How does exposure to environmental stressors affect cognitive processes, such as decision-making and social information processing? How does stress influence adolescents ability to regulate their mental health? It is my goal to evaluate existing research and apply it to under-studied minority populations.

In which ways do life stressors impact the cognitive development in adolescents living in marginalized, low-income communities compare to those who do not? it is vital to apply this question to create accessible preventative treatments for the onset of mental illness and implement them in marginalized communities for equitable access for youth.

Understanding the neural component of stress-related disorders such as anxiety, PTSD, and depression is the stepping stone for understanding how these disorders impact diverse populations.

In my previous research experience, I took a comparative cognitive neuropsychological approach in viewing if prenatal stress increased offspring's drive to seek and drink alcohol. Learn more about it here.