THINK LAB

Dept. of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences

Dr. Marusak is an Associate Professor with tenure in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine. She also has a secondary faculty appointment Merrill Palmer Skillman Institute for Child and Family Development and the Department of Pharmacology, is a Scientific Member of the Karmanos Cancer Institute and the CURES Center, and a Science Advisor for the nonprofit organization Kids Kicking Cancer.

Dr. Zundel earned her B.S. in Psychology from Wayne State University, then went on to complete a PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience at Boston University School of Medicine. Her PhD work focused on the effects of neurotoxicant exposures on aging within the Gulf War veteran population, using neuropsychological assessment and structural brain imaging techniques. Dr. Zundel’s research interests include the impact of environmental stressors, particularly urban air pollution, on neurodevelopment and mental health in children and adolescents.

Dr. Jaster received her B.S. in Neuroscience from Central Michigan University. She went on to receive her PhD in Pharmacology & Toxicology from Virginia Commonwealth University. Her PhD work focused on the molecular targets and mechanisms of structurally different psychedelics and their effects on opioid-drug seeking in rodent models. She is the co-founder of Psychedelic Brain Science and Your Brain on Science, a website and podcast venture aimed at bridging the gap between clinical and preclinical research and educating the public on psychedelic science, drug policy and other related topics. Her current research interests include translational methods to assess behavioral and neurological changes associated with trauma and substance use disorders, as well as use and perceptions of psychedelics across populations.

Sam attended Albion College where she graduated with a B.S. in Psychology, concentrating her studies in Neuroscience. She is currently a third-year PhD student in the Translational Neuroscience Program at Wayne State University. Her research focuses on the neurobiology of stress and emotion regulation in teens with mental health concerns. Outside of the lab, Sam enjoys painting, photography, hiking, and other outdoor activities.

Reem is a Computer Science graduate from Wayne State University as of May 2022. She is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Data Science and Business Analytics. Reem's interests lie in the field of neuroimaging data analytics.

Carmen earned her B.A. in Psychology and B.S. in Criminal Justice from Wayne State University and is currently pursuing a Master's of Social Work at Wayne State University. Her research interests include the effects of sleep duration and violence exposure on mental health. In her free time, she enjoys crafting, hiking, and spending time with her bunny.

Jennifer is an alumnus of Wayne State University with her Master's degree in Basic Medical Sciences, preceded by her B.S. in Psychology from Central Michigan University. Her main research interest lies in better understanding the biological and environmental factors that puts children at risk for development of psychiatric disorders and utilizing neuroimaging techniques to evaluate structural and functional brain changes associated with psychiatric disorders.

Shelley is currently an undergraduate student at Wayne State University majoring in Public Health and minoring in Neuroscience. She is currently studying for the MCAT and her plans are to apply to medical school and specialize in Pediatric Oncology. Shelley has been a research assistant in Dr. Marusak's lab for over 4 years and has worked on several projects and co-authored 2 publications. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her son and cat.

Mariya earned her B.S. in Neuroscience with a minor in Psychology from Wayne State University. She loves to learn about various fields of neuroscience, specifically developmental, cognitive and behavioral. Mariya is also interested in health psychology which ties in with her current research about the effects of exercise, meditation, and stretching on anxiety in youth.

Sarah is a dedicated academic and researcher with a Master of Science in Exercise and Sports Science and a Ph.D. in Community Health at Wayne State University. As a second-year Ph.D. student, her dissertation focuses on integrating classroom physical activity and mindfulness into the academic curriculum of elementary schools, aiming to enhance physical and mental well-being among young students. Since the beginning of 2022, Sarah has been a research assistant in the Think Lab. Additionally, she has served as a teaching assistant in the Division of Kinesiology, Health, and Sports Science since Fall 2021, where she is passionate about educating and mentoring the next generation of health professionals.

Outside of her academic and research endeavors, Sarah enjoys spending her free time at the gym or immersed in a good book, balancing her intellectual pursuits with physical and mental well-being.

Jovan is currently a medical student at the Wayne State University School of Medicine with an interest in intervention development and translational research. He has a background in mental health research and cognitive development, and is hoping to build and add to this experience while a part of the THINK lab. He hopes to take this experience and leverage it as a clinician in the future developing interventions that can address existing gaps in healthcare.