Our Team

Jojo Dong, B.A.
Lab Manager
xiaoyu.dong@rochester.edu

Jojo graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2022 with a B.A. in Psychology. Broadly, Jojo’s interests include social and emotional functioning in individuals with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. In her spare time, Jojo enjoys going on walks, writing, and practicing photography.

Abhishek Saxena, M.A.
Clinical Psychology PhD Student
asaxena8@ur.rochester.edu

Abhi’s research investigates the role of socio-cultural and environmental factors on neural social information processing in relationship to risk for severe mental illness. More specifically, Abhi is interested in how experiences of chronic social defeat and isolation may increase risk for psychopathology and if social cohesion can act as a buffer. Abhi has particular interest in psychosis-risk among adolescents and young adults, as well as in the experiences of minorities (e.g., racial, immigrant, sexual, gender, etc). Additionally, Abhi is interested in the potential diagnostic and therapeutic applications of neuroplasticity and neuromodulation in relation to psychopathology.

Bridget Shovestul, M.A.
Clinical Psychology PhD Student
bshovest@.rochester.edu

Bridget’s research examines how negative perceptions of one’s social environment might explain the exacerbation and precipitation of social-cognitive and pleasure deficits in individuals with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. To the extent that negative perceptions are due to faulty information-processing, she is interested in how we can use fMRI to help explain these deficits and their relationship to pernicious symptoms, such as social anhedonia. Additionally, Bridget is interested in how these relationships may differ when negative perceptions are instead a product of recognized, adverse treatment (e.g., discrimination).

Lisa Lin, M.A.
Clinical Psychology PhD Student
lisa.lin@rochester.edu

Lisa’s research focuses on using computerized methods to quantify the degree of coordination of nonverbal behaviors (i.e., nonverbal synchrony) between pairs of individuals during social interactions. She is interested in understanding the role that nonverbal synchrony plays in various types of social interactions and how the degree of nonverbal synchrony may be predictive of both clinical and social outcomes.

Beth Kruse, B.S.
Clinical Psychology PhD Student
ekruse2@ur.rochester.edu

Beth’s research interests revolve around psychotic spectrum disorders, social cognition, and MR imaging. She is particularly interested in the onset and progression of social functioning deficits across the psychosis spectrum, and disruptions in the underlying structural neural circuitry involved. Additionally, she is interested in the degree to which volitional control can be employed by individuals with psychotic disorders to regulate brain activity in key pathways associated with social cognition. In her free time, she enjoys baking, reading, running, hiking, and camping!

Emily Przysinda, B.A.
MD/Neuroscience PhD Student

emily_przysinda@urmc.rochester.edu

Chenyuan Qu