Chloe Gorla

Undergraduate Honors Student, Spring 2026

Hello! My name is Chloe Gorla. I am a senior from Richmond, Virginia majoring in Psychology. I joined the Autism Lab in the spring of 2024. Throughout my time I have worked on an eye-tracking study looking at the relationship between emojis and attention in individuals with autistic traits. I have run participants and cleaned data for this project. During the summer of 2025 I was an Honors Fellow through the Charles Center and am now working on my honors thesis in the lab. My thesis explores the performance on an emotion Stroop task for individuals with autistic traits. Outside of the lab, I have had the opportunity to participate in a clinic that administered the RITA-T to children ages 2-4 and in a pediatric primary care office. On campus, I am a part of two a cappella groups and work as a barista. 

Allison Dolan (she/her)

Undergraduate Honors Student, Spring 2025

Hi! I’m a pre-med who’s majoring in Neuroscience with a minor in Psychology. I have been a part of the Autism Lab since the Summer of 2022, and I have loved every minute of it. It has been so much fun getting to learn about the research process and see everything that happens behind the scenes of research. I love the mix of psychology and neuroscience that this lab brings! Some of our studies are very behaviorally oriented while others focus more on biological processes such as EEG waves and eye tracking. Outside of the lab, I am either volunteering as an EMT or working behind the Circulation Desk at Swem Library. Make sure to wave at me next time you walk into Swem!

Brian Des Roches (he/him)

Undergraduate Honors Student, Spring 2025

Hello! My name is Brian Des Roches. I am a junior majoring in Psychology and English. I have been interested in autism since I was a small child. I am particularly interested in the social aspect of psychology, which, luckily for me, is the primary focus of the Autism Lab's "Media Portrayals" study. I am hoping to engage in similar work in my senior year and beyond.

Leena Walsh

Research Assistant, Spring 2025

What Leena had to say in 2023: Hi! I'm Leena Walsh. I'm a sophomore majoring in Neuroscience and Music. I joined the Autism lab in spring of my freshman year and it has been an incredible experience. I'm so grateful for the experiences and skills I've gained as a result of working in this lab. I am also in the Barksdale Treble Chorus and I write music in my free time. 

Grace Mak (she/her)

Research Assistant, Fall 2023

What Grace had to say in 2023: Hi! My name is Grace Mak, and I'm from Fairfax, VA. I'm currently a junior majoring in Neuroscience on the pre-med track. Since joining the Autism Lab in Fall 2022, I've had the opportunity to work on really interesting projects like running participants and collecting eye tracking data for Kenzi's honors thesis. Outside of the lab, I am involved in organizations like Syndicate Hip Hop Dance Team and the Writing Resources Center.

Harper McCall (he/him)

Research Assistant, Spring 2024

What Harper had to say in 2023: Hey! My name is Harper McCall and I am a junior double majoring in psychological sciences and English on a pre-law track. I have been in the lab since freshman year and I primarily work with Tobii eye-tracking software. Outside of the lab, I am a consultant at the Writing Resources Center, a member of ROCKET magazine’s features team, and a member of a greek life organization. 

Lydia Bierce (she/her)

Masters Student, Spring 2023

What Lydia had to say in 2023: Hi all! My name is Lydia and I am a second year in the psychological sciences M.S. program. I started collaborating with the neurodiversity lab in the summer between my first and second year to gain experience working with different mentors and diversify my research experiences. I’m particularly interested in researching attitudes and perceptions of children with autism and their caregivers! Next fall I am starting my PhD in clinical psychology and hope to continue working with neurodiverse individuals and their families both in my research and clinical work. 

Sreya Mallipeddi (she/her)

Undergraduate Honors Student, Spring 2023

What Sreya had to say in 2023: Hi! My name is Sreya Mallipeddi and I am a senior majoring in Neuroscience and minoring in Asian & Pacific Islander American studies on the pre- med track. I have been in the Autism Lab since sophomore year and I am currently working on an honors thesis exploring how behaviors depicted in television portrayals of autism impact peoples’ perceptions of individuals with autism. Outside of the lab I am involved with Pineapple Kids Tutoring, College Red Cross, and the South Asian Student Association. 

Kenzi Fergus (she/her)

Undergraduate Honors Student. Spring 2023

What Kenzi had to say in 2023: Hi! My name is Kenzi Fergus and I am a senior majoring in Neuroscience and minoring in Biochemistry on the pre-med track. I joined the Autism lab my sophomore year and have loved the opportunity to work on a variety of projects including those examining behavioral aspects of autism as well as societal attitudes words individuals with Autism. I am currently working on an honors thesis looking into the role of emoticons in social attention in individuals with autistic traits ans social anxiety. Outside of the lab, I scribe at Lackey Free clinic and serve as confidential peer advocate at the Haven. 

Jasmine Turkson (she/her)

Research Assistant, Spring 2023

What Jasmine had to say in 2023: Hi! My name is Jasmine Turkson. I am a senior majoring in Psychology and minoring in Art. Since joining the lab in Fall 2022, I have been involved in the television portrayals of individuals with autism and eye tracking studies. Outside of the lab, I am a part of Rocket Magazine's Beauty Team, African Cultural Society, and Black Student Organization.