CHOICE Lab - Lab Members

Research Team

Lara Coughlin, Ph.D.

Lab Director

Lara N. Coughlin is a licensed clinical psychologist and an Associate Professor at the University of Michigan Addiction Center in the Department of Psychiatry and a Faculty Affiliate in the University of Michigan Department of Psychology. She is the Co-Director of the Michigan Innovations in Addiction Care through Research and Education (MI-ACRE) program and faculty lead of Mental Health Equity at the Eisenberg Family Depression Center. 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 NIAAA T32 postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Michigan Department of Psychiatry.

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.

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 holds a B.S. in Psychology from Michigan State University. Prior to joining the lab as a Research Coordinator, Chelsea gained diverse experience in both research and clinical settings. Her research interests focus on improving outcomes for individuals with mental health and substance use disorders, promoting health and well-being through evidence-based strategies, and the application of Motivational Interviewing. Outside of work, Chelsea enjoys caring for her houseplants, playing with her three cats, attending car events, listening to music, and spending time with family.

Meredith Philyaw Kotov, M.S., CCRP

Project Manager

Email: mphilyaw@med.umich.edu

Meredith received her M.S. in Health Services Research and Policy from Emory University and her B.A. in Psychology from Duke University. Prior to joining the lab, she worked in various research and for-profit settings, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and developed expertise in collecting, managing and analyzing quantitative and qualitative data. Her research interests focus on how evidence-based prevention approaches, including timely digital interventions, can delay/prevent negative health outcomes and potentially generate cost-savings for health systems and society. Outside of work, Meredith enjoys spending time with friends and family, trying new exercise classes, and exploring family-friendly spots with her two girls.

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 health disparities through community-based research, with a focus on access to behavioral health care and public health initiatives that promote health equity. In her free time, she enjoys going on walks, listening to music, and spending time with friends and family.

Maya Campbell, B.S.

Research Coordinator

Email: camaya@umich.edu

Maya graduated from Michigan State University with a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Cognitive Science. A couple of her research interests include evaluating the effectiveness of mobile health interventions and using existing data to inform interventions that can be used early in health trajectories. In fall of 2025, she will be attending the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health graduate program with a focus in epidemiology. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors, baking, and spending time with friends and family.

Addison Carriere, B.A.

Research Assistant

Email: addisoc@med.umich.edu

Addison graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a bachelor's in Psychology with minors in Gender and Women's Studies and Disability Rights and Services. Her primary research interests consider how intersections of identity can influence substance use, as well as how disparities in health care disproportionately affect marginalized communities. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, doing yoga, and playing cards with friends and 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.

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.

Dominick Caputo, B.A.

Research Assistant

Email: caputo@umich.edu

Dominick graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.A. in Psychology with High Honors and Distinction. Prior to joining the CHOICE Lab, he was a sleep research assistant with a special focus on actigraphic wearables and is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps. He is interested in studying substance use disorders and other addictive behaviors while paying special attention to the role of disinhibition and the effect societal stigma has on addiction treatment. In his free time, he likes being outdoors—camping, fishing, and hiking—especially with family and friends.

Clarence Nguyen, B.A.

Research Assistant

Email: clarencn@umich.edu

Clarence graduated from the University of Iowa with a B.A. in Psychology. Prior to joining CHOICE Lab, he worked at a community mental health clinic and volunteered at a research lab studying the efficacy of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. His research interests include promoting health behavior change, increasing mental health care equity, and studying the efficacy of treatment interventions. In his free time, he likes spending money, experimenting with Photoshop, and observing his new neighborhood.

Fariha Mabud, B.A.

Research Assistant

Email: mabud@med.umich.edu

Fariha (Fari) graduated from Boston University with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Chinese. Prior to joining the CHOICE Lab, they worked as a cognitive development research assistant, where they focused on how children reason and build frameworks about the world from the explanations they hear. They are interested in how structural, behavioral, and psychological factors intersect in mental health outcomes, as well as in developing low-barrier, tailored mental health interventions. In their free time, they like to read, draw, and explore local shops.

Sophia Wood, M.A.

Research Assistant

Email: sophiawo@med.umich.edu

Sophia graduated with an M.A. in Social Science from the University of Chicago. She also holds a B.A. in Psychology with minors in Sociology and Law, Justice & Public Policy from Michigan State University. Prior to joining the lab, Sophia gained experience on the UConnect Study at Michigan Medicine, a multi-year clinical trial addressing adolescent alcohol use. Her academic interests include climate change social movements and community-based research, as well as achieving better outcomes for individuals managing mental health and substance use disorders. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, reading, gardening, watching movies, and trying new restaurants.

Leonie Glueck, B.A.

Research Assistant

Email: bayrakna@umich.edu

Leonie completed her B.A. in Psychology at the University of Windsor in 2025. Her research interests include substance use, particularly alcohol use, focusing on factors that influence readiness to reduce high-intensity drinking, support behavior change, and guide intervention development. She hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and become a clinician and researcher. Outside the lab, Leonie enjoys reading, writing, and figure skating.

Rachelle Evans

Research Assistant

Email: evansra@umich.edu

Rachelle is a student at the University of Michigan, studying Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience with a minor in Entrepreneurship. She is interested in understanding how the brain impacts substance use and improving associated healthcare policy. She hopes to become an attorney. In her free time, she enjoys reading, baking, writing, exercising, and playing board games.

Catherine Caggiano

Research Assistant

Email: crcagg@umich.edu

Catherine is a student at the University of Michigan studying Pharmaceutical Sciences with a minor in Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences. She is on the pre-medical track and is interested in addiction treatment methods and the broader intersections of mental health and medicine. She enjoys hiking, skiing, and reading in her free time.

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