About Us

POSTDOC & LAB MANAGER

My name is Kimaya (Kim) Sarmukadam, and I am originally from Calgary, Alberta! I completed my PhD at the University of New England, Armidale, Australia. My current research focuses on the contributions of sensory impairments and anxiety in children with neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and fragile X syndrome. Broadly, my research interests include using neurobehavioral methods (e.g., EEG, naturalistic observations) to investigate the impact of sensory impairments and mental health disorders on adaptive functioning in individuals with different NDDs across the lifespan. Some of my hobbies include walking, cooking, and watching reruns of old TV shows!

PHD STUDENT

My name is Moji Norozi, and I am from Langroud, Iran. I earned my BSc and MSc in Speech and Language Pathology in Iran. After defending my master’s thesis on the perception of parents of autistic children regarding autism spectrum disorder in 2022, I recognized the importance of autism-related research in improving the services we offer to this community and enabling autistic children to reach their full potential. Consequently, I had the opportunity to pursue further research on ASD as a PhD student in COMD at the University of South Carolina. Now, as a graduate research assistant at the CANDi lab, I contribute to our research on understanding social communication skills and emotional regulation in autistic children and children with fragile X syndrome. In my free time, I enjoy FaceTiming with my family in Iran, watching movies, reading books, cooking new foods, and discovering incredible things waiting to be known!

POSTBACC RESEARCH SPECIALIST

Hi! My name is Oluwatoni Ikhile. I am from Northern Virginia. I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Virginia Tech. My goal is to obtain a Ph.D. in Cognitive psychology with a cross-cultural emphasis. I wish to study how different cultures treat and display symptoms of psychopathology. As a research specialist in the CANDi lab, I administer assessments and help contribute to data collection and analysis. In my free time, I enjoy writing, traveling, and photography!

RESEARCH SPECIALIST

My name is Sarah Ballif, and I am from Charlottesville, Virginia. I earned my M.Ed. in Educational Psychology - Applied Developmental Science from the University of Virginia. I am interested in how research that improves our understanding of the anxiety, social communication, and sensory needs neurodiverse children experience and how supports can be improved to support positive developmental and mental health outcomes. I hope to continue exploring these interests as I pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. As a Research Specialist in the CANDi Lab, I administer assessments, contribute to data collection and analyses, and support undergraduate researchers. Outside the lab, I enjoy writing, playing with my cat, Indigo, reading, and collecting way too many plants.

UNDERGRAD RESEARCHER

My name is Meredith Finley, and I am a sophomore neuroscience major and Spanish minor from Charleston, SC. I am also a pre-medical student and hope to attend medical school to become a pediatric anesthesiologist or psychiatrist. As an undergraduate assistant in the CANDi lab, I am training to edit heart activity data files and hope to gain more skills and experience as the year goes on. Some of my hobbies include ballet, reading, baking, attending workout classes in the Strom Thurmond gym, and having fun with friends!

UNDERGRAD RESEARCHER

My name is Lauren Grier, and I’ve lived in Columbia, SC all my life! I’m a senior biological sciences and psychology double major, and after I graduate, I plan on getting my master’s degree in biomedical sciences so I can pursue a career in neuroscience research. My primary role in the lab is to time sync, segment, and edit heart activity videos and files. Outside of the lab, I spend a lot of my time playing in the USC Marching Band, and my other hobbies include reading, crocheting, and hanging out with my two cats, Walter and Gary.

UNDERGRAD RESEARCHER

Hi, I'm Ally Catapano! I'm from Long Island, New York and I'm getting my Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience with honors here at USC. My goal is to pursue medicine with a focus on pediatric psychiatry or neurology, in hopes to receive comprehensive education and treat children with developmental disabilities. A day in the lab for me looks like heart rate activity coding, data entry, assessment assistance, and senior thesis preparation. In my free time I like to volunteer around Columbia and cook with my friends!

UNDERGRAD RESEARCHER

My name is Kensie McGee, and I am from Camden, South Carolina. I am a part of the Honors College here at USC and am pre-med majoring in Biology and minoring in Neuroscience and Creative Writing. My goal is to eventually go into pediatrics while also having a focus in developmental disorders, such as autism and Kleefstra Syndrome. As an undergraduate research assistant in the CANDi Lab, I focus on behavioral coding and measuring anxiety presented in children with ASD and FXS. In my free time, I enjoy movie nights, making good coffee, reading, traveling, and nannying!

UNDERGRAD RESEARCHER

My name is Gianna Moss, and I am from Long Island, New York. I am a junior at USC studying neuroscience pursuing a pre-dental track. As an undergraduate research assistant, I work with heart activity data along with behavioral coding. Outside the lab, I enjoy getting coffee with friends, reading, and playing sports!

UNDERGRAD RESEARCHER

My name is Lydia Turner and I am from Greenwood, South Carolina. I am a senior at the University of South Carolina majoring in Public Health! I hope to go to medical school after graduating! In the CANDi lab, I am involved in M-Anx-Dos and SAND behavior coding. In my free time, I love to read, swim, and trying new coffee shops.

Conner is a sixth-year doctoral student currently on APPIC internship at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. His internship focuses on intellectual and developmental disabilities in children, including both inpatient and outpatient assessment and intervention. Conner's research utilizes biobehavioral approaches to examine early markers of common comorbid psychiatric conditions (i.e., anxiety) to decrease the age of diagnosis and provide potential targets of intervention. During his free time, Conner enjoys being outdoors hiking, preferably followed by a local craft brewery.

Abigail graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology in August of 2022. She worked in the CANDi Lab during her second year in the Communication Sciences and Disorders graduate program. Abigail participated in the Pivotal Response Training research study by coding videos of children interacting with their caregivers. She was able to learn about the presentation of autism characteristics in a variety of children along with seeing the impact of caregiver training on a child's speech and language development. After graduating, she is completing her clinical fellowship as a speech-language pathologist at Sprout Pediatrics. Abigail works with children ages birth to 18 in their natural environment on a variety of language, speech, AAC, social, and feeding goals.

POSTBACC RESEARCH SPECIALIST

POSTBACC RESEARCH SPECIALIST

RESEARCH COORDINATOR

GRADUATE ASSISTANT

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GRADUATE RESEARCHER

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GRADUATE RESEARCHER

UNDERGRAD RESEARCHER

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