Berke Yasar

Carnegie Mellon University
B.S. in Neuroscience, Concentration in Cognitive Neuroscience, 2025

Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
Research Interests: I am interested in analyzing and learning about the significance of one's psychological, genetic, and environmental factors contributing to stress altering and affecting individuals. Also, I want to find approachable coping techniques.
Fun Fact: My family is from Turkey and I spend most of my off-semester time there if I am able to.

Chaeyoung Kim

Carnegie Mellon University
B.S. in Biological Sciences, 2024

Hometown: Old Bridge, NJ
Research Interests: Social and health psychology
Fun Fact: I love baking while listening to Rex Orange County!

Megan Matsko

Carnegie Mellon University
B.S. in Psychology, 2024

Hometown: Baltimore, MD
Research Interests: I am interested in stress and how stress can impact many different aspects of a person's life. I am also interested in performance with regards to sports.
Fun Fact: I love traveling and have been to over 10 different countries!

Nicole Sim

Carnegie Mellon University
B.S. in Decision Sciences & Statistics, 2024

Hometown: Northern VA
Research Interests: I'm interested in our different responses and thresholds to stress. I hope to explore more on how various strategies such as mindfulness or meditation can be taught and used as a tool for many to combat stress, anxiety, and mental illnesses.
Fun Fact: I like visiting art museums and reading! You'll often catch me baking cookies, or trying out Pittsburgh restaurants!

Patrick O'Connell

Hometown: Lyme, CT
Research Interests: Meditation, research methods, ayurveda
Fun Fact: I am a certified yoga teacher and ayurveda health practitioner

Raymond Falcone

Penn State University
B.S. in Psychology, minor in Religious Studies, 2022

Hometown: Gibsonia, PA
Research Interests: Human flourishing, the neural correlates of consciousness, trauma, meditation, breath work, self & society, and the varieties of spiritual experience.
Fun Fact: I am a fruitarian and I teach Primal movement, Yoga, and the wheel of awareness meditation practice at the Pine Community Center.