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
Edith Contreras
B.A. Psychology, REx Psychology M.A. Student
Edith is an SJSU graduate with a BA in psychology and a minor in biological sciences. She has been an INI Lab member since 2021 and has led a project on post-traumatic growth during and following the COVID-19 pandemic and is currently involved in our experiment which looks into the effects of stress on cognitive tasks. She aspires to complete a Ph.D. 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.
Natalie Khayo
B.A. Psychology, REx Psychology M.A. Student
Natalie is a graduate student in the Research and Experimental Psychology M.A. program at SJSU. 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 Ph.D. in either Social or Health Psychology and continue contributing to this growing field of research. When Nat is not busy with academics, she enjoys drawing, doing tatreez (needlepoint), listening to music, and spending quality time with her loved ones.
Graduate Research Assistants
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Hannah Suozzi
Research Associate, B.A. Psychology
Hannah is a graduate student in 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. Her future goals are to earn a PhD in Social Psychology and to become a professor and researcher, continuing to look into ways that negate loneliness. Aside from academics, Hannah enjoys drawing, reading, and listening to music. -
Santi Decunto
Research Associate, B.A. Psychology
Santi is a research associate at the International Neuroeconomics Institute and a clinical research supervisor in Perinatology (Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences) at UCSF. 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.
At UCSF, Santi oversees maternal–fetal studies—observational and interventional—shaping operational strategy, ensuring regulatory integrity and data quality, and leading trial-coordinator teams. Previously, he coordinated complex industry-sponsored trials in neurology and lung transplantation, including an anti-tau monoclonal antibody infusion study in Alzheimer’s disease and drug trials for chronic lung allograft dysfunction, alongside diverse NIH-funded portfolios at Stanford and Keck Medicine of USC. He has guest-lectured on psychopharmacology and neuroscience at San José State University and will begin teaching psychology courses as a lecturer starting Winter 2026. 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.
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Max Barela
Lab Research Coordinator, B.A. Psychology, REx M.A. Student
Max is an incoming graduate student in the Research & Experimental Psychology MA program at SJSU. Some of their research interests are neuroscience and cognitive psychology. After graduating they plan on pursuing further education to acquire a PhD somewhere in the field of neuroscience. Outside of academics, Max enjoys a mixture of gaming and being active. In their freetime, you can find them getting coffee, rock climbing, hiking, or playing hockey. -
Cheyenne Murphy
B.A. Psychology
Cheyenne is a graduate student at SJSU in the Research and Experimental Psychology M.A. program. Her current research experience includes analyzing stress in college students and clinical treatments for Parkinson’s disease psychosis. She is also interested in researching the neuroimmunological effects of stress and trauma, and studying regenerative therapy for neuropsychological diseases. Her academic goals are to obtain her Ph.D. in Psychology and continue to research stress and the effects on neurological health. Besides her passion for psychology, Cheyenne also loves art and nature. Her hobbies include painting, cooking, and going on walks with her partner and their dog, Indi. -
Rennie-Laurens Stewart
B.A. Psychology, REx M.A. Student
Rennie is an incoming graduate student in the Research & Experimental psychology program at SJSU and a proud first-generation college student. Born and raised on the East Side of San José, he is determined to make history in his family and aims to become the first to earn a PhD. With a passion for cognitive neuroscience and neurophysiology, he aspires to lead a research lab dedicated to mentoring and inspiring the next generation of scientists. Outside academia, Rennie enjoys working on cars, traveling to new destinations, and capturing memories through his film cameras. -
Abigail Mattias
B.S. Psychology, REx M.A. Student
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Leslie Thai
B.A. Psychology, REx M.A. Student
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Research Assistants
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Roman Garcia
B.A. Psychology
Roman is currently a senior at SJSU majoring in psychology. His research interests include the investigation of the intricate dynamics of stress and aggression in online gaming environments, acute grief and its effects on cognition and nervous system regulation, and exploring the link between exercise and mental health. He intends to pursue a Ph.D. in clinical psychology. Outside of school, he enjoys playing guitar in his band, listening to music, hiking, and lifting weights. -
Calvin Alcantara
B.A. Psychology
Calvin is an SJSU graduate. He originally majored in mechanical engineering but has recently changed to psychology. He is interested in the research aspects of psychology and may be leaning more towards human factors. As of now his main goal is to gain further experience in research and getting into a related masters program. Outside of education, he likes learning more about cars and working on them as well. A recent hobby he has picked up is growing different types of gourmet mushrooms. -
Sierra Neven
B.A. Psychology
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Sebastian Franco
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Michelle So
Michelle is a second‑year psychology major at San Jose State University. She plans to apply to a master’s program in experimental psychology after graduation to further delve into the fields of neuroscience and cognitive psychology, with a particular interest in memory consolidation and sleep. Beyond her academic pursuits, however, Michelle enjoys writing, drawing, playing story‑based video games, and spending time with her rabbits, Bubble and Trucy.
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Yohanna Gizaw
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Zulma Plascencia
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Imaan Siddiqui
Imaan is an undergraduate psychology major with a creative writing minor at San José State University. Imaan is the president of the Sustainability and Climate Innovation club at San José State University and has conducted and presented research on the psychology of climate change at the Western Psychological Association Conference (regarding hope, compassion, anxiety, and pro-environmental behaviors). Although she is familiar with environmental and personality psychology, she is also interested in learning more about neuropsychology and developmental psychology. She intends to pursue a PhD in applied social psychology. Aside from academic pursuits, Imaan enjoys painting, ice skating, photography, and modeling.
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Chinaza Izuakor
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Kabir Singh
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Aayrah Khan
Aayrah is a second-year psychology major pursuing a minor in chemistry at San José State University. Aayrah is fascinated by the complex relationship between mental and physical health, with a passion for both research and medicine, she plans to explore opportunities in medical school or delve deeper into her own research after graduation. Outside of her academic bubble, Aayrah enjoys journaling, reading, and gardening with her grandparents.
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Samantha Snyder
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Susmitha Aiswarya Srivillibhutturu
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Research Alumni
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Kayla Gray, M.A.
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Carmen Kischmischian, B.A.
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Alyssa Mendoza, B.S.
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Odalis Castellanos, B.A.
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David Han, B.S.
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Kelsey Lee, B.A.
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Neema Mohseni, B.S.
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Ashley Tedesco, M.A.
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Samantha Ruelas, B.A.
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Drayson Paul, B.A.
