Lab Director/Principal Investigator
Jasmeet Pannu Hayes, Ph.D.
Dr. Hayes is Associate Professor of Psychology with primary affiliations in the Clinical and Cognitive Neuroscience Areas. She is also a faculty member in the Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Brain Imaging, Chronic Brain Injury, and Sports Medicine Programs. Dr. Hayes graduated with High Honors from the University of California, Berkeley. She completed her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology (specialization in Neuropsychology) at the University of Arizona. Prior to OSU, Dr. Hayes worked with Veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars at the National Center for PTSD and Boston University Medical School. She has received several honors including the Early Career Investigator Award from the International Brain Injury Association, the Arts & Sciences Early Career Excellence Award, and the Fred Brown Research Award. As a licensed clinical psychologist, Dr. Hayes’ clinical interests include neuropsychological assessment of TBI, PTSD, and dementia.
Graduate Students
Erica Howard
Erica graduated from Fordham University in 2017 with a B.S. in Neuroscience. She then worked with neurodegenerative disease patients at the University of Pennsylvania before joining the MINDSET lab in 2021. She is pursuing a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Neuropsychology. Her research interests include brain injury and its interaction with other biopsychological risk factors for neurodegeneration. For fun, Erica enjoys traveling, auto racing, and hanging out with family and friends.
Nicole Saltiel
Nicole joined the MINDSET lab in 2022 as a clinical psychology Ph.D. student with an emphasis in neuropsychology. Prior to beginning her Ph.D. at OSU, she conducted research on neurodegenerative diseases and TBI at the Roskamp Institute and the Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease and CTE Centers. Her research interests include neuroimaging markers of early-stage neurodegenerative disease and risk/resilience factors for cognitive decline including sex, cardiovascular fitness, head trauma exposure, and sociodemographic factors.
Kendra Mehl
Kendra graduated from the University of Missouri with her bachelor’s degree in Psychology in 2022 studying working memory and attention. Following graduation, she conducted research on music cognition at Missouri University of Science & Technology. She is excited to join the MINDSET lab and begin her Ph.D. in Cognitive Neuroscience in the fall. Her research interests include using various neuroimaging techniques to explore how post-traumatic stress alters the brain and cognitive abilities, and discovering practical interventions to combat PTSD symptoms. In her free time, Kendra enjoys cooking, crocheting, reading, and hanging out with her friends.
mehl.78@buckeyemail.osu.edu
Alyssa Miller
Alyssa graduated from Lebanon Valley College in 2020 with a B.S. in neuroscience and psychology. Before joining the MINDSET lab in 2024, she worked as a clinical research coordinator at the Yale School of Medicine’s Alzheimer Disease Research Unit studying preclinical Alzheimer’s Disease. She is pursuing her PhD in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in Clinical Neuropsychology. Her research focus is brain injury’s impact on later life cognition, neurodegeneration, and AD pathology development. Outside of the lab, Alyssa enjoys reading, exploring museums and art galleries, and board game nights with friends.
Jared Carmichael
Jared graduated from Northern Arizona University with a double major in biology and psychology. After graduating, he worked as a research assistant at Phoenix Children’s Hospital in the trauma department. Before joining the MINDSET lab, he graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a master’s degree in clinical psychology in 2025. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in Clinical Neuropsychology. His research focus is on the structural and behavioral long-term outcomes of traumatic brain injuries. Outside of the lab, Jared enjoys riding his bike, running, being outdoors, and cheering for Arizona sports teams.
Alexa Kondas
Alexa graduated from Emory University with highest honors in 2025 with a B.S. in Neuroscience and Psychology. She is joining the MINDSET lab in the fall and will be pursuing a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Neuropsychology. Her research interests include using neuroimaging to improve assessment and outcomes in those who have experienced chronic stress and trauma and the interaction between TBI and PTSD. Outside of the lab, Alexa enjoys reading, traveling, cooking, and spending time with her friends, family, and cats.
Research Assistants
Sinae Park (Stacey)
Stacey is a full-time research technician in the MINDSET Lab. She graduated from The College of Wooster with a B.A. in Psychology. Her research interests focus on the effects of stress on immune function, cardiometabolic risk, and the development of chronic illness. She aims to develop individualized interventions that address different stressors, reduce psychological distress, and mitigate associated health risks. Outside of lab, she enjoys cooking, traveling, pickleball, and spending time with her close friends.
Taweh Hunter
Taweh is a full-time research technician at the Center for Psychedelic Drug Research and Education and volunteer research assistant at the MINDSET Lab. He graduated from Ohio State in May 2024 with his Bachelor’s Degree in Neuroscience. His passion lies in understanding the neural mechanisms underlying the psychedelic experience and exploring the mental health benefits of psychedelic-assisted therapy. He plans to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology focusing on consciousness and psychedelic research. Outside of the lab, he enjoys running, rock climbing, and spending time with friends.
Lucas Ecker
Lucas is a full-time research technician in the MINDSET Lab. He graduated from Ohio State University in 2024 with his B.S. in Psychology. His research interests focus on the mechanisms underlying mental health and neurodegenerative illnesses, with a particular interest in interventional techniques that target brain circuits to advance treatment strategies for neurodegenerative disorders. Outside of the lab, Lucas enjoys being a swim coach, reading, trying different coffee shops, and staying active.
Undergraduate Students
Riya Reddy
Riya is an undergraduate student and Neuroscience major at The Ohio State University. She is interested to pursue research in the field of Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Traumatic Disorder, particularly how they interact with age and personal experiences. Beside her research at the lab, Riya is also a volunteer at the Columbus Free Clinic and Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Her hobbies include painting, yoga, and reading!
Selin Boztepe
Selin is a rising Junior majoring in Psychology with a minor in neuroscience. She is interested in pursuing a PhD clinical psychology. Outside of the lab, she is a part of the Psychology Club and Buckeyes against Alzheimer’s. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends, baking, and watching hockey.
Malcolm Poindexter
Malcolm is an undergraduate student at The Ohio State University majoring in psychology with a minor in Spanish. He is interested in pursuing a PhD in clinical psychology specializing in rehabilitation psychology. Outside of the lab, Malcolm is a member of BuckeyeThon, Black Student Association, and MUNDO. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with friends and family, playing basketball, video games, and lifting weights.
Yasmina Samrakandi
Yasmina is an undergraduate at The Ohio State University, double majoring in Psychology and Finance on the Pre-Med track, and originally from Potomac, Maryland. She is interested in opening her own practice in the future to work with children and individuals with mental health conditions. Outside the lab, Yasmina volunteers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Ohio Health. She is also in the Women In Business club, the PEARL Lab, BuckeyeThon, and works at Reilly Chiropractic. In her free time, she enjoys acting/modeling, international traveling, trying new restaurants, and playing volleyball.
Sarah Redden
Sarah is an undergraduate first-year student majoring in Neuroscience at The Ohio State University. She is interested in pursuing a PhD in Clinical Neuropsychology. Outside of the lab, she is starting her involvement in several campus organizations this semester, including the neuroscience honor society Nu Rho Psi, Musical Memories, and the Running Club. In her free time, she enjoys running, hiking, volunteering with dementia patients, watching movies, and trying new foods!
McKenna Mack
McKenna is a third-year student at The Ohio State University pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Cognitive/Computational Neuroscience with a minor in Studio Arts. She is currently working as an undergraduate RA in the Social Neuroscience and Interpersonal Processes in Psychopathology Lab and is the co-founder of the Psychology & Arts Society at OSU. She is also a member of Nu Rho Psi and plans to pursue a PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience with interests in consciousness, neuroplasticity, and cognition. Outside of the lab she loves to read, paint/draw, hike, and spend time with family and friends.
