Meet the Team
Principal Investigator
Dr. Cheryl Chancellor-Freeland
Dr. Cheryl Chancellor-Freeland is a neuroscientist and the principal investigator at INI. Dr. Chancellor-Freeland received her PhD in psychology and biopsychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She completed her post-doctoral studies as a neurobiologist and psychoneuroimmunologist at Boston University Medical School.
Dr. Chancellor-Freeland’s research focus is in stress, cultural and socioeconomic factors, as well as mental and physical health. Her particular focus is on stress mitigating factors.
Dr. Chancellor-Freeland is the recipient of multiple grant awards, two of which have been NIH funded. She has served as an evaluator on the NIH (MBRS) Grants Review Panel. She is also a member of the Latino Behavioral Health Institute, Western Psychological Association and Society of Neuroscience.
Dr. Chancellor-Freeland is currently a Professor at San Jose State University. She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses, which include Biopsychology and Neuroscience. She is also a departmental advisor for undergraduate psychology majors.
Lab Managers
Natalie Khayo
B.A. Psychology, REx Psychology M.A. Student. she/her
Natalie is a 2nd year graduate student in the Research and Experimental Psychology (REx) M.A. program at SJSU, and has been a member of the INI Lab since 2023. Her research focuses on the intersection of social cognition and biopsychology, with a particular interest in understanding how media narratives and stress shape prejudice toward Arab and Muslim populations. In the future, she intends to pursue a PhD in either Social or Health Psychology and continue contributing to this growing field of research. When she is not busy with academics, she enjoys doing tatreez (needlepoint), creating multimedia art pieces, and spending time with loved ones.
Rennie-Laurens Stewart
B.A. Psychology, REx Psychology M.A. Student. he/him
Rennie is currently a 2nd year graduate student in the Research and Experimental Psychology MA program at SJSU. Rennie is interested in many topics within psychology, including the effects of childhood trauma on the stress response, anxiety in adulthood, pain, and creativity. After graduation, Rennie hopes to teach, and to help prepare high school students for higher education. In his free time, Rennie enjoys working on his Mazda Rx7 and shooting film photography.
Research Associates
Hannah Suozzi
B.A. Psychology, M.A. REx Psychology. she/her
Hannah is recent graduate of the Research and Experimental Psychology MA program at SJSU. Her research areas of interest include loneliness and its impact on well-being and social surrogacy, particularly parasocial relationships. A future goal of hers is to earn a PhD in Social Psychology, and to continue investigating ways that negate loneliness. She is currently a lecturer in the Psychology department at SJSU. Aside from academics, Hannah enjoys drawing, reading, and listening to music.
Santi Decunto
B.A. Psychology, M.A. REx Psychology. he/him
Santi is a research associate at the International Neuroeconomics Institute. His work examines how psychosocial stress shapes cannabis craving, integrating autonomic (HRV) and endocrine (cortisol) indices. Preliminary findings from his master’s thesis earned a WPA research scholarship, and he maintains an active research agenda with ongoing publications in psychophysiology and clinical trials science. Looking ahead, Santi plans to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology, build a tenure-track faculty career, and establish his own clinical trials program investigating interventions for treatment-resistant conditions, including opioid use disorder, schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, complex PTSD, and personality disorders. Originally from Argentina, he enjoys traveling, the outdoors, practicing piano, cooking, and spending time with loved ones.
Graduate Research Assistants
Calvin Kier Alcantara
Senior RA + Data and Research Coordinator.
M.A. REx Psychology Student. he/him
Calvin is currently a first year student in the Research and Experimental Psychology MA program, and has been apart of the INI lab since 2023. He is currently interested in examining protective factors for stress, and resilience. In the future, he plans to work in clinical research or data analytics, and potentially a PhD. His recent hobbies include growing mushrooms, aquascaping, hiking, and going to the gym.
Max Barela
Data and Research Coordinator.
M.A. REx Psychology Student. they/them
Max is currently a second year in the Research and Experimental Psychology MA program, and has been a member of the INI Lab since 2023. Their primary interests revolve around political psychology, neuropsychology, and psychophysiology. After graduation, Max plans on pursuing a career in clinical research. In their free time, Max enjoys bird watching, nature photography (mostly birds), playing video games, and hockey.
Yohanna Gizaw
Data and Research Coordinator.
M.A. REx Psychology Student. she/her/they
Yohanna is currently a first year in the Research and Experimental Psychology MA program. Research topics that interest her include stress, racism, psychosocial factors in the stress response, and language. In the future, she plans to either work in the industry or complete a PhD. In Yohanna’s free time, she enjoys baking, playing soccer, and spending time with friends.
Roman Garcia
M.A. Educational Counseling Student. he/him
Roman is currently a first year student in the EDCO (educational counseling) graduate program at SJSU, and has been a member of the INI lab since 2023. Some of his research interests revolve around psychotherapy, motivation, stress, and aggression. Once he graduates, he intends on working in the mental health field as a licensed clinical mental health counselor. For fun, Roman enjoys playing the guitar, reading, and competing in powerlifting.
Edith Contreras
M.A. REx Psychology Student. she/her
Edith gained her BA in psychology and a minor in biological sciences, and is currently completing her thesis in the Research and Experimental Psychology MA program. She has been an INI Lab member since 2021 and has led multiple projects that were presented at regional conferences. She aspires to complete a PhD program in neuroscience or psychology and is particularly interested in behavioral neuroscience in relation to the effects of neurodevelopmental disorders. In her free time, Edith enjoys dancing, concerts, and spending time outdoors with her friends and family. She also loves checking out new music and tv shows with her cat Wednesday and discovering local foods.
Research Assistants
Michelle So
she/they
Michelle is currently a senior majoring in psychology at SJSU, and has been a member of the INI Lab since her freshman year. Topics that interest Michelle include parasocial relationships, chronic pain, sleep, and memory. In the future, Michelle intends on pursuing PhD programs in Neuroscience and Biopsychology. During their free time, Michelle enjoys napping, playing video games, writing, and drawing.
Zulma Plascencia
she/her
Zulma is currently a 4th year undergraduate majoring in psychology at SJSU. She is interested in the fields of neurology and behavior research. After graduation, she intends on continuing her education to get a PhD in neuropsychology, and would also like to become a therapist if possible. When Zulma isn’t at school, she enjoys swimming, reading, writing, drawing, and trying new foods.
Kabir Singh
he/him
Kabir is currently a 3rd year undergraduate at SJSU, majoring in psychology with a biology minor. Kabir is interested in many areas of research, including neuroscience, pediatric/developmental psychology, parasocialism, culture, and social psychology. In the future, Kabir is planning on pursuing a masters program in Experimental Psychology or Neuroscience, then continue onto a MD-PhD program. His hobbies include swimming, watching YouTube, playing piano, and spending time with friends.
Aayrah Khan
she/her
Aayrah is a 3rd year SJSU undergraduate pursuing psychology, with a minor in philosophy. A couple topics Aayrah is interested are pediatric mental health and impacts of parasocial relationships. After graduation, she hopes to pursue medical school. In her free time, she enjoys reading, doing simple crafts, and gardening with her grandparents.
Samantha Snyder
she/her
Samantha is a 3rd year undergraduate student majoring in psychology at SJSU. She is broadly interested in neuroscience, but has a specific interest in neuroplasticity. In her free time, she enjoys running, lifting, cycling, and listening to music.
Susmitha Aiswarya (Sushu)
she/her
Sushu is a recent graduate of SJSU, having received her BS in Business Administration—Entrepreneurship with a minor in psychology. Sushu is invested in neuroscience research involving stress, menstrual dysfunction, and adverse childhood experiences. Particularly, she is interested in investigating the bidirectional relationship between biology and psychology, particularly how menstrual health, stress, and mental health influence and reinforce one another. In the future, she is interested in pursuing interdisciplinary research that combines psychology, humanities, and innovation, and potentially pursue a PhD. In Sushu’s free time, she likes running, reading books, baking, crocheting, and attempting to pet stray cats.
John (Jack) Guenther
he/him
Jack is currently a 4th year psychology major, minoring in applied computing for behavioral and social sciences at SJSU. Jack is very interested in sports psychology, positive psychology, and neuroscience. After graduation, he plans to pursue a masters program in experimental psychology or neuropsychology, ultimately with a career in research. His hobbies include reading comic books, playing video games, and fishing.
Mikaela Evans
she/her
Mikaela is currently an undergraduate senior pursuing psychology at SJSU. After graduation, she plans to pursue a masters degree in counseling psychology. In her free time, she enjoys crocheting and reading.
Braden Orozco
he/him
Braden is a transfer student in his 3rd year majoring in psychology at SJSU. While he takes interest in many different neuroscience and psychology topics, he is particularly invested in examining the effects of depression, anxiety, and stress on memory. In the future, he plans to pursue higher education in the field of neuroscience, and to eventually be the first in his family to get a PhD. Braden enjoys going to the gym, collecting and burning CDs, listening to music, painting, playing video games, and reading.
Hank Halverson
they/them
Hank is currently a senior undergraduate student at SJSU majoring in psychology. They are interested in many psychology-related topics such as neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., ADHD), LGBTQ+ affirmative therapy, biopsychology, counseling, and trauma. After graduation, Hank intends to work in the mental health field and apply to clinical or counseling psychology masters program with the intention of becoming an LPCC/LMFT specializing in ADHD and LGBTQ+ affirmative care. In Hank’s free time, they enjoy writing, screenplays, composing, 3D art (modeling and sculpting), reading, and game development.
Research Alumni
-
Kayla Gray
M.A.
-
Carmen Kischmischian
B.A.
-
Alyssa Mendoza
B.S.
-
Odalis Castellanos
B.A.
-
David Han
B.S.
-
Kelsey Lee
B.A.
-
Neema Mohseni
B.S.
-
Ashley Tedesco
M.A.
-
Samantha Ruelas
B.A.
-
Drayson Paul
B.A.
-
Sierra Neven
B.A.
-
Abigail Mattias
M.A.
