Our Team

Beth Campbell - Data Coordinator

Beth is the Data Coordinator & Analyst for the RISE Study. She completed her undergraduate degree from Smith College in January of 2022 where she majored in psychology and gained research experience in developmental psychology. Her research interests involve the intersection of inner experience, social cognition, and moral decision-making. Beth plans to eventually pursue a Ph.D. in social psychology.

Ioana Neagoe - Senior Clinician

Ioana Neagoe is the Senior Clinician on the WELL team. She meets with participants throughout their time in the study to conduct assessments, provide support, and encourage healthy lifestyle routines. Ioana received her Masters of Science at the University of Pittsburgh for Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling. She has experience with the geriatric population, people with disabilities, and perinatal mental health. She has been on the WELL team for about two years. Ioana speaks English, Romanian, and German. In her free time Ioana enjoys crafting, gardening, makeup, and staying active.

Khusbu Patel - Research Principal

Khusbu is happy to be joining the RISE study team as a Health Coach. She will be meeting with participants throughout their time in the study to conduct assessments, provide support, and encourage healthy lifestyle routines. Khusbu graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a BS in Neuroscience and BS in Psychology. Outside of work, Khusbu enjoys singing, climbing, and trying new cuisines. Khusbu plans to apply to a graduate program in Clinical Psychology in the near future.

Alexandra Khani - Research Specialist

Alexandra Khani is a research specialist for the RISE Study. She clinically assesses participants at multiple time points and screens potential participants for eligibility. She is interested in trauma's psychopathological and biological effects on sleep and has a B.S. in Psychology and a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Pittsburgh. Outside work, she loves to train her dog in Rally, a sport where dogs move through complicated obstacle courses.

Joanne Ezibe - Research Assistant

Joanne is the Research Assistant for RISE. She assists in conducting screenings of participants, as well as performing Health Coaching. Joanne is a recent graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, where she completed her Bachelor’s in Anthropology with a minor in French and certificates in African Studies and Global Health. In her free time, Joanne enjoys going on picnics with her cat, crocheting, and binging historical romance films.

Meghan - Data Coordinator & Analyst

Meghan is currently a data coordinator & analyst for the RISE Study. Meghan graduated with a B.S. in Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior from the University of California, Davis and received an M.S. in Clinical Psychology from California Lutheran University. Broadly speaking, Meghan’s research interests revolve around identifying adolescent risk factors for self-harm and suicidal behaviors in order to establish effective prevention and intervention strategies. Before relocating to Pittsburgh, Meghan lived in Illinois, Hong Kong, and California and spent time working with neurodivergent children and teens. Pronouns: She/They

Emma O’Brien - Lead Research Project Coordinator and Clinician

Emma completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and French at Earlham College, where she researched introspective memory, psychopathology, and social perceptions in young adults. She is the lead trainer for clinical and neuropsychology assessments for RISE and is available to support junior assessors with suicide risk assessment and safety planning with participants in crisis. Emma is applying to clinical psychology doctoral programs this cycle for Fall 2024 admission. These experiences have helped Emma shape her current research interests in proximal predictors to suicidal behavior, and other psychopathology, through ambulatory assessment methods. Emma is originally from Minnesota and outside of research, she loves to run, travel, try new cooking and baking recipes, and spend time with friends. Fun fact about Emma: she used to own pet chickens! Pronouns: She/her/hers.

Sejuty Minhaj - Research Tech Clinical

Sejuty Minhaj works as a Research Tech-Clinical for the RISE Study. She works with the technology that participants use during the intervention. In her free time, Sejuty enjoys spending too much money eating out with friends, writing with fountain pens, and watching hockey.

Ashlie Gariepy - Clinical Research Associate

Ashlie is the Research Project Assistant for RISE. As a senior clinician, she manages and collaborates with the team on participant screening, recruitment and referral, and scheduling. Ashlie conducts clinical interviews, administers psychological and neuropsychological assessments, summarizes and represents participant outcomes, and trains new lab members on this. She holds a B.S. in Psychology and Community and Justice Studies from Allegheny College and is currently working toward a Master’s in Counseling Psychology at Chatham University. One day, Ashlie plans to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology and dream of being a P.I. in her own interventional research program to combine two of her favorite things: research and patient success! Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Geixi Medina - Research Specialist

Dr. Katalin Szanto - Principal Investigator

The goal motivating my work is to prevent death by suicide. I have extensive experience treating suicidal patients and their families. My research experience includes conducting a psychological autopsy study, a suicide prevention program in primary care, extensive experience in interviewing practitioners who have lost patients by suicide, and conducting a long-term follow-up study on risk and protective factors for late-life suicide. My current research focuses on decision processes in late-life suicide, including a behavioral economics based formulation of suicidal behavior.