I am a first generation American, and the son of immigrants who came to the US at a time when our home country of Argentina was under a military dictatorship. As a third culture kid, I have always sought to expand my knowledge by immersing myself in multicultural environments -I can't think of a better place to do that than at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, where I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology. At UH I direct the Targeted Interventions Lab, which integrates my clinical and research background to train the next generation of clinical scientists and develop targeted prevention and intervention strategies for mental health.

I’m a doctoral student in the Clinical Science Program at UHM. I completed my BA in psychology at UCLA in 2018. I then spent 7 years working as a research associate and project coordinator at UCLA’s Integrated Substance Use and Addiction Program. During this time, I also conducted research exploring predictors of improvement on a digital intervention. My passion is developing targeted, transdiagnostic interventions that can be personalized to individual needs and characteristics. In line with this goal, I aim to integrate machine learning and technology (e.g., digital therapeutics, wearables) to facilitate the momentary measurement and examination of dynamic transdiagnostic mechanisms as potential treatment targets. I have a special interest in examining emotion regulation and related mechanisms that support adaptive regulation (e.g., cognitive appraisals, goal-directed behavior). Fun facts: I love cooking, working out, reading, swimming in the ocean, am a music lover, and a philosophy enthusiast (always open to conversations about the meaning of our existence and the purpose we hold as human beings. (Spoiler: I believe we do have one.) 

Hi, my name is Alana! I am a doctoral student in the Clinical Science Program at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, working under the mentorship of Dr. Papini as well as Dr. Scott Sinnett in the Cognition, Neuroscience, and Social Program. Originally from Texas, I earned my B.S. in Neuroscience and Psychology with a minor in Spanish from Trinity University in December 2022. After graduating, I spent two years working as a Clinical Research Coordinator in the Psychiatry Neuroimaging Lab at Harvard Medical School/Mass General Brigham in Boston. There, I leveraged diffusion tensor imaging to investigate alterations in white matter microstructure following repetitive head impacts in former American football players. I am interested in integrating multimodal techniques to assess changes in cognition after traumatic brain injury, with the aim of informing neurorehabilitative care and individualized treatment as a clinical neuropsychologist in the future. Outside of research, I enjoy playing soccer, running, hiking, and making way too many overly specific playlists on Spotify. Fun facts: I have been to all 50 states and 37 national parks in the US! I also lived in Peru for 5 weeks this past summer, as I am trying to become fluent in Spanish.

Hello my name is Grace! I was formerly a student at the Shidler College of Business at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa until I made my shift into economics and the social sciences. I am an economics major with a concentration in quantitative methods; I also hold a mathematics and English minor. My long-term goal is to obtain an academic doctorate in economics and become a policy researcher. I joined this lab since the nexus of my research interest resides in health economics and clinical psychology. More specifically, in the intersection of stress, anxiety and the economic costs of work intensity. 

I am a fourth year undergraduate student in the Psychology department at University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, graduating in Spring 2026. In the Targeted Interventions Lab, I work on projects that focus on eating disorders, self-injurious behaviors, psychotherapy, and recently the intersection between Cannabis and Nicotine Use Disorder and area deprivation using electronic health records (supported by funding from the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program). I am ultimately interested in understanding multi-sensory processing along with attention and memory systems using computational modeling and brain imaging techniques. I plan to start my PhD program in Fall 2026 with my long term career goal being conducting my own cognitive research at an R1 university. Some of my favorite pastimes include going to the movie theaters and crocheting!

I am an undergraduate student at the University of Hawaii at Manoa pursuing a B.S in psychology. My research interests focus on the analysis of factors in adolescents that influence future substance use and substance use rehabilitation practices. I have joined the Targeted Interventions Lab because I want to further my understanding of substance use research as a career. A long-term goal of mine is to apply to a PhD program after my undergraduate program.