People
Postdoctoral Fellows
LillyBelle Deer
LillyBelle is a postdoctoral scholar working with Dr. Doom and Dr Elysia Davis. She graduated from the University of California, Davis with her PhD in Developmental Psychology in 2021 and completed her BA in Psychology at Claremont McKenna College in 2015. Her dissertation focused on the effects of stress on executive function in children and adolescents. LillyBelle is interested in studying how early life stress and environmental factors may impact psychobiology and health outcomes in children and adolescents.
Graduate Students
Kenia Rivera
Kenia is a graduate student in the developmental psychology PhD program at the University of Denver. She received her BA in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee in 2015. Afterwards, she volunteered in the Marquette Autism Project lab at Marquette University for 3 years and worked as lab coordinator in the Child Neurodevelopment Research Lab at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee for over a year. Kenia’s research interest broadly focuses on how stress and adversities influence cognitive development and physical health through the lifespan. She is particularly interested in examining the biological and behavioral pathways of how stress influences health and development in the lifespan. Additionally, she is interested in further understanding aspects of resilience and stressors in diverse populations, especially among Latinos.
Deborah Seok
Deborah is a graduate student in the developmental psychology PhD program at the University of Denver. She received her B.S. in Human Development with a concentration in neuroscience at Cornell University in 2017. Before coming to DU, Deborah worked at a non-profit called Child Trends, where she conducted policy-relevant research in early childhood topics such as child care access and quality, positive parenting practices, and social-emotional development. Her research interests include the effects of early adversity and stress on children's development, and social buffering as a protective factor. She is also interested in the development and evaluation of high-quality early care and education programs, policies, and practices.
Nathalie Dieujuste
Nathalie is a graduate student in the Clinical Psychology PhD program at the University of Denver. In 2016, she received her BA in Psychology with a minor in Human Development and Family Studies from Auburn University. Since earning her undergraduate degree, Nathalie worked as a project manager and research coordinator with the Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center and the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Her research experience spans several topic areas, including trauma, suicidology, health services research, and Black maternal health. As a graduate trainee, Nathalie is interested in investigating the impact of early life trauma and chronic stressors on the physical and mental health of Black girls and women across the lifespan. She is especially interested in examining the impacts of racial trauma and gendered racism on critical periods such as adolescence and the perinatal period. Nathalie is a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow.
Samantha Scott
Samantha Scott is a clinical psychology PhD student in the Doom Lab. She graduated with honors from the University of Puget Sound with a BA in psychology in 2017. Following graduation, she worked as a clinical research coordinator at Seattle Children’s Research Institute in the Palliative Care and Resilience Research Lab, where she worked on studies examining a resilience-based intervention in youth with chronic illness. She also implemented her own study investigating associations between interpersonal relationship experiences and cortisol synchrony in youth with brain cancer and their caregivers. Her research program focuses on associations between resilience resources and clinically-relevant biological processes (with a focus on cardiometabolic health) in healthy youth and youth with severe chronic illness.
Staff Members
Andrea Infante
Andrea recently graduated from San Diego State University with a B.A. in Psychology. During her time at SDSU, she worked as a research assistant in the Infant and Child Development lab where she transcribed and coded transcripts to examine the changes in language and cognition in children. Andrea also worked as a Behavior Technician while at SDSU, which solidified her passion for working with children and her desire for a career in Child Clinical Psychology. Andrea is now working as the lab coordinator in the Doom lab, where she oversees various projects in the lab. Andrea is interested in the impact of trauma and stress on a child’s development and how it is associated with diverse mental health disorders. In addition, she wishes to explore the relationship between cortisol levels and PTSD in children. Andrea hopes to gain her PhD in Clinical Psychology, so she may have the experience and knowledge necessary to help children who have suffered through adversities.
Alex Mejia
In 2018, Alex received her BA in Psychology and Sociology from University of Colorado - Boulder. Following graduation, she worked as a Behavior Technician while volunteering for psychology research labs at University of Denver. Alex is now a Research Assistant and Recruiter for the Doom Lab, as well as a Research Assistant in the Neurodevelopmental Research Program with Dr. Elysia Davis. Alex is interested in the neurodevelopment of empathy and morality in children and adolescents and hopes to pursue a PhD in developmental psychology.
Natalie Thwaites
Natalie is a recent graduate from Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee. She received her BS in Psychology and has moved back home to Colorado to work as a research assistant and recruiter for the Doom Lab and a research assistant for the Care Project. She is planning to pursue a Ph.D. in clinical psychology in the near future. She is interested in exploring research concerning intergenerational trauma, neuropsychology, early childhood experiences, and family systems both now and in the future!
