Current Lab Members

Eli Anish

Eli is a second year Psychology M.A. student at AU, on the clinical science track, with research interests pertaining to the interconnection between psychological processes and physical health. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a B.Phil. in Psychology, a B.S. in Exercise Science, and a certificate in Sport Studies. In the lab, he is currently conducting research on honesty as a moral foundation and how appraising situations as (dis)honest is related to relationship satisfaction and attachment styles. Outside of the lab, he is working on his master's thesis, training/competing as a long-distance runner, and rooting on Pittsburgh’s sports teams.

Amy Berger

Amy Berger is a third-year Clinical Psychology Ph.D. student at AU with a research interest in the prevention and treatment of substance use disorders. Amy graduated from Tufts University in Medford, MA - where she studied Clinical Psychology and Philosophy. After graduating, Amy worked at Massachusetts General Hospital as a research coordinator for the HEAL initiative, an NIH-funded project for preventing the development of opioid use disorder. In this lab, Amy is examining the relationship between alcohol-related shame and motivation for change, as well as factors contributing to moral disengagement. When she is not writing her master's thesis, Amy enjoys running, hiking, and baking cookies.

Alejandro (Sasha) Eros

Sasha is a first year Clinical Psychology Ph.D. student at AU with interests in contemplative practices and post-traumatic growth. He graduated from Santa Clara University with a B.S. in Psychology and Religious Studies with a minor in philosophy. He then worked as an RA in the Motivation and Social Identity Lab at SDSU, studying the culture of STEM labs. In his free time, Sasha likes to read, write poetry, play the saxophone, bake, and go hiking. 

Vivian Sava

Vivian is a senior neuroscience major on the pre-medical track. In the lab, she assists with running studies on moral injury and moral disengagement. Vivian's work reflects her broader interest in holistic interventions that address individuals’ unique functional needs by integrating psychological and neurobiological perspectives on health and behavior. 

Finley Totten

Finley Totten is a fourth-year psychology major at AU. She is originally from Rhode Island, where she discovered her love of psychology in high school. She is most interested in emotion regulation and well-being. Finley is looking forward to assisting with research in the lab and gaining more knowledge on research methods. In her free time, Finley enjoys reading, singing, and watching bad reality TV with her roommate.

Magda Travaglia

Magda is a senior at AU studying Psychology and History. She is currently working on her capstone project exploring the role of implicit theories in addiction and recovery. More broadly, she is interested in research on well-being and substance use and abuse. Outside of class and lab, she enjoys spending time with friends, reading, and going for walks around DC. 

Lauren Woodard

Lauren Woodard is a second-year Clinical Psychology Ph.D. student at AU with an interest in how beliefs about emotion inform emotion response processes. Lauren graduated from the University of Vermont, with a B.A. in Psychological Science and a minor in English. She then worked as a Clinical Research Coordinator at Boston University's Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders, where she contributed to projects related to the Unified Protocol for the Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders. In her free time, she enjoys playing board games, cooking with friends, and being outdoors!