain knowledge, leadership skills, and deeper perspicacity in neurodegenerative diseases to become a leader in the field of treating these diseases. He has experience as a volunteer for the Columbus Free Clinic, Co-Service Chair of MAPS, and working as a patient observer for UH Parma Medical Center.

Talk to Lewis about:

Cleveland Browns & Ohio State Football
Neurodegenerative diseases
Health equity

Diya Pandhi

Research Assistant

Diya Pandhi is a sophomore at The Ohio State University majoring in Psychology and minoring in Neuroscience and Pharmaceutical Sciences. She is interested in the neuropsychology behind addiction and hopes to develop personalized treatments for individuals struggling with mental or neurological disorders. Her research interests include neurobiological and psychological factors contributing to substance use, neurodegenerative disorders, and emotional dysregulation. Outside the lab, Diya conducts independent research on the effectiveness of psychotropic medications in individuals with genetic mutations and serves as the Marketing Director for a student organization. In her free time, she enjoys drawing, animating, and spending time with friends.

Talk to Diya about:

Addiction neuroscience
Psychopharmacology
Art and animation

Kaytlin Richardson

Research Assistant

Kaytlin is a junior at The Ohio State University, majoring in Health Sciences with a minor in Public Health on a pre-med track. She joined the lab in Fall 2024 and is passionate about addressing health disparities in low-income communities and working toward improving access to quality healthcare. Her goal is to attend medical school and become a family medicine physician, where she can provide comprehensive and compassionate care to underserved populations.

Talk to Kaytlin about:

Women's basketball
Medicine
Mockumentary-style sitcoms

Isabella Blum

Research Assistant

Isabella Blum is a junior at The Ohio State University pursuing a Bachelor of Science in psychology on a pre-med track. As an undergraduate research assistant in the CHILL Lab, she hopes to gain the experience and skills needed to work in the field of geriatric psychiatry, specifically working with neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. She is passionate about working with and for the Spanish-speaking population. She has experience in community outreach as a Wellness Ambassador at the OSU Student Wellness Center and Mental Health Chair for Chi Omega Zeta Alpha. She has clinical involvement as a volunteer at the Columbus Free Clinic and at the James Cancer Hospital.

Talk to Isabella about:

Geriatric psychology
Cooking
Spanish language/culture
Crooner/jazz music

Kevin Shen

Kevin Shen is a third-year undergraduate student at The Ohio State University majoring in Neuroscience. He is passionate about advancing the fight against neurodegenerative diseases, with a particular focus on reducing dementia caregiver stress in the Central Ohio community. Outside the lab, Kevin is involved in Alzheimer’s advocacy, respite volunteering, and home health care. He also leads Living Memory, a community initiative that supports dementia caregivers through appreciation efforts. Kevin hopes to become a leader in the biotechnology industry, developing devices that support individuals affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. In his free time, he enjoys playing guitar, watching football, going to the gym, and spending time with friends.

Talk to Kevin about:

Ohio State Football
Caregiver support
Neurodegenerative diseases

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