Research Team
Lab Members
Lara Coughlin, Ph.D.
Lab Director
Email: laraco@med.umich.edu
Lara N. Coughlin is a licensed clinical psychologist and an Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan Addiction Center in the Department of Psychiatry and an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the University of Michigan Department of Psychology. She is the Director of Outreach and Policy in the Michigan Innovations in Addiction Care through Research and Education (MI-ACRE) program. Dr. Coughlin received her B.S. in Psychology from Davidson College, and her M.S. and Ph.D from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. She completed her APA-Accredited Predoctoral Internship in Clinical Psychology at Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center and a National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) T32 postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Michigan Department of Psychiatry.
Chelsea Wilkins, LMSW
Research Coordinator
Email: wchelsea@med.umich.edu
Chelsea is a licensed clinical master’s social worker in the State of Michigan. Chelsea received her MSW from the University of Michigan School of Social Work and a B.S. in Psychology at Michigan State University. Chelsea has a variety of research and clinical experience prior to joining the lab as a Research Coordinator. She worked as a research assistant completing qualitative interviews with women on probation and parole as well as transcribing and coding interviews. At the clinical level, she worked as a case manager and therapist for individuals with mental health and co-occurring substance use disorders.
Chelsea is interested in how to improve treatment services and outcomes for individuals with mental health and co-occurring disorders, including a growing interest in the acceptability and feasibility of remote interventions. Chelsea enjoys houseplants, playing with her three cats, music, traveling, and being with friends and family.
Chavez Rodriguez, B.A.
Research Coordinator
Email: chavezrz@med.umich.edu
Chavez graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a B.A. in Psychological & Brain Sciences and minors in Anthropology and History. Before joining the CHOICE Lab as a research coordinator, he worked as a research assistant and as a research technician on studies related to anxiety and trauma, ecological momentary assessment, and social determinants of health (treatment acceptability, mental health stigma). Currently, he is interested in associations between anxiety, trauma-related, and substance use disorders, personalized models and treatments, and health equity research. In his free time, he enjoys music, games, and following Red Wings hockey.
Natalie Bayrakdarian, B.S.
Research Coordinator
Email: bayrakna@umich.edu
Natalie graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.S. in Biopsychology, Cognition, & Neuroscience. She is interested in studying substance-use, reward systems, and decision making. She is also interested in studying health care disparities, especially when it comes to mental health care. She hopes to pursue a career in the health sciences. In her free time, she enjoys going on walks, listening to music, and spending time with friends and family.
Devin Tomlinson, Ph.D.
T32 Postdoctoral Fellow
Email: tdevin@umich.edu
Devin C. Tomlinson is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Michigan Addiction Center in the Department of Psychiatry. She received her B.S. in Biochemistry with a minor in Psychology from Oakland University and her Ph.D. from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Her research interests include behavioral economics, substance use disorders, and mental health co-occurring disorders. In her free time, she enjoys riding her bike, playing soccer, and traveling.
Lauren Hellman, B.A.
Research Assistant
Email: lhellman@umich.edu
Lauren graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Quantitative Methods of the Social Science. She is interested in studying community health and ways to help at-risk populations access necessary resources and support. She plans to pursue a career in School Psychology. In her free time she enjoys cooking, playing tennis, and spending time at Lake Michigan.
Maya Campbell, B.S.
Research Assistant
Email: camaya@umich.edu
Maya graduated with a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Cognitive Science. She is interested in evaluating the effectiveness of mobile health interventions on psychological outcomes, especially in post-pandemic times. In her free time, she enjoys baking and spending time with family.
Josie Lafayette, B.A.
Research Assistant
Email: jlafayet@umich.edu
Josie graduated with a B.A. in Psychology and minors in English, Sociology, and Anthropology. She is interested in studying the lived experiences of others and improving mental health outcomes for individuals across their lifespans. In her free time, she enjoys walking her dog, writing short stories, and drinking coffee with her friends and family.
Karina Vasquez, B.S.
Research Assistant
Email: kvallejo@med.umich.edu
Karina graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.S. in Biology, Health, and Society. She is interested in advocacy and public health research that is aimed at improving access and support for marginalized communities in healthcare. She plans to pursue a career in genetic counseling. In her free time, she enjoys music, reading, and spending time with her friends and family.
Aya Murray, MS
Research Assistant
Email: azmurray@med.umich.edu
Aya graduated with an M.S in Medical Physiology from Case Western Reserve University as well as a B.A in Biological Sciences from Wayne State University. Prior to joining CHOICE Lab, she worked as a research assistant in studies related to pancreatic ductal cancer with a focus in metabolomics. She is passionate about promoting equity in healthcare for underserved and marginalized populations. In her free time, she enjoys the company of her cats, reading, and catching up with friends.
Ava Rivard, B.S.
Research Assistant
Email: avrivard@umich.edu
Ava graduated from Michigan State University with a B.S. in Human Biology and a minor in bioethics. Her research interests revolve around exploring the multifaceted aspects of substance abuse, including the socio-economic factors influencing patterns of use, the impact on mental health, and the efficacy of interventions and treatments. In her free time, she enjoys live music, reading, and spending time with loved ones.
Jordan Diamond, B.S.
Research Assistant
Email: jdia@umich.edu
Jordan graduated with a B.S. in Cognitive Neuroscience from Ohio State on the pre-med track. Prior to joining the CHOICE Lab, he worked as a medical assistant in a psychiatry/clinical psychology practice. He is fascinated by the new advancements being made in the field of psychiatry and making mental health resources more accessible. In his free time he likes playing soccer, spending time with friends and finding new music.
Sahana Lothumalla
Research Assistant
Email: sahanal@umich.edu
Sahana is a student at the University of Michigan majoring in Pharmaceutical Sciences on the premedical track. She is interested in studying the intersection of healthcare and vulnerable populations, specifically in developing resources to increase accessibility to care. She hopes to pursue a career as a physician in the future. In her free time she enjoys spending time with family and friends.
Ariana Chaidez
Research Assistant
Email: achaidez@umich.edu
Ariana is an undergraduate student at the University of Michigan majoring in Neuroscience and minoring in Science, Technology, and Society. After graduating, she wants to obtain a Dual Master's Degree in Genetic Counseling and Public Health. In her free time, she likes to binge watch TV shows, crochet, and make jewelry.
Amrita Kondur
Research Assistant
Email: akondur@umich.edu
Amrita is a student at the University of Michigan studying neuroscience on the pre-medical track. She is interested in studying addiction and ways to alleviate negative social determinants of health, as well as health policy initiatives to publicize healthcare. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors and trying new coffee shops.
Lab Alumni
Humnah Wasi
Research Assistant
Email: hwasi@umich.edu
Humnah is a student at the University of Michigan majoring in Psychology and Women and Gender Studies. She is pursuing a career in clinical psychology and is aiming to gain a Doctorate in Psychology in the future. In her free time, she enjoys art and watching movies.
Belle Duguid, B.A.
Research Assistant
Email: belledug@umich.edu
Belle graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.A. in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience and a minor in Medical Anthropology. During her senior year, Belle was a Research Assistant in the Coughlin Lab. After graduating, Belle served with the AmeriCorps VISTA program at Legal Council for Health Justice where she worked to expand access to health and legal services for those living with HIV/AIDS. After her service, she returned to the Coughlin Lab as a Research Assistant and intends to pursue a Master's in Public Health. In her free time, she enjoys listening to music and watching New Girl.
Jasper Ragla, B.A.
Research Assistant
Jasper is a class of 2023 University of Michigan graduate with a B.A. in Psychology. He is working towards pursuing a career that can help sexual and gender youth minorities and those faced with incarceration gain better access to mental health resources. Outside of academics, you can find him tending to his plants, napping in a hammock up high in the trees, or skateboarding around Ann Arbor.
Sarah Salino, B.A.
Research Assistant
Sarah is a class of 2022 University of Michigan graduate with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Law, Justice & Social Change. She is interested in studying the ways in which members of underrepresented communities can better access health resources. She hopes to pursue a career as a School Psychologist or Clinical Psychologist. In her free time, she enjoys baking and playing the ukulele.
CJ Jennings, B.A.
Research Assistant
CJ is a class of 2022 University of Michigan graduate with a B.A. in Psychology and minors in Crime & Justice and Gender & Health. She is interested in studying substance use and mental health, and the ways in which societal factors affect access to care and treatment. She hopes to pursue a PhD in Psychology and eventually become a Clinical Psychologist and researcher. In her free time, she enjoys watching Criminal Minds and playing the guitar.
Aditi Anand, MS
Research Assistant
Aditi is an MSI student majoring in the data science track at the U of M School of Information. Before joining the U of M, she worked as a software developer at organizations like J.P. Morgan and Accenture. Her research interests include natural language processing and computational social science. After graduation, she aspires to pursue a career as a research scientist. In her free time, she enjoys reading blogs, watching Netflix documentaries, and listening to music.
Nicholas Stewart, B.A.
Research Assistant
Nick is a class of 2021 University of Michigan graduate with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in creative writing. He is interested in cyberpsychology and the compulsions toward excessive internet use. He enjoys reading, watching movies, and listening to music in his free time.
Madelyn Lacek, B.A.
Research Assistant
Maddie is a class of 2021 University of Michigan graduate with a B.A. in Psychology and Economics. She is interested in studying how to improve access to addiction treatment nationwide. Maddie is currently working as an Investment Consulting Analyst. In this position, she works with consultants to produce deliverables for clients, aids in selecting investment managers that align with clients’ needs and goals, and analyzes data to make sure clients are receiving the most efficient investment plans. In her free time, she enjoys cooking and listening to podcasts.