Graduate Students
Email: mcakar@mednet.ucla.edu
Pronouns: She/her
Melis is a doctoral student at the IDEA and SCAN public. She received her BA in Neuroscience from Pomona College and started her doctoral studies at UCLA in Fall 2020. Melis is interested in integrating neuroimaging (fMRI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) methods to investigate the neurobiological mechanisms that underlie sensory over-responsivity in ASD. Through her work, Melis hopes to eventually bridge ASD research in humans and animal models and provide insight into the etiology of the disorder.
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Email: ahthan@ucla.edu
Pronouns: She/her
Amy Than is a PhD student in the UCLA Neuroscience Interdepartmental Program. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Physiology and Neuroscience from UC San Diego. She has done clinical research at the California Smokers' Helpline and behavioral neuroscience research at the Scripps Research Institute where she became interested in how the brain perceives and interacts with the world. At the SCAN lab, Amy is working with Dr. Green to study the neural mechanisms of sensory processing, the developmental trajectories of social versus sensory reactivity, and the dynamic networks that regulate sensory over-responsivity in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Staff Research Assistants (SRAs)
Email: ematsiyevskiy@mednet.ucla.edu
Pronouns: She/her
Liz Matsiyevskiy is a Staff Research Associate at the SCAN Lab. She earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering from The George Washington University. She has done neuroscience research at Children’s National Hospital before moving to Los Angeles to conduct Alzheimer’s research at USC. At the SCAN lab, Liz is helping co-lead a longitudinal study looking at sensory processing development in youth and coordinating two interventional studies for individuals with sensory processing difficulties.
Email: sramappa@mednet.ucla.edu
Pronouns: She/her
Sapna Ramappa is a Staff Research Associate at the Brain Mapping Center and the Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Human Biology and Society from UCLA in June 2021, and she has been part of the SCAN Lab since the end of her freshman year at UCLA. Sapna is currently co-leading a longitudinal study to understand the development of sensory processing behaviors across adolescence, and she is helping with two interventional studies for individuals with sensory processing challenges. In addition to her clinical and research interests in autism and psychopathology, she is passionate about health policy and access to healthcare. In her free time, she enjoys singing, podcasting, and cooking!
Email: mbanchik@mednet.ucla.edu
Pronouns: She/they
Megan Banchik is a Staff Research Associate, primarily focused on the Baby Brain Imaging and Behavior Study investigating early onset behavioral and biological markers of Autism in infants and toddlers. She joined the SCAN lab in 2021 after graduating from Tufts University with a dual Bachelor of Science in Cognitive and Brain Sciences as well as Child Development. Megan’s research and clinical aspirations include translational developmental research focused on symptom-specific biomarkers and interventions with the hope of better understanding individual differences within Autism. Beyond lab work, Megan loves to bake, do all kinds of crafts, study plants, and show you pictures of her cat.
Email: vburgess@mednet.ucla.edu
Pronouns: She/her
Valerie Burgess is a Staff Research Associate at the UCLA Brain Mapping Center. Valerie graduated from the University of Southern California with a dual Bachelor of Arts in Cognitive Science and English. She coordinates the GENDAAR ACE multisite study investigating sex differences in the brain development of autistic individuals through adolescence and early adulthood. Her research and clinical interests include developing interventions to support healthy identity formation in underserved adolescents and resilience against early life stressors throughout the lifespan. Outside of the lab, she volunteers as a Behavioral Coach for the UCLA PEERS Clinic and enjoys writing, yoga, and exploring Southern California.
Undergraduate Research Assistants
Pronouns: She/her
Apurva Chaturvedi is a a fourth-year undergraduate student majoring in psychology from Chicago, Illinois. She joined the lab at the end of her first year. She loves working with kids and is deeply interested in autism and neurodevelopmental research, which is why she joined the SCAN lab! Outside of the lab, Apurva is a part of InterAxon at UCLA, Medicine and Art, and the Three Wishes Program. She loves painting in her free time and is also interested in environmental conservation and education.
Pronouns: She/her
Arpa Dilanchian is a third-year undergraduate student at UCLA, working towards a B.S. in Psychobiology and a minor in Public Health. She joined the SCAN Lab during her second year; her interest in autism research was ignited through her volunteer experience running a summer camp for youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder and sensory over-responsivity. At UCLA, Arpa is an active member of the American Cancer Society and the Pi Beta Phi sorority. In her free time, she loves playing intramural soccer, going on hikes, and cooking with friends.
