People

Pete Hitchcock, PhD
Lab Director
Postdoctoral Fellowship, Brown University, 2019-2023
Clinical Internship, VASDHS/UCSD Psychology Internship, 2019
Ph.D., Psychology, Drexel University, 2019
B.A., Psychology, University of Miami, 2008

I am dually trained as a clinical psychologist with a focus on behavioral treatment and as a computational psychiatry researcher with a specialty in applying formal learning and choice models to depression and anxiety. I am interested in harnessing the remarkable advances in the learning and decision sciences to develop powerful treatments and precise assessments and in understanding the emergence, maintenance, recurrence, and dynamics of psychopathology.

peter.hitchcock@emory.edu | Google scholar | CV

Mina Chang, BA
Lab Manager
B.A., Cognitive Science, UC Berkeley, 2023

I joined the lab in September of 2023 and am broadly interested in mental health and psychopathology across various cultural and social environments. I have experience as a research assistant in the Gopnik Lab at UC Berkeley in projects exploring language development and picture/object comprehension. I look forward to expanding my working knowledge of computational methods to explore learning and decision-making processes in relation to mental health, and eventually apply to graduate school in counseling. Outside of the lab, I enjoy yoga, dancing, and exploring coffee shops in the area.

mina.juhee.chang@emory.edu

Sandarsh Pandey, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
Ph.D., Cognitive Psychology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2024
B.Tech., Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, 2016

I used computational modeling and experiments to study human vision during my PhD. In my postdoc, I'm applying the same techniques to study depression and anxiety. I'm particularly interested in understanding how cognitive control is disrupted across different mental disorders. I'm also interested in understanding how treatments such as mindfulness-based interventions affect cognitive processing. In my free time, I play chess and poker, rewatch favorite TV shows, and listen to music.

sandarsh.pandey@emory.edu

Marta Migó, MA
Graduate Student
M.A., Psychology (Clinical Science & Cognitive and Computational Science), Emory University, 2023
B.A., Psychology, B.F.A., Drama, NYU, 2019

I graduated from New York University with a B.A. in Psychology, a B.F.A. in Drama, and minors in Computer Science and Philosophy. I then worked as a Clinical Research Coordinator at Harvard Medical School for two years, studying neural correlates of cognitive disturbances in bipolar depression and OCD. Currently, I am interested in using computational psychiatry techniques and multimodal data to study free and stuck thought patterns, such as worry and rumination, in mood and anxiety-related disorders.

marta.migo@emory.edu | Google Scholar

Tess Gilmartin
Undergraduate Research Assistant

I am a third-year at Emory studying Psychology and Quantitative Sciences. I plan to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology and am particularly intrigued by schizophrenia research. In addition to exploring decision-making processes with the Translational Lab, I love long hikes, yoga, gardening and books!

tmgilma@emory.edu

Dara Klugherz
Undergraduate Research Assistant

I am a third year at Emory University majoring in psychology. I am very interested in psychopathology, specifically depression and anxiety, and how thought processes like rumination and mind wandering differ between those with psychopathology and those without. After college, I am hoping to get my master’s degree in public health. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my puppy, hanging out with my friends, crocheting, and listening to music.

dara.klugherz@emory.edu

Nicole Cobb
Undergraduate Research Assistant

I am a third year at Emory University majoring in Psychology and minoring in Ethics. I am interested in studying what contexts lead to worry and rumination with the goal of translating that knowledge into effective mental health treatments. When not in the lab, I can be found curling up with a good book, working on a new art project, cuddling with my dog, or spending time with friends.

nicole.cobb@emory.edu

Sissi Li
Undergraduate Research Assistant

I am a sophomore at Emory University and joined the lab in the Spring 2024 term. With a genuine interest in psychology, I conducted experiments during my senior year of high school to explore the effectiveness of reinforcement in enhancing learning and modeling. By joining this lab, I aim to further develop my knowledge in clinical psychology and the decision-making process, and to enhance my transferable skills. In my free time, I enjoy reading, doing puzzles, and playing piano.

sissi.li@emory.edu

Claire Kwon
Undergraduate Research Assistant

I am a second year at Emory University majoring in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology and joined the Translational Lab in August 2024. I have developed an interest in computational psychiatry and its contributions to mental health, specifically the effects of rumination and worry in the development of depression and anxiety. After graduating college, I plan on attending medical school to pursue a career in psychiatry or neurology. In my free time, I enjoy listening to music, reading, and going on long walks.

claire.kwon@emory.edu

Pranavi Marella
Undergraduate Research Assistant

I am a first-year at Emory University intending to major in Psychology. I plan to contribute to studies focused on clinical interventions for cognitive tendencies such as rumination. Through this experience, I aim to deepen my understanding of computational psychiatry while also building personal connections. In my free time, I enjoy dancing, watching movies with family, and dining out with friends.

pranavi.marella@emory.edu

Maggie Bowen
Undergraduate Research Assistant

I am a second year pursuing a BS in psychology. I am particularly interested in topics such as worry and rumination and how they contribute to psychopathology. I hope to eventually get a PsyD or PhD in clinical psychology. In my free time, I enjoy reading, baking, and volunteering!

maggie.bowen@emory.edu

Alex Waryn
Undergraduate Research Assistant

I am an incoming second-year at Emory University pursuing a BA in Psychology. I'm particularly interested in understanding how anxiety and depression shape the way people think and make decisions and in developing more effective clinical interventions. Through this experience, I am hoping to deepen my understanding of the cognitive mechanisms that contribute to anxiety and depression and to see how these insights can inform effective, real-world interventions. In my free time, I enjoy going to hot yoga classes, trying new restaurants with my friends, and going on walks in Lullwater!

alex.waryn@emory.edu