Who we Are
Valentina Nikulina, Ph.D.
Valentina Is an Assistant Professor in the Psychology Department at Queens College and the Graduate Center at CUNY and the Principal Investigator of the laboratory. She is a NYS-Licensed Psychologist who received her undergraduate degree from New York University and her doctoral degree from St. John’s University. She completed two post-doctoral fellowships, one at John Jay College focused on Child Maltreatment Research and the other at the National Development and Research Institutes focused on drug abuse research.
Marisol Flores-Ortega
Marisol graduated from her associates degree at Queensborough Community College. She was part of a research program at QCC called SIRP. She transferred to Queens College how is currently a junior and is working on her BA for Psychology. She wants to pursue her career in the field of psychology as a clinical psychologist. As a research assistant she'll be in charge to prepare the participants for the SCORE study.
Mikell Bursky
Mikell Bursky holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Applied Psychology from New York University. Mikell’s interest in psychology began with his early studies of Buddhist philosophy and meditation. In 2008, he traveled through India, Nepal, China and Mongolia, finally living two years in a monastery in upstate New York form 2014-2016. In 2016, Mikell entered CUNY Queensborough College with the intention of integrating his mindfulness based studies with modern psychological theory, research and practice. After completing his Associates Degree, Mikell received a scholarship to complete his B.S. in NYU’s Department of Applied Psychology. In 2018, he began working as a research assistant in NYU’s Mindful Education Lab, where he has been involved in the development of a mindfulness intervention for college students. Subsequently, Mikell joined NYU’s Families and Children Experiencing Success Lab, where he has been involved in a study investigating the lived experience of minority adolescents with ADHD. Most recently, Mikell was brought on board as a Project Coordinator for the Nikulina Lab at CUNY Queens College. Mikell intends on pursuing a PhD in Clinical Psychology in order to expand his knowledge, contribute to the field of psychological science, and make a positive impact in the world.
Reena Maharaj
Reena is a postgraduate student in the Applied Behavior Analysis program. She has previously conducted research with children with autism and their typically developing siblings. Her goal is to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. Her interests include depression and anxiety, stress and coping, mindfulness and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, chronic illnesses and psychoneuroimmunology.
Sara Babad
Sara Babad is a doctoral student in Clinical Psychology and Neuroscience at Queens College, City University of New York. She researches the long-term psychosocial sequelae associated with childhood adversity. Her recent work focuses on trait-level variability in non-clinical emerging adult survivors of adverse childhood experiences. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, ice skating, and reading.
Shanna Razak
My name is Shanna Razak and I am currently pursuing a Master’s degree in School Psychology. In addition I work in developmental preschool . Currently I am working with Katherine in order to create a measure to test and analyze reasons for disclosure and non-disclosure of one’s sexual assault experiences
Victoria P Fairchild
Victoria is currently pursuing her PhD in clinical psychology at CUNY Queens College. She earned her BA in English and Psychology from the College of William and Mary, and previously conducted fMRI addiction neuroscience research on opioid use disorder, smoking, and risk behaviors in adolescents and young adults. Her current research examines risk factors and the progression and development of intimate partner violence in young adults