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.

Amanda graduated with a B.A. in Psychology and a certificate in Neuroscience from the University of Missouri – St. Louis. She spent time working in the Norris Lab at Washington University School of Medicine researching the neural circuitries involved in minimizing the effects of strokes, as well as solutions for opioid addiction. She has a passion for research, but her true passion lies in working with children. Prior to her work at WashU, she provided therapy for children with autism spectrum disorder and down syndrome. At the EEDP, she works on the NOA study with Dr. Kirsten Gilbert researching personality traits in children that may lead to the development of clinical disorders.

Emme recently graduated with a B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis, with majors in Biology and Psychological and Brain Sciences. Her interest in research started as an undergraduate where she worked in the EEDP as a student research assistant, primarily running assessments for the Neurodevelopment of Overcontrol (NOA) study. Emme has experience working with children and families in a variety of settings and has a special interest in working with individuals with disabilities, particularly autism spectrum disorder. She hopes to become a Registered Nurse, and eventually to pursue an advanced degree in nursing. In the EEDP, she conducts EEG assessments and clinical interviews for the Girls’ Lives Online (GLO) study.

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. 

Laura graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a B.A in psychology in 2017. She works in Dr. Deanna Barch’s labs: EEDP and Cognitive Control and Psychopathology. She had a stroke with aphasia. In addition to her interest in stroke recovery, Laura has a longtime interest in children with autism.

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 Engle was born and raised here in St. Louis. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Truman State University and is currently working towards her Master of Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from UMSL. With many years of experience working with children with emotional dysregulation and other special needs, Sarah has a passion for helping children develop and express their emotions in a healthy way. In the EEDP, Sarah does EEGs and assessments with children who are involved in the ‘Early Development of Overcontrol (eDOC)’ and ‘Mood, Emotion, and Stress in Youth’ studies. Sarah hopes to become a Licensed Professional Counselor and do parent-child interaction therapy, play therapy, or preventative/intervention work with children and adolescents who are at risk for substance abuse.

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!