Meet the Team!
Stephanie Cook, DrPH
Principal Investigator and Lab Director
Stephanie Cook is an Associate Professor of Biostatistics and Social and Behavioral Sciences at New York University School of Global Public Health. Dr. Cook’s overarching research focus is to understand how structural- and individual- minority stressors (i.e., violence, discrimination, and hate) contribute to mental health, physical health, and health behaviors across the lifespan and the virtual and physical worlds. Further, she seeks to understand how features of close relationships can exacerbate or buffer the negative effects of minority stress on health. Her work primarily focuses on young adults who are at the intersection of racial/ethnic and sexual orientation minority status. In addition, much of her work examines the links between minority stress (i.e., daily experiences of discrimination) and risk factors for cardiovascular disease (e.g., cardiometabolic health behaviors).
Maxline Delorme
Program Coordinator
Maxline is a NYU Alumni, obtaining her degree in Biochemistry. During her time at NYU, she obtained experience with Public Health research at the AHDL, focusing on the impact of discrimination based stress and mental health. Since graduating, she has worked at Mount Sinai as a Clinical Research Assistant aiding in Neurosurgery research. Maxline is passionate about health disparities research and community based intervention work and hopes to be able to continue improving health outcomes for underserved populations.
Ph.D. Students
Mariana Rodrigues, M.A.
Mariana Rodrigues is a Ph.D. student in Social and Behavioral Sciences at the New York University School of Global Public Health. She received her Master's degree in Clinical Psychology from Columbia University. Mariana is primarily interested in how structural and environmental factors impact the health and well-being of those at the intersection of multiple minoritized identities. Particularly, Mariana is interested in exploring the protective (i.e., perceived social support, community connectedness) and risk (i.e., minority stress) factors that might mitigate or exacerbate violence-related disparities and impacts. Additionally, Mariana is passionate about conducting research that will inform the development of culturally-sensitive prevention and intervention efforts for marginalized communities exposed to violence.
Natalie Green
Natalie Green is a current PhD student at New York University. She previously received her MSW from NYU's Silver School of Social Work and has experience in healthcare consulting, psychiatric social work, and economic research. Her research interests include productive aging, mental health, health disparities and examining the relationship between social factors and biomarkers.
Cindy Patippe
Cindy Patippe is a second-year doctoral student in the Biostatistics Department at NYU School of Global Public Health. She holds a Master’s in Biostatistics from New York Medical College, earned in 2021. Her research interests focus on the statistical modeling of biopsychosocial stressors and their changes over time, with an emphasis on identifying key change points. Cindy is passionate about addressing health disparities and uses advanced statistical methods to uncover critical insights in population health.
Research Assistants
Jingxuan Evelyn Ma
Stephanie Espinoza Perez
Yashita Choraria
Stephanie is a Junior at NYU Arts and Sciences, majoring in Global Public Health with a concentration in Biology. She is interested in learning more about the social determinants on health, particularly among Latino youth. In combination with an interest in healthcare, Stephanie hopes these experiences will shape her outlook on various challenges facing the world.
Yashita Choraria is a first year student at NYU Steinhardt, majoring in Applied Psychology and Global Public Health. She is interested in understanding and addressing health and education disparities, particularly how systemic inequities impact underserved communities. She aims to explore how technological advancements can be leveraged to improve healthcare accessibility and outcomes, bridging gaps between data and real world interventions. Passionate about engaging with diverse perspectives, she hopes to expand her understanding of the root causes and impacts of racial and social inequities through this experience.
Annette Milu
Annette Milu is a M.S. Biostatistics candidate at NYU's School of Global Public Health. She holds a B.A. in Global Public Health and Anthropology from NYU, where she gained experience in qualitative research, with a focus on the intersection between sexual and gender-based violence and health. Her research interests include addressing health disparities among minority populations and advocating for equitable maternal and women’s health. With a passion for intersectional research, Annette is dedicated to uplifting communities that have been traditionally underrepresented in scientific research.
Gabrielle Martin
Gabrielle Martin is a first-year MPH in Global Health candidate from Mequon, Wisconsin. Currently, she has a B.S. in Psychology from Howard University and holds research experience in the associations between childhood and adolescent trauma and alterations in fronto-limbic circuitry. Broadly, Gabrielle is interested in neurobiological and endocrine interactions, particularly in how these interactions impact communities of color and sexual minorities.
Abigaille St. Fort
Abigaille St. Fort is a second-year student majoring in Global Public Health with a concentration in Sociology on the pre-med track. She is interested in research on the effects of social media on the mental health of young minority individuals, as well as translational medicine. Combining her interests in medicine and research, she aims to address health concerns by studying them then using her research as a tool to implement them clinically.
Tim Dubitsky
Tim Dubitsky is a first year student in NYU’s MPH Public Health Nutrition program at the School of Global Public Health. He is a chef and grief wellness coach (NBHWC) who earned his B.S. in studio art and psychology at NYU in 2000. He is investigating the ways in which nutrition and lifestyle medicine can help to soothe the physiological responses to grief and loss as a way to mitigate the risks of developing NCDs, particularly outside of a traditional clinical setting. He was drawn to AHDL because of the similarities in health outcomes between people experiencing loss and the health disparities of minority populations.
Dr. Erica Wood, 2016-2024
New York University Research Associate
Janice Jachero Caldas, 2021-2024
New York University Research Assistant
Emma Risner, 2022-2024
New York University Research Lab Mentee
Stephane Labossiere, 2023-2024
New York University Graduate Research Assistant
Antoneta Karaj, 2022-2023
New York University Research Lab Mentee
Betty Cui, 2022-2023
New York University Research Lab Mentee
Alexandria Peña, 2022-2023
New York University Collegiate Research Initiative [CRI]
Amber Ovalles, 2022-2023
New York University Collegiate Research Initiative [CRI]
Angelina Fordjour, 2022-2023
New York University Collegiate Research Initiative [CRI]
Yesenia Sosa, Summer 2023
New York University Research and Racial Equity [RARE] Program
Maxline Delorme, 2021-2023
New York University Collegiate Research Initiative [CRI]
Gabriella Alvarez, 2018-2022
New York University PhD advisee
Zainab Mustafa, 2020-2022
The University of Michigan’s Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program [UROP]
Aniyah Sievewright, 2021-2022
New York University Collegiate Research Initiative [CRI]
Samantha Cajamarca, 2021-2022
New York University Collegiate Research Initiative [CRI]
Danielle Shave, 2021-2022
The University of Michigan’s Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program [UROP]
Olive Jayakar, 2021-2022
The University of Michigan’s Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program [UROP]
Jessica Randazzo, 2021-2022
New York University PhD advisee
Allen Weng, 2021-2022
New York University Research Lab Mentee
Lanfei Fu, 2021-2022
New York University Research Lab Mentee
Luna Canola, 2021-2022
New York University Research Lab Mentee
Michelle Bandel, 2021-2022
New York University Research Lab Mentee
Mutayyaba Adnan, 2021-2022
New York University Research Lab Mentee
Niv Avneri, 2021-2022
New York University Research Lab Mentee
Sandy Carrillo-Arguet, 2021-2022
New York University Research Lab Mentee
Yao Xin, 2021-2022
New York University Research Lab Mentee
Zhilin Wang, 2021-2022
New York University Research Lab Mentee
Lab Alumni
Jingxuan is a second-year MS candidate in Biostatistics at NYU's School of Global Public Health. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Statistics from the University of British Columbia, where she built a strong foundation in statistical analysis and gained experience in statistical consulting. Her research interests lie at the intersection of mental and physical health, with a particular focus on health disparities in underrepresented populations.
Sai Meghana Paidi, 2022-2022
The University of Michigan’s Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program [UROP]
Madison Peskin, Summer 2021
The University of Michigan’s Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program [UROP]
Brianna Clarke, 2019-2021
New York University Collegiate Research Initiative [CRI]
Manoel Kadja, 2019-2021
New York University Collegiate Research Initiative [CRI]
Raven Barret, 2019-2021
New York University Collegiate Research Initiative [CRI]
Minerva Francis, 2019-2021
New York University PhD advisee
Laura Scarimbolo, 2019-2021
New York University Research Lab Mentee
Nicolas Mirin, 2019-2021
New York University Research Lab Mentee
Ankitha Ramaiyer, 2020-2021
The University of Michigan’s Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program [UROP]
Christopher Giang, 2020-2021
The University of Michigan’s Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program [UROP]
Frances Knapp, 2020-2021
The University of Michigan’s Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program [UROP]
Jessica Li, 2020-2021
The University of Michigan’s Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program [UROP]
Mega Rajan, 2020-2021
The University of Michigan’s Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program [UROP]
Nathan Hershberger, 2020-2021
The University of Michigan’s Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program [UROP]
Kamaria Taylor, 2020-2021
New York University Research Lab Mentee
Amir Eltabakh, Summer 2021
Pathways into Quantitative Aging Research Summer Program [PQAR]
Kristiana Jeffers, Summer 2021
Pathways into Quantitative Aging Research Summer Program [PQAR]
Romy Robielos, Summer 2021
Pathways into Quantitative Aging Research Summer Program [PQAR]
Liz Calderon, 2017-2019
New York University Research Lab Mentee
Ying Qi, 2017-2019
New York University Research Lab Mentee
Amanda Llanez, 2017-2019
New York University Research Lab Mentee
Jerome Vitoria, June 2019
New York University Research Lab Mentee
Robert Castro, 2017-2018
New York University Research Lab Mentee
Benjamin Calebs, 2013-2015
The University of Michigan’s Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program [UROP]
Morgan Perry, 2013-2015
The University of Michigan’s Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program [UROP]
Roderick Hopkins, 2013-2014
The University of Michigan’s Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program [UROP]
Kaiser Soze-Cook
Director of Pup-lications
Sienna DeBurro
Sienna is a 1st year student studying Musical Theater at NYU Tisch School of the Arts. She is excited to learn more about how social stresses in our world impacts mental health. She is specifically curious how this stress can impact the mental health of youth. She hopes this experience will help continue to shape and expand her outlook on life. Sienna is excited to dive in and contribute to the supporting and uplifting of traditionally underrepresented communities.
Sabrina Loureiro
Project Director
Sabrina Loureiro is the Project Director at the AHDL. She received her bachelor's degree in Global Disease Biology with a minor in Public Health from the University of California at Davis. She strives to improve health outcomes for marginalized groups, specifically low-income women and sexual minorities, with research interests in maternal and sexual health, women's behavioral health, and health disparities. Prior to joining AHDL, she conducted behavioral health research at the UC Davis Center for Healthcare Policy and Research and international women's health research at the Weill Cornell Center for Global Health. Additionally, Sabrina is interested in translating research into clinical practice, and designing and implementing evidence-based programs and policy to improve health outcomes.
Danning Tian
Danning Tian is a PhD student in Social Behavioral Sciences at the School of Global Public Health, New York University. Danning holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering with a minor in Architecture from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Building on this foundation, Danning pursued a Master of Science in Biostatistics at New York University.
Danning's research primarily focuses on HIV prevention, including PrEP use, and studies on sex workers, with a broader interest in health equity among marginalized communities. Additionally, Danning examines cancer screening disparities among HIV-positive individuals and tobacco use patterns and their health impacts. With strong statistical analysis skills, Danning applies rigorous quantitative methods to uncover complex patterns in large public health datasets.