Staff

Originally from Austin, Claire received her undergraduate degree at the University of Missouri at Columbia and her Master’s in Social Work at Portsmouth University in England in 2014. She then worked as a case manager in Children’s Social Care in the UK for two years before returning to St. Louis to focus on preventative work with the Wyman Center. Claire later returned to case management working as a foster care case manager and eventually a supervisor covering St. Louis City, St. Louis County and Jefferson County. Needing a change in 2020, she shifted to clinical research here at WashU. Claire was with Oncology for two years before finding her way to Psychiatry where she is now combining her social work and research skills to support the EEDP and the Hermann Center. She is primarily working on the THRIVE in Schools study as a CRC II in the EEDP. Claire has also lived in Moshi, Tanzania and Sulaymaniyah, Iraq working with local and international NGO’s.

Anna is from NYC and completed a B.S. in Business and Psychology at NYU. Anna’s main research interests lie in the effects of early adversity on the brain, as well as related areas. During her undergraduate studies, she worked in the Culture, Families, and Early Development Lab under Dr. Melzi and at a community service center studying early childhood mental health interventions. She now works full-time on the NeuCorE+ and THRIVE studies at the EEDP.

Yosef Chernet is a staff scientist at the Early Emotional Development Program within the Washington University School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry, where he works on the BLOOM project supporting perinatal health research. An international medical graduate trained in Ethiopia, he earned his Master of Public Health from Washington University in St. Louis. His work sits at the intersection of clinical medicine and public mental health, with interests spanning maternal, child, and reproductive health, health services, and population-level interventions. He is a founding member of the BLOOM team and works on all aspects of the project, from content development to program coordination to research.

Ajla graduated from Saint Louis University with a B.S. in Psychology and Communication, with a concentration in Integrated Strategic Communication. She worked on a variety of studies throughout her time as an undergraduate within both the Department of Psychology and the Department of Sociology and Anthropology. She is interested in the development of psychopathology in children and dynamics within immigrant families. In the EEDP, she works on the GLO study conducting EEGs and clinical interviews. 

Katie received a Bachler’s of Science degree in Psychology from Creighton University. During her time there, she was a paraprofessional who aided a second-grade classroom at a bilingual school. After returning home to St. Louis, she became a Preschool Assistant Teacher in a Montessori environment. She is now a Clinical Research Coordinator I working on the GLO study, and is interested in child development, trauma and psychopathology, and family dynamics. 

Benjamin graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the College of William and Mary in 2023 before attending Wake Forest University’s research-oriented Master of Arts in Psychology program. Benjamin’s research interests at Wake Forest include cultural comparisons of changes in family decision making and their associations with adolescents’ internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Additionally, Benjamin worked as an Undergraduate Lead Research Assistant in Dr. Madelyn Labella's RISE Lab at the College of William and Mary, examining associations among stressors, parenting, and toddlers’ self-regulation skills. Benjamin serves as the Research Coordinator for the STARK Study and conducts clinical interviews with parent participants. 

Sarah graduated with her Master's in Social Work from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis in 2019. She is a licensed clinical social worker with experience providing therapy, counseling, and assessment in a variety of settings, including a university counseling center, a group practice, an eating disorder treatment facility, and a few child and family non-profits. Sarah currently works on the GLO study. During her free time, she can be found snuggling with her cat, appreciating nature, or savoring a good Thai iced tea.

Julia graduated with a Bachelor of Social Work from Olivet Nazarene University in 2019 before completing a Master of Social Work with a focus in Mental Health from Washington University in St. Louis in 2020. During her graduate work, Julia completed a practicum at St. Louis Play Therapy Institute and was a Research Assistant for the Center for Mental Health Services Research. Julia has experience in clinical work with children and families effected by serious mental illness, trauma, and adverse life events. At the EEDP, Julia works on the THRIVE project with Dr. Luby and NOA project with Dr. Gilbert. During her free time, Julia can be found with family and friends at a park, getting coffee, or catching up on the latest book club read!

Hailey completed their PhD in Experimental Psychology with an emphasis in Social Psychology from Saint Louis University. Broadly, Hailey’s research interests are within intergroup relations and morality as well as attitudes toward and experiences of those from underrepresented and marginalized backgrounds (e.g., LGBTQ+ individuals; first-generation college students). They are also interested in social identity development and how these identities influence overall wellbeing. She is deeply committed to DEIA initiatives and projects that drive policy changes to improve accessibility (e.g., in healthcare and higher education) and enhance physical and mental health outcomes.

Brittany received her Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology from Missouri State University and is a Licensed Professional Counselor. Brittany has over 5 years of clinical experience working with children and families in residential and outpatient settings. In the EEDP, she coordinates the PDS-Personality Study.