People

Melynda Casement, Ph.D. (she/her)
Associate Professor of Psychology
Director, University of Oregon Sleep Lab

Ph.D., Clinical Psychology and Biopsychology, University of Michigan, 2010
B.A., Psychology, Mount Holyoke College, 2002

Dr. Casement’s research aims to reduce the burden of mental illness by: (1) identifying the neuroaffective mechanisms by which sleep and stress contribute to psychopathology; and (2) translating this research into targeted and effective interventions. She uses functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and laboratory experiments to understand how the brain processes affective information, such as winning money or being “liked” by peers. She measures sleep and stress using physiology and daily behavior to understand the direct and interactive effects that sleep and stress have on neuroaffective processing. This work includes micro-longitudinal assessments during key periods of neurodevelopment, such as adolescence and young-adulthood, when mental health problems often emerge for the first time. She also uses cognitive-behavioral interventions to improve sleep and mental health in experimental paradigms and treatment settings.

Dr. Casement has clinical expertise in the assessment and treatment of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, insomnia, and nightmares. She is a licensed psychologist and contributes to clinical supervision of psychology doctoral students. She also teaches classes on psychopathology, sleep, and cognitive-behavioral intervention.

 

Graduate Students

Aubrey Rossi (she/her), Doctoral Student

Aubrey started as a doctoral student in clinical psychology in 2020. She earned her BA in psychology from UC Berkeley in 2017. Following that, she worked for 3 years in UC Berkeley’s Center for Human Sleep Science with Dr. Matthew Walker as a full-time lab manager and research associate. Broadly, she is interested in pursuing research which utilizes neuroscientific methods to investigate sleep’s contributions to social and emotional functioning in psychopathology. In addition to research, Aubrey enjoys baking, gaming, traveling, and eating delicious food that has been made by someone else.

Sojeong Kim (she/her), Doctoral Student
Name pronunciation: SO-jong kim

Sojeong joined the clinical psychology program in 2022. She earned her BA in psychology from Emory University in 2016 and her MA in clinical psychology from Korea University in 2019. Following that, she worked for Korea University Medical Center, Chronobiology Institute with Dr. HJ Lee as a full-time research associate. Broadly, she is interested in understanding how sleep disruption and circadian misalignment contribute to the progression of psychopathology, especially to the onset and worsening of mood disorders. Besides research, Sojeong enjoys spending time with her dog Pori, traveling, and painting.

Saee Chitale (she/her), Doctoral Student
Name pronunciation: Sigh-e

Saee started as a clinical psychology doctoral student in 2024. She earned her B.A. in Neuroscience and Behavior from Mount Holyoke College in 2022. Following this, she worked as a full-time clinical research coordinator at the Dauten Family Center for Bipolar Treatment Innovation in Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston. She is broadly interested in examining how various factors including sleep, biological stress markers and reward processing, predict mood disorders in adolescents. Additionally, given the heightened risk of sleep dysregulation and stressful life events during late adolescence, she is interested in studying inflammation as a moderator for sleep disruption, depression, and anhedonia, leading to identification of novel treatment targets of depression. She also hopes to keep working towards her goal of increasing awareness around higher education and creating targeted resources for individuals from underrepresented backgrounds. Outside of research, Saee enjoys dancing, outdoor activities, board game nights with friends, and cooking!

Abigail Cirelli (she/her), Doctoral Student

Abigail began her doctoral studies in clinical psychology in 2024. She earned her BA in psychology from Loyola University Maryland in 2020. Afterward, she spent three years at Stanford University School of Medicine working with Dr. Andrea Goldstein-Piekarski as a project lead and assistant clinical neuroimaging coordinator. Previously, Abigail participated in research investigating the correlation between insomnia and dysfunction in brain networks associated with emotion dysregulation in older adults with mild cognitive impairment and in depressed adults. She aims to continue applying neurophysiological and brain imaging methods to study how sleep disturbances impact brain development and mood in adolescents. Additionally, Abigail has engaged in outreach efforts in her previous lab and is passionate about disseminating scientific findings to the broader community and increasing equity in clinical research. Outside of research, Abigail enjoys roller skating, playing guitar, drawing, and traveling.

Research Staff

Amanda Johnson (she/her), Research Project Coordinator

Amanda joined the Oregon Sleep Lab in July 2023. She earned her BS in Biology from the University of Oregon in June 2020 while working as a research assistant in Dr. Elliot Berkman’s Social and Affective Neuroscience lab. From 2021 to 2023, she contributed to a research project investigating the impacts of early life stressors (such as inflammation and opioids) on adult respiratory plasticity using a rodent model. In her new role as the project coordinator of the Oregon Sleep Lab, she is excited to learn more about the protective effects of sleep, how to manage multiple research projects, and expand her problem-solving skills. Amanda’s primary research interests are to examine the potential long-term consequences of stressors (such as inflammation, drug and/or alcohol exposure) introduced during critical developmental stages, as well as understanding how various sleep interventions can protect against these potential consequences. She also has research interests related to maternal diet on the neurodevelopment of offspring, autism spectrum disorder, and respiratory recovery following cervical spinal cord injury. In her free time, she enjoys film and digital photography, spoiling her two cats, weightlifting, painting, and spending time with her family.

Holly Siu (she/her), Research Project Coordinator
Name pronunciation: holly SEA-yew

Holly joined the Oregon Sleep Lab in June 2023 after earning her BA in psychology from the University of Colorado – Colorado Springs (UCCS) in May 2023. She worked as a psychology researcher alongside professor and mentor Elizabeth Daniels, Ph.D. where they examined college women’s perceptions of sexually objectified media images of male athletes. She has also conducted research with Alexandra Hood, MSW and Edwardo Portillos, Ph.D. in the sociology department where they explored club basketball in Colorado Springs: race, sexuality, and delinquency. She is excited to be investigating the effects sleep has on stress and mental health. Additionally, she is thrilled to acquire research skills pertaining to participant recruitment, data collection, and data analysis. In her free time, Holly enjoys adventuring in nature, working out, skate boarding, baking, and crafting!

Emily Wan (she/her), Research Assistant

Emily joined the Oregon Sleep Lab in July 2024 after receiving her B.S. in Psychobiology from UCLA in June 2024. At UCLA, she worked in research examining the effects of savoring on neural processes and inflammatory biology, the effectiveness of habituation versus inhibitory learning models of exposure therapy, and the relationship between post-traumatic stress disorder and cardiovascular disease risk. With the Oregon Sleep Lab, she is excited to investigate the mechanisms through which sleep contributes to mental health and explore her interests in working with adolescents. In her free time, Emily enjoys hiking, camping, playing the piano, and spending time with her two cats, Maisie and Gracie.

Peyton Varney (he/she/they), Research Assistant

Peyton joined the Oregon Sleep Lab in June 2024 after receiving their B.A. in Psychology from the University of Kentucky in May 2024. They previously worked as a research assistant in the Cognition, Health, and Sleep Equity Lab under the direction of Dr. Lauren Whitehurst, where they studied how manipulation of the vagal nerve affected sleep-sensitive aspects of memory. They also conducted a senior honors thesis on the effects of stress on the sleep and memory of an international sample of LGB adults. They are excited to learn more about fMRI data collection, clinical interviewing techniques, and how sleep and circadian rhythms contribute to mental health. Lastly, in their free time Peyton enjoys playing video games, painting, and taking frequent naps alongside their English bulldog Daisy.

Maya Kosaraju (she/her), Research Assistant

Maya joined the Oregon Sleep Lab in September 2024 after earning her B.S. in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Oregon. She previously worked at Dr. Ulrich Mayr’s Cognitive Dynamics Lab, where she completed her undergraduate thesis on memory strategies across developmental stages. Maya has also conducted research in various areas of cognitive neuroscience, including exploring the relationship between time, arousal, and memory saliency, as well as visual perceptions of fractals. Her primary research interests focus on the intersection of cognitive and clinical psychology, particularly the study of intergenerational trauma and its impact on memory distortions. She is also eager to learn more about the application of translational research methods to mental health and substance use. Outside of her research, Maya enjoys discovering new coffee shops, listening to music, and taking day trips with friends.

Juliana Parker (she/her),  Research Assistant

Juliana joined the Oregon Sleep Lab in September 2024 after receiving her bachelor’s in psychology with a minor in human development and family science from the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR). At UNR, she worked in the Cognition, Affect, and Psychopathology Lab under Dr. Mariann Weierich where she researched hippocampal myelin variation and stress reactivity in trauma-exposed women. Her interests lie in the neural and biological mechanisms underlying mental health disorders in adolescents and young adults, and she is excited to deepen her understanding of sleep and circadian rhythms while at the Oregon Sleep Lab. In her free time, she enjoys cooking new recipes and hanging out with her two gray tabbies, Mister and Madame Chunk.

 

 

Alumni

Nick Livingston – Study Coordinator (2017-2019), now a doctoral student at the University of Wyoming
Shijing Zhou – Undergraduate and Masters Student (2019-2022), now a doctoral student at the University of Oregon
Jessica Olsen – Research Assistant (2022-2024), now a doctoral student at Oregon State University
Kunyi Zhou – Research Assistant (2022-2024), now a doctoral student at Long Island University
Shay Kelly, PhD – Doctoral student (2017-2024), now a postdoctoral fellow at Portland Psychotherapy
Xi Yang, PhD – Doctoral student (2017-2024), now a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Ruby Cuellar, PhD – Doctoral student (2018-2025), now a clinical psychology resident at VA Palo Alto