Dr. Emilio Valadez
Principal Investigator
I am currently an Assistant Professor of Psychology at USC. I received my PhD in Clinical Science from the University of Delaware in 2019 under the mentorship of Dr. Bob Simons, having completed my pre-doctoral clinical internship at the Charleston Consortium Psychology Internship Program. I went on to work as a postdoctoral fellow with Drs. Nathan Fox (University of Maryland) and Daniel Pine (National Institute of Mental Health) before coming to USC. My fascination with mental health risk started with the notion of the brain as a computer — and how that computer may sometimes go awry, leading to mental health problems. Naturally, I was disappointed to learn that humans are more complex than computers! This disappointment turned to curiosity about the ways we differ. Our work in the BRAVE lab focuses on understanding some of these differences: our brains develop slowly, two people with the same early risk factor can have completely different outcomes (“multifinality”), and different types of risk factors can have similar impacts on our development (“equifinality”). Outside of the lab, you might find me rucking or building computers for PC gaming.
Elisa Macera
Clinical Science PhD Student
Elisa is a Clinical Science PhD student in the BRAVE lab. In 2022, Elisa graduated from the University of Delaware with a B.A in Psychology. Prior to beginning graduate school, Elisa worked as a research assistant for the Developmental Brain Imaging Lab at Oregon Health & Sciences University, and as a research associate for the Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-Up Lab at the University of Delaware. She is interested in how alterations in neurobiological development mediate the impact of early life factors, such as early adversity, on adolescent internalizing symptoms. Outside of the lab, Elisa enjoys many hobbies, such stained glass making, crocheting, knitting, playing piano, and horseback riding.
Julia Yi
Graduate Student
Julia is a M.S. student in Applied Data Science at the Viterbi School of Engineering. She recently graduated from New York University with a B.A. in Psychology, Data Science, and Philosophy. Julia’s research interests bridges computational modeling and clinical science, specifically centering on belief updating and attentional dynamics in unpredictable/uncertain environments. Outside the lab, Julia enjoys playing badminton, practicing archery, and hiking on sunny days.
Marie Lassaigne
Lab Manager
Marie is an M.S. student in Neuroimaging and Informatics at USC interested in using neuroscientific methods to better understand developmental psychopathology and the factors that place children at risk or support resilience. She is particularly motivated by research that can contribute to earlier, more tailored interventions for youth. Outside of the lab, she spends much of her free time baking and hiking.
Sarita Raghunath
Research Coordinator
Sarita graduated from UC San Diego with a BS in Cognitive Science, specializing in Machine Learning and Neural Computation. Her prior work has ranged from studying neural characteristics of decision making and language learning to growth trajectories of subcortical areas in developmental populations. She is interested in how early childhood experiences can map to later cognitive outcomes. In her free time, Sarita likes to explore restaurants in LA and watch the sunset!
Kimia Soltani
Undergraduate Researcher
Kimia is a B.A. student in Psychology at USC. She is interested in children’s development, particularly the factors that contribute to anxiety and depression in youth. She is passionate about understanding how early life experiences, social environments, and developmental processes shape risk for internalizing disorders. Through research, she hopes to improve mental health outcomes for children and adolescents. Outside of the lab, she enjoys rock climbing, photography, and spending time at the beach.
Grace Crotty
Undergraduate Researcher
Grace is a sophomore at USC, majoring in psychology with a minor in forensics and criminality. She is interested in how adverse childhood experiences shape the development of mental health disorders, particularly anxiety, and is especially fascinated by the ripple effects these early experiences can have over time. She is passionate about understanding these patterns and contributing to research that supports earlier intervention and better outcomes for children impacted by trauma. In her free time, Grace enjoys trying new matcha spots with friends, relaxing at the beach, thrifting, going to CorePower, and listening to music!
