Madison Dengel
My research interest lies in the neurological bases and development of anxiety disorders. Specifically, I am interested in the use of brain imaging, psychophysiology, and genetics to understand how pathological anxiety disorders operate in the brain. I have worked under Dr. Ayelet Ruscio in the Boundaries of Anxiety and Depression Lab since my freshman year at the University of Pennsylvania, assisting in various projects aimed at analyzing the differences, commonalities, and relationship between anxiety and depression. With the support of University Scholars, I am currently collaborating on a project designing a program to clean data from the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule for the DSM-5 (ADIS-5). Outside of my research, I am involved with the Netter Center, I volunteer with Penn’s Project for Philosophy for the Young, and I do technical work for Bloomers Comedy.
- University Scholar
- Research Assistant to Dr. Ayelet Ruscio, Department of Psychology
- PMG Group Lead
Brooklyn Trevisan
Lauren Cho
My research interests primarily involve psychoanalysis, gender, and memory, which I synthesize with creative writing. Currently, I’m working on a short story collection in conversation with these themes, as well as class. For the upcoming year with University Scholars, I intend to support the project’s new stories, by researching thought processes and bodily disalienation. Previously, I’ve conducted a study on the effect of humor on learning and student engagement. In my free time, I enjoy coaching Speech for the Bronx High School of Science, producing theatre on campus, and acting as a cast member and Co-Head Writer of Mask and Wig, a musical sketch comedy group.
Firearm Safety and Youth Suicide Prevention
Research at the intersection of suicide prevention, implementation science, and health equity
Jayanth Mammen
My research interests are in the realm of global macroeconomics, monetary policy, financial economics, and investment management. Specifically, I enjoy analyzing the financial underpinnings of both macroeconomic trends as well as fundamentals investing in businesses, all in the purpose of bringing together applied mathematics, financial economics, and behavioral economics together to improve investing success. I have worked in London for a global macro hedge fund as a trading intern analyzing rates and in New York at a derivatives hedge fund researching convertible bonds and portfolio management. In terms of independent research, I am currently looking into conducting an analysis of equity swaps markets and the advantage is poses to hedge funds when taking market neutral trading strategies, and quantifying their benefits and costs in the purpose of informing manager decision making. Outside of my research, I enjoy running, rowing (casually), watching soccer, and playing poker.
- University Scholar
- Summer Intern at Capstone Investment Advisors
- Summer Intern at Capula Investment Management
Climate change, land, and the environment: International development research and evaluation
Launched in 2020, PDRI-DevLab seeks to identify solutions to challenges facing low- and middle-income countries and foster impactful international development research. As executive director of the PDRI-DevLab, Dr. Huntington’s work centers around one of the lab’s flagship themes: climate change, land, and the environment. Focused on reducing key knowledge gaps in conservation and land sectors, these projects explore human drivers of deforestation, land governance, and tenure interventions in developing nations.
Designing eLearning courses for educators supporting students with autism or data entry/analysis
We are looking for additional team members who can assist with further developing our library of eLearning courses geared towards teachers of students with autism or to help abstract and clean data on teacher use of evidence-based practices and their experiences in teaching.
Second, our team has collected data for more than a decade on teachers experiences and their use of best practices. We are in the process of abstracting and cleaning data from multiple sources to study the experiences of teachers and to examine sustainment of practices and are looking to acquire students who have experience using Python.
Understanding diet quality, food insecurity, and health in an underserved Philadelphia neighborhood
We are partnering with The Community Grocer, a local nonprofit market/grocer that aims to raise the health of the surrounding area, to assess the needs of the community prior to their launch.
Research Assistant(s) for Primate Video Data Collection
Dr. Jones is looking for 1-2 reliable, collaborative, and organized students to assist with a project examining gorilla tool use. Students will learn to identify individual gorillas housed (or previously housed) at Zoo Atlanta, and use behavioral coding software (Noldus Observer) and will collect data from video footage of gorillas using tools for a few hours a week. In addition, students will attend regular meetings with Dr. Jones, and may be asked to read related articles, and complete related tasks/assignments.
Mentorship for students interested in Reproductive Psychiatry
I have no ongoing research but am interested in mentoring motivated students curious about reproductive psychiatry and women's mental health.