Current Lab Members
Current Lab Members
The Compas Lab is currently comprised of undergraduate and graduate students, post-bachelor’s research assistants, staff members, and faculty, all of whom work as a team to implement the Compas Lab goals and current research projects. In addition, the many Compas Lab Alumni have made all current and past projects possible.
Lab Staff
Katie Edel, B.S.
Senior Research Assistant
Katie graduated from Indiana University Bloomington with a B.S. in Neuroscience with distinction and a minor in Psychology. During undergrad, she worked for 2 years in the Cognition and Action Neuroimaging Lab (CANLab) where she conducted lab experiments utilizing the program MATLAB. Katie then worked at Neurology Specialists in Bloomington as a Medical Assistant and worked with patients with neurodegenerative diseases. She continued working in research as a Clinical Research Technician assisting in neurology clinical trials at the IU Neuroscience Center in Indianapolis.
Since moving to Nashville, Katie has worked as a Mental Health Specialist II at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. Katie joined the Stress and Coping Lab in March 2024 and will be primarily working on the Social Connectedness and Heath in HD Study. She plans to pursue her PhD in Clinical Psychology in the future and is interested in studying relationships and emotional regulation within medical populations.
In her free time, Katie enjoys hiking, yoga, reading, and spending time with her golden retriever, Stevie!
Louis DeLuna, B.A., B.S.
Senior Research Assistant
Louis DeLuna graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2024 with a B.S. and Highest Honors Child Development and a B.A. in Psychology. Louis previously worked as undergraduate research assistant in the Stress and Coping Lab where he completed his Honors Thesis on parenting style, executive functioning, and impulsive behaviors in the offspring of Huntington’s disease patients.
In the Stress and Coping Lab, Louis primarily works on the Social Connectedness and Health in HD study. He is interested in learning more about the cognitive functioning of people with neurodegenerative diseases, and especially how these diseases impact behavior. Louis is currently applying to medical school and hopes to pursue an MD in the future.
When he’s not in the lab, Louis enjoys running in local 5k races, playing video games, and trying different Nashville coffee shops.
Contact Information: louis.m.deluna@vanderbilt.edu
Graduate Students
Abigail Pine, M.S.
Abigail Pine is a sixth-year clinical psychology graduate student in the Stress and Coping Lab. She received her BA in Psychology from Washington University in St. Louis in 2017, and worked as a research coordinator at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences prior to starting graduate school in Fall 2019. She currently works predominantly on the Social Connectedness and Health research study. Abigail is interested in adolescence and interventions, as well as the role of parenting, parent-adolescent communication, and parental involvement within the context of psychotherapy interventions. She is particularly passionate about bridging the gap between research and clinical work.
Contact information: abigail.e.pine@vanderbilt.edu
Abby Ciriegio, M.S., M.Ed.
Abby is a fifth-year PhD student. Abby graduated from The Ohio State University in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She continued her education at Vanderbilt University where she focused her coursework and practica experiences in Pediatric Healthcare. Abby received her M.Ed. in Child Studies from Vanderbilt University in May 2018. In August 2022 she received a M.S. in Clinical Psychology from Vanderbilt University.
Her research interests include understanding how biological, behavioral, and psychosocial mechanisms can promote resiliency among children and families facing various health adversities.
Outside of the lab, I enjoy reading, taking spin classes, exploring Nashville’s food scene, and spending time with my French Bulldog, Harrison!
Contact Information: abagail.e.ciriegio@vanderbilt.edu
Mary Baumann, M.Ed.
Ashley Anil, M.S.
Ashley is a first-year clinical psychology PhD student in the Stress and Coping Lab. Ashley graduated from Rice University in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and History with honors and a distinction in research and creative works. She then joined the Pediatric and Child Adolescent Psychology Lab at Drexel University, where she received her M.S. in Psychology in 2023 while also working as a clinical research coordinator in the Division of Behavioral Oncology at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Ashley is interested in studying risk and resilience mechanisms across children and adolescents’ social ecology, social determinants of health, and psychosocial outcomes for pediatric patients with chronic or life-threatening health conditions and their families. She is particularly interested in pediatric oncology.
In her free time, Ashley enjoys rock climbing and playing other sports, watching Formula One, and reading.
Skyler Hughes is a second-year master’s student in the Child Studies program on the Applied-Professional track at Vanderbilt University. In 2022, she graduated summa cum laude from the University of Alabama with a B.S. in psychology and a minor in biology. After graduation, she worked as a research project coordinator and research assistant at the Cognition, Brain, and Autism Lab at UA.
Skyler is interested in investigating the impact of early trauma and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on developmental outcomes. These interests extend to the role of maternal mental and physical health in shaping infant health outcomes. In her free time, Skyler enjoys baking, doing puzzles, and exercising.
Sydney Hulme, B. S. Sydney Hulme is a first-year master’s student in Vanderbilt’s Child Studies program. She graduated in 2020 from Florida State University with a B.S. in psychology and child development. After graduation from FSU, she worked at Vanderbilt in the VUIIS and biochemistry departments, studying diagnostic imaging and antibacterials. She decided to combine both her passions for cancer care and mental well-being and began working in the Compas lab after her acceptance to the Child Studies program.
Sydney is interested in investigating cancer survivorship outcomes, such as psychosocial and neurocognitive effects. In her free time, Sydney enjoys walking her dogs, playing pickleball, and doing the NYT mini crossword puzzles.
Undergraduate & Independent Study Students
Seniors:
Jeremiah Crosswhite
Logan Gaskin
Caroline Grace Butler
McKay Lucas
Olivia Nickel
Raechel Rawicz
Hannah Weissman
Cindi Villanueva
Juniors:
Sally Choi
Mohraeil Rezk
Sophomores:
Aliza Hammond