We are a team of child psychologists and cognitive neuroscientists at the Center for Children and Families who are working together to better understand child anxiety. The LEMUR Study is led by Drs. Dana McMakin, Aaron Mattfeld and Jeremy Pettit. Many of us are also undergraduate and graduate students who are passionate about improving child and adolescent mental health!
Leadership
Dr. McMakin is an associate professor of clinical science and cognitive neuroscience in the Department of Psychology at FIU. She also holds a dual appointment at the Brain Institute in the Department of Neurology at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. Dr. McMakin has been conducting research studies with children and adolescents for nearly two decades. She uses tools such as PSG and MRI to better understand how sleep impacts mental health in childhood and adolescence. A key aim of this work is to improve treatments for children and adolescents who experience anxiety and/or depression.
Dr. Mattfeld is an Assistant Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience in the Department of Psychology at FIU. Dr. Mattfeld leads several research studies of children and adolescents at FIU. Dr. Mattfeld uses tools such as MRI to understand how the brain supports learning and memory processes. He is interested in how these processes develop throughout the lifespan, but especially during childhood and adolescence. Dr. Mattfeld is excited to study how learning and memory processes contribute to child and adolescent anxiety. Aaron enjoys reading books with his kids and cooking.
Dr. Pettit is a Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry & Behavioral Health at FIU. Additionally, Dr. Pettit is Director of the Child Anxiety and Phobia Program (CAPP), which provides treatment to children and adolescents who experience anxiety and depression. Dr. Pettit has been conducting research with children and adolescents for nearly 20 years. His research aims include the development and refinement of treatments for anxiety and depression to improve mental health outcomes throughout the lifespan.
Dr. Rey is a research scientist in the Department of Psychology and is the Coordinator for the Child Anxiety and Phobia Program (CAPP) at FIU. Dr. Rey has expertise in child developmental psychopathology. As a clinical coordinator for the CCF, she oversees the LEMUR Study. Dr. Rey helps to determine whether families are a good fit for the study, and provides training and supervision to clinicians involved in the study. Yasmin enjoys cooking gourmet meals and baking goodies in her free time.
Josefina Freitag is the research coordinator at Nicklaus Children's Hospital Site. She helps coordinate study visits across institutions. Josefina loves skiing! She grew up on the mountains making snowmen!
Megan Maxwell, BA
Megan is the project coordinator for the LEMUR Study and a member of the REMEDY Lab. She graduated in May 2021 from Washington University in St. Louis with a double-major in Psychological & Brain Sciences and Art History & Archaeology. In her free time, Megan enjoys thrifting, playing ping pong, and watching game shows.
Andi Zhu, MS
Andi is a full-time research assistant and a member of the REMEDY Lab. She obtained her Bachelor’s degree in China, a Master’s degree from Columbia University and joined the team as a staff member shortly after. In her free time, she enjoys watching reality shows, doing henna art, and eating Korean food.
Carlos Guerrero, BA
Carlos is a full-time research assistant and a member of the REMEDY Lab. He graduated from FIU with a degree in Psychology and joined the lab after. Outside of work, Carlos enjoys reading manga, playing video games, and listening to alternative indie music.
Graduate Students
Liga Eihentale, BA
Liga is a 3rd year doctoral student in the Clinical Science program at FIU and a member of the REMEDY Lab. Liga’s research interests include investigating the effect of early life stress and trauma on child cognitive and emotional development.
Stephen (Steve) Suss, MS
Steve is a 2nd year doctoral student in the Clinical Science program at FIU and a member of the REMEDY Lab. Steve's research interests largely surround the utilization of neuroimaging to inform future interventions for adolescents who have or are at risk of mood disorders, as well as other youth that may struggle with emotion regulation.
Aishwarya Sritharan,BA
Aishwarya is a 1st year doctoral student in the Clinical Science program at FIU and our newest member of the REMEDY lab. Aishwarya's research interests includes understanding how sleep problems lead to the onset of internalizing disorders.
Undergraduate Students
Francisco Fuertes, BA
Francisco is a volunteer research assistant for REMEDY and MaD Lab. As class of 2023, he graduated from the FIU Honors Program with a BA in Chemistry and a minor in Biological Sciences. Currently, he is applying to MD programs around the US. For fun, Francisco enjoys practicing jiu jitsu, playing bass, and reading.
Maria Rivera, BA
Maria is an undergraduate research assistant for the LEMUR Study at REMEDY. She will be graduating from FIU this upcoming month with her bachelor's degree in science in Behavioral Neuroscience. She aspires to become a physician and is interested in the medical aspects of neuroscience, such as vascular neurology and neurodegenerative diseases. Apart from the lab she works as a medical assistant and also volunteers with the children of her local church. During her free time, she enjoys reading historical fiction novels and exploring the outdoors with her border collie, Tokyo.
Samantha Blanco-Martinez, BA
Samantha is a volunteer research assistant and a member of the REMEDY Lab. She graduated from FIU with degrees in Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychology and a minor in Natural & Applied Sciences. She hopes to continue her studies in medical school. For fun, Samantha enjoys reading, binging TV shows, and teaching Colorguard.
Vedlee Alexandre, BA
Vedlee is an undergraduate research assistant and a member of the REMEDY lab. She is a senior at FIU, graduating this Spring 2024 with a bachelor's in Behavioral Neuroscience. Currently, she is focused on finishing her degree. To unwind, she likes to watch cooking videos and reading fictional historical novels.
Alexandra Rico, BA
Alexandra is an undergrad research assistant of the REMEDY Lab. She graduated from FIU with a degree in Psychology and is pursuing a second bachelors degree in Natural and Applied Sciences. Outside of work, Alexandra enjoys listening to music, baking, and has a passion for fitness and cycling.
Sabrina Rodriguez, BA
Sabrina is a volunteer Research Assistant at the REMEDY lab at FIU. Sabrina graduated from Florida State University with a bachelor's in psychology and is currently in the Professional Counseling Psychology Master's program at FIU. In her free time Sabrina enjoys reading, going to the beach, and trying new things.
Alumni
Guadalupe Patriarca was the former research coordinator for the EMU Study. She helped coordinate all the study visits with families and the study sites. She is currently a doctoral student in the Clinical Science program at FIU. Guadalupe enjoys spending sunny days at the beach and spending rainy days watching movies
Saima Akbar is a sixth-year doctoral student in Clinical Science at FIU. She is beginning an internship at the University of Texas Health Science Center-Houston. Saima is a bit of a Nintendo fan and is currently playing Animal Crossing and Breath of the Wild.
Logan Cummings is a sixth-year doctoral student in Clinical Science at FIU. He is currently completing his internship at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, Texas. Starting August 2024, he will complete a post doc at the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical school under the mentorship of Dr. Daniel Dickstein. In his free time, Logan enjoys walking by the water and searching for manatees.
Adam is a graduate of the Cognitive Neuroscience program at FIU. He is currently completing his Post doc at the University of California, Irvine. In his free time, Adam enjoys playing Dungeons and Dragons and watching TikTok.
Vanessa is a graduate of the cognitive Neuroscience program at FIU. She will be attending Brown University to complete her post-doctoral training this year.
Nathan is currently a Psychology Resident at Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center in JBSA-Lackland, Texas. He will be a psychologist and an officer in the Air Force for the foreseeable future.
Carlos Yeguez is a graduate of the Clinical Science program at FIU. He is currently a psychology resident at the University of Washington School of Medicine and Seattle Childrens Hospital.
Contact Us
If you would like to learn more about the study, or would like to find out if your child might be eligible to participate, please submit your contact information through our contact form, call us at (305) 348-4959, or email us at lemur-study@fiu.edu.