MEET OUR TEAM
Dr. Ashley Sanders
Prinicpal Investigator
Dr. Ashley Sanders is the director of the Stress, Environment, and Neurodevelopment Lab and is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology. She received her PhD in Applied Biopsychology from the University of New Orleans and completed her postdoctoral fellowship in Developmental Neuroscience & Child Psychopathology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. She joined UGA in Fall 2024.
Dr. Sanders’ research takes a multimodal approach to investigating the neural and immune mechanisms by which childhood socioeconomic disadvantage impacts developmental and cognitive trajectories. She uses a variety of neuroimaging techniques, including diffusion MRI and resting-state functional connectivity, alongside inflammatory biomarkers to understand the role of a child’s environment in their development. In her free time, she enjoys listening to live music and reading science fiction.
Graduate Research Assistants
Isaac Doss
Kylee Jenkins
I am a first-year PhD student in the Cognitive Neuroscience program in UGA's Department of Psychology, but I spent the past three years working as the clinical coordinator for another lab in the department!
My research focus is on how early-life and adolescent environments and experiences influence neurodevelopment. I am particularly interested in using neuroimaging techniques to examine brain structure and function implicated in psychosis-spectrum disorders, as well as identifying risk and protective factors that may be actionable targets for intervention and policy.
Outside of the lab, I enjoy rock climbing, hiking, playing games with my friends, and spending time with my dog, Zuko!
I am a second-year PhD student in the Psychology department (Behavioral and Brain Sciences) at the University of Georgia.
My current research interests lie at the intersection of cognitive neuroscience, developmental neuroscience, and neurodevelopmental processes related to inflammation and cognition. I aim to understand how socioeconomic stress (SES), environmental unpredictability, and chronic stress biology shape brain and behavioral outcomes in children. I am particularly interested in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in youth, with a focus on predictive coding mechanisms and cerebellar–cortical circuits that may underlie risk or resilience in disadvantaged environments. I integrate neuroimaging approaches such as fMRI and resting - state connectivity with inflammatory biomarkers to examine immune signaling such as cytokines that influence white matter development and interact with cognitive functioning and stress exposure across childhood development.
I am also passionate about open science practices, community engagement, and ensuring that psychological and neuroscience research findings are accessible to the broader public. My goal is to contribute research that not only advances scientific understanding but also translates directly into meaningful, equitable support for children and families.
Undergraduate Research Assistants
Eshvar Arivalagan
I’m a fourth-year Psychology and Accounting major from Marietta, GA, preparing to pursue a PhD in Clinical Neuropsychology. My core research interests lie at the neural mechanisms of cognition and how the environment shapes neuroplasticity. Outside of school I enjoy any activity that involves the outdoors!
Aadav Arun
I'm a 2nd year bioengineering major in premed with a minor in biochemistry and am from Suwanee, GA. I am mainly interested in the effects of socioeconomic factors on biological systems. I also want to develop treatments for types of degenerative brain diseases. Outside of studying, I love playing video games and being with my pet cats. A fun fact about me is I've been to Morocco on a Cultural Exchange program with UGA.
Camille Attaway
My name is Camille Attaway, and I am from Athens, Georgia. I am a first year student at the University of Georgia, although this is my second year working in the SEND lab! I am majoring in psychology with a focus on development and minoring in social work. A fun fact is that I love kids and dogs!
Varshini Gokul
My name is Varshini Gokul and I’m a rising junior at UGA double majoring in Psychology and Biology on the premed track! I’m very excited to work with kids to better understand the intersection between environment and development. In my free time I love hanging out friends and traveling.
Arine Kim
I am a fourth year Psychology and Philosophy major with an emphasis in Neuroscience and minor in Statistics from Cumming, GA. My research interests include how societal factors like race, socioeconomic status, and environment impact neurodevelopment and health across the lifespan. In the future, I hope to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology and build a career working with adolescents. Outside of the lab, I enjoy hiking, bouldering, and reading!
Anna Kotkin
I am a fourth-year psychology major on the pre-medical track, and I am from Sandy Springs, GA. I am interested in anything psychology related, but I specifically enjoy Brain and Behavioral Science. I was obsessed with psychology all throughout high school, but despite this, I started out as a Finance major. It did not take long at all before I switched over to psychology! Now as a psychology major, I am a research assistant in multiple labs, and I am the founder and president of Undergraduates in Psychology here at UGA!
Gabby Malerba
My name is Gabriella Malerba and I am a current fourth year undergraduate student. I grew up not too far away from Athens in Decatur, Georgia. I am majoring in Psychology and Biology with a particular interest in pediatric neurology. Outside of academics, I enjoy traveling to new places around the world and long distance running
Melyssa Munn
I'm a fourth year majoring in Psychology (with an emphasis in Neuroscience) and Women's Studies, and I'm from Tucker, GA. I'm particularly interested in grief and trauma in adolescent development, cultural psychology, adolescent psychopathology, as well as women's health and sexuality. I plan to go to grad school for clinical neuropsychology and then go to medical school where, once completed, I hope to work with Doctors Without Borders. A fun fact about me is I've been to Cuba on a Cultural Psychology program with UGA!
Anna Muma
I'm Anna, a recent Clemson grad (Psychology major & English minor) who is working in the lab while applying to grad school in Clinical Psychology! My research interests focus on neurodevelopment in young children, especially investigating factors that influence developmental delays & disabilities (i.e. ADHD, autism, learning). Outside of the classroom, I love exploring the outdoors & listening to music!
Annike Wade
My name is Annike Wade. I am a third-year psychology & sociology major, with a minor in human development and family sciences. I am from Decatur, GA. I'm very interested in child development psychology, and hope to pursue a PhD after graduation. Outside of lab, I enjoy hiking.
Abigail Wright
My name is Abigail Wright, and I am from Dawsonville, Georgia. I am in my junior year, studying psychology (with a neuroscience emphasis), as well as minors in ASL, Social Work, and Theatre. I'm interested in a variety of different research topics throughout the psychology and neuroscience world! I'm really curious as to what preemptive biomarkers could be used to spot OCD in children. I would also like to research how Deaf adults portray symptoms of schizophrenia differently compared to their hearing peers. I'm planning on pursuing a PhD in clinical psychology with the goal of working with Deaf/Hard of Hearing adults in my future. I plan to contribute more research into the field of mental health for deaf individuals while getting my graduate degree. A fun fact about me is that I've been hiking on a glacier in Alaska!
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Sade Wright
​Hello! My name is Sade (Shaw-Day) Wright. I'm a recent graduate from UGA with a psychology degree with minors in both Human Services and Japanese, and I'm from Riverdale, GA. I’m mainly interested in behavioral and social emotional development in children with a lower SES, though I also have interests in men’s psychology and family psychology. I’m looking to eventually get my PHD in counseling psychology! A fun fact about me is that I just returned from a fall semester in Kyoto, Japan!