Ailiwa Gulifeizi

Assistant Clinical Research Coordinator

Ailiwa is an Assistant Clinical Research Coordinator at the Brian Simulation lab. She earned her B.S. in Electronic Systems Engineering from Texas A&M University. During her time there, she was a research assistant in the Neuroscience of Goals & Action Lab, gaining hands on experience with EEG research. Before joining the lab, she worked in IT support and hopes to translate her IT experience into supporting research studies. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking and traveling.

Anna Chaiken

Research Data Analyst 1

Anna is a Data Analyst from Seattle. She has a MSc in Cognitive Neuroscience from Maastricht University where she acquired skills in EEG data collection and analysis. Since her studies she has maintained a strong interest in EEG methodology, technology, and signal processing. In the BSL she manages the lab’s clinical data infrastructure and works closely with the data team to analyze neurophysiological data. In her spare time Anna loves hiking and will take any chance she gets to go on a road trip.

Catherine Daye

Assistant Clinical Research Coordinator

Catherine received her B.S. in neuroscience from the University of California, Los Angeles. While at UCLA, she volunteered with UCLA TMS, where she learned about TMS and ketamine for treatment resistant depression in clinical and research settings. At the Brain Stimulation Lab, she is currently on the recruitment team for the OCD study. 

She is interested in expanding her knowledge of neuromodulation and emerging novel treatment techniques for psychiatric disorders. She plans to be more involved in clinical research, with hopes of research implications helping new and/or more effective treatment options become accessible. In her free time, Catherine enjoys reading, hiking, and traveling

Conor Vedova

Research Data Analyst

Conor received his BS in Computer Science and Mathematics from the University of Toronto. While in Toronto, he performed Machine Learning research on predicting cancer types in the Quaid Morris Lab, previously belonging to the Vector Institute and now to the Sloan Kettering Institute. He moved on to Machine Learning work at Google Ads, where he developed state-of-the-art recommender systems. Having reignited his passion of Neuroscience, Conor left his position at Google to pursue research opportunities with the Sean Wu Lab, the Brain Dynamics Lab, and the Brain Stimulation Lab at Stanford Medicine. He is particularly interested in utilizing his machine learning experience for brain computer interfaces research.

Ethan Makarewycz

Clinical Research Coordinator Associate

Ethan is an Assistant Clinical Research Coordinator at the Brain Stimulation Lab working with the imaging team to perform MRI and EEG. Ethan graduated with a B.S. in Behavioral Neuroscience from Northeastern University where he participated in exercise neuroscience research, studying how physical activity affects the brain. Ethan is excited to gain more experience with TMS and learn about its clinical applications in neuropsychiatric disorders. When he’s not at the lab, Ethan enjoys reading and rock climbing.

Irakli Kaloiani

Staff Scientist

After graduating from medical school, Dr. Kaloiani gained his initial research experience at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Previously, Irakli also worked to provide care as a clinical assistant to the neurorehabilitation team in Georgia and completed a clerkship in neurology at Vanderbilt University. Considering his long standing passion for neuropsychiatry, Dr. Kaloiani joined the Brain Stimulation Lab in 2020. In the future, Irakli hopes to use his expertise in medicine and technology to help his patients and transform the future of healthcare.

John P. Coetzee

Staff Scientist

Dr. Coetzee completed his BA in Psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, where he served as a volunteer research assistant in a sleep and psychopathology lab. Following his graduation, he worked as a study coordinator at the University of California, San Francisco, where he oversaw research studies investigating the biological bases of depression and other conditions. He received his doctorate in cognitive neuroscience from the University of California, Los Angeles, in 2018. For his doctoral work, under the guidance of Dr. Martin Monti, Dr. Coetzee used functional magnetic resonance imaging and transcranial magnetic stimulation to investigate the neural mechanisms that underly deductive reasoning.

Since receiving his doctorate, Dr. Coetzee has been working in the Stanford Brain Stimulation Lab, and in the Adamson Brain Stimulation Lab (at the Palo Alto VA), where he is developing innovative treatments for depression, traumatic brain injury, and other psychiatric conditions, making use of transcranial magnetic stimulation, low intensity focused ultrasound pulsation, and other modalities. His primary interests include developing new treatments for undertreated psychiatric conditions, computer tools for evaluating cognition and psychopathology, the biological basis of consciousness, and the biological basis of higher cognitive skills.

Kathryn Hollingsworth

Clinical Research Coordinator 2

Dr. Hollingsworth is a clinical assessor in the Brain Stimulation Lab within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. She received her doctoral degree in clinical psychology and holds two master’s degrees in clinical psychology and counseling with a specialization in clinical child & family psychology. She has extensive training in psychological assessments and evidence-based treatments including Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT).

Dr. Hollingsworth’s research experiences include working at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior examining the efficacy of preventative interventions for military-connected families with young children. In addition, Dr. Hollingsworth spent time at UCLA conducting research with underserved elementary schools to better understand socio-emotional issues and mental health concerns of the students.

Katina Marchione

Regulatory Specialist 1

Katina is a Regulatory Specialist and is excited for the opportunity to help build a strong regulatory department and provide support for the innovative studies conducted at BSL. Katina has a Master’s degree in Public Administration and over 10 years of quality experience in the healthcare field and four years of experience as a Regulatory Specialist for phase I-IV therapeutic/device trials. During her free time Katina enjoys spending time with her husband and four children and relaxing on the beach.

Kristin Juskiewicz

Clinical Research Coordinator 2

Kristin is a clinical psychologist working as an assessor in the Brain Stimulation Lab within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Since completing her graduate studies, she has a continued passion for research. This has led to holding academic positions in research laboratories over the past 10 years. Kristin has extensive training and expertise in providing diagnostic and clinical assessments for individuals with a variety of psychiatric conditions including depression, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, and PTSD. When not working Kristin enjoys spending time outdoors at the park or the beach with her best friend Jack (her dog).

Lena Kozyr

Assistant Clinical Research Coordinator

Lena earned her M.D. from Bogomolets National Medical University in Kyiv, Ukraine. During her medical training, she volunteered in both neurology and family medicine settings, gaining early clinical exposure.

Her research background in TMS began during internships at the University of British Columbia and the University of Waterloo, where she studied biomarkers for TMS response and explored innovative applications of brain stimulation in psychiatry and neurology.

At the Brain Stimulation Lab, Lena supports patient coordination, data management and analysis, MRI acquisition, and neuroimaging-based target creation. She is passionate about brain stimulation and emerging treatment modalities, including psychedelic research. Her current interests include novel approaches to treating PTSD—a focus that resonates deeply with her, given the ongoing war in her home country.

Mehdi Husain

Regulatory Specialist 1

Mehdi is a Regulatory Specialist and is interested in furthering the regulatory foundations for BSL and supporting more innovative studies. He has had a number of unique opportunities within clinical research working with a team that supported the founders of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. He has worked a clinical research startup whose primary goal was to make research more accessible for its participants. Now he is working to help to make sure our studies have strong regulatory and compliance foundations. Mehdi and his wife like to do anything as long as there is good food involved, including traveling to different countries, exploring different cultures, and seeing how much their spice and sweet receptors can handle, until of course, the inevitable stomachache.

Nick Bassano

Administrative Manager

Nick Bassano received his Masters in Social Work in 2013 from San Jose State University. He worked in the Stanford Adult outpatient psychiatry clinic intake department for 6 years before moving over to the Brain Stimulation Lab in 2020. Nick leads recruitment for the Brain Stimulation Lab’s clinical trials. When not working Nick enjoys spending time with his family and enjoying the outdoors as well as playing ice hockey.  

Noriah Johnson

Clinical Research Manager

Noriah graduated from UC Berkeley in 2016 with a BA in Psychology. In 2017, she joined the psychiatry team at Stanford, working in the Etkin Lab until 2020. While with the Etkin Lab, she learned methods such as MRI, TMS, EEG, and intracranial electrical stimulation to measure and record brain activity. Noriah joined the Brain Stimulation Lab, and the Halpern-Malenka Lab in the department of Neurosurgery in 2020. She currently works with invasive and noninvasive neuromodulation methods and measurements in clinical populations.

Nour Dannawi

Life Science Research Professional

Nour is a Life Science Research Professional now primarily working in Neurosurgery, but she continues to collaborate within the Brain Stimulation Lab. Nour graduated with a B.S. in Microbial Biology from the University of California, Berkeley, where she studied the intersections between the brain and the immune system. While an undergraduate, Nour worked at the Integrated Clinical Neurosciences psychiatric clinic, administering TMS treatment to patients with neuropsychiatric disorders. At the Brain Stimulation Lab, Nour is committed to continuing the delivery of treatment with a patient-centric focus while also embedding herself in the ongoing research of the lab. In her free time, Nour enjoys reading, running, and spending time with her family and friends.

Persephone Crittenden

Clinical Research Coordinator 2

Dr. Crittenden is a licensed psychologist specializing in neuropsychological assessment of adults. She holds a doctorate in clinical psychology from the PGSP-Stanford Psy.D. Consortium, with an emphasis in neuropsychology. Her doctoral research, conducted as part of Stanford’s Williams PanLab, examined the neurocognitive impacts of co-occurring cannabis use and clinical anxiety symptoms. 

Dr. Crittenden received advanced clinical training as a neuropsychology fellow at Harvard Medical School, CHA. There she co-created a novel telehealth intervention for the assessment and management of cognitive symptoms during the covid-19 pandemic. She also completed her clinical internship at Harvard Medical School, CHA in Neuropsychology & Primary Care Behavioral Health Integration.

Dr. Crittenden teaches graduate courses on neuropsychological and psychological assessment and evaluation. She has a private practice in which she provides neuropsychological services to individuals with neurodegenerative diseases, traumatic brain injury, cerebrovascular disease, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, learning disorders, and other medical and psychiatric conditions impacting cognition, as well as helping individuals better understand brain health and cognitive aging. At the Brain Stimulation Lab she conducts clinical evaluations for research studies examining treatment-resistant depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and other presenting issues.

Reece Jones

Assistant Clinical Research Coordinator

Reece is an Assistant Clinical Research Coordinator at the Brain Stimulation Lab working with the imaging team as part of the Matter study. Reece graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a B.S. in Neuroscience, where he conducted research in fields spanning bioinformatics, neurogenetics, and developmental biology. He is interested in the mechanisms underlying novel psychiatric therapies such as TMS and psychedelic-therapy, and is excited to gain hands-on experience with neuromodulatory treatments. Outside of the lab, Reece can be found exploring the Santa Cruz mountains, spending time with his cats, or sometimes a combination of the two.

Stephanie Wan

Clinical Research Coordinator 2

Stephanie holds her B.S. in Biopsychology & B.A. in Cognitive Science from the University of California, Davis. Her undergraduate endeavors included working as a research assistant, where she presented her research contribution at the undergraduate research conference. In addition, she also worked closely with psychiatrists at the UC Davis MIND Institute, focused on developing novel approaches & interventions for neurodevelopmental disorders.

Prior from joining the Stanford BSL, she gained experience as a psychometrist at a private practice where she honed her skills in administering neuropsychological testing. Stephanie is dedicated to explore a career in clinical neuropsychology, while bridging the gaps in research by learning more about the Biomechanics of the brain in relation to psychiatric conditions and to support tangible change in therapeutic results.

Tracy Han

Assistant Clinical Research Coordinator

Tracy is an Assistant Clinical Research Coordinator at BSL working on the imaging team to collect multimodal MRI and EEG data. She graduated from Boston University with a B.A. in Biology and a minor in Computer Science and gained exposure to health economics and policy research as a student research assistant at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Tracy’s research interests include computational modeling of the brain as a dynamic system to decode neuromodulatory mechanisms and simulate brain activities. 

Tyler Pope

Clinical Research Coordinator 2

Tyler is the recruitment team lead at the Brain Stimulation Lab. Before joining the lab, he worked as a Clinical Research Coordinator working on various drug and device trials. Prior to that role he was the Chief Medical Scribe at a level 1 trauma and burn center in Cleveland, OH. During that time, he oversaw a team of 35 medical scribes across four emergency departments. Outside of the lab he enjoys hanging out with his two dogs and being on the water.