Research Assistant

My name is Kyle Reviello and I am a Junior (class of 2026) here at William & Mary. I am a Biology major with plans of pursuing a career in Trauma/Emergency medicine. I am also a member of the William & Mary Football team and love the opportunity to compete on the field with my teammates. Along with being on the team, I also represent the team on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.  Outside of school and football, I enjoy running, lifting, fishing, hunting, reading/writing, and watching movies!

Research Assistant

My name is Abhaya Tyrka (class of ’27) and I am majoring in neuroscience on the pre-Physician’s Assistant track. Outside the lab, I am also in Pointe Blank (dance company), Griffin School Partnerships, I am an Orientation Aide, and I am in Pi Beta Phi, where I also volunteer with the Arc of Greater Williamsburg. I am also a barre instructor at the recreation center, which I love because I get to share my love for physical and mental wellness across campus. In my free time, I love to read, go on walks around Lake Matoaka, and hang out with friends!

Research Assistant

Hi, my name is Avery Danao! I’m a junior majoring in Biology with a minor in Medieval & Renaissance Studies. Outside of school, I love reading, going for walks, and listening to music! I also volunteer as an EMT and am part of Best Buddies and Kappa Delta. I’m super excited to be part of the lab and I can’t wait for the rest of the semester!

Research Assistant

My name is Lea Chun (William & Mary ’29), and I’m pursuing a major in Public Health with a minor in Biochemistry on the pre-medical track! I’m so excited to be joining the lab this year! Outside of the lab, I’m an Orientation Aide, a member of Camp Kesem and Alpha Chi Omega, and a volunteer with Riverside Health Hospice. When I’m not on campus, you can usually find me hopping between coffee shops around Williamsburg, hiking, reading, or going for a run!

Research Assistant

Hi! My name is Ella Martin (class of 2029), I am majoring in Human Health & Physiology with a minor in Psychology, and I am so excited to be joining the lab this year! Outside of the lab I am involved in Kinesiology Club, a member of the Delta Delta Delta sorority, and a student intern with Aramark! In my free time you can find me either grabbing coffee with friends, running, taking a yoga class, or spending time outdoors!

Research Assistant

I’m a junior graduating early in Human Health and Physiology with a minor in Music, I hope to get into medical school after college and then pursue a career in humanitarian work with Doctors Without Borders. When I’m not in classes or the lab, I play jazz piano and saxophone with Wham Bam Big Band and little band, and the Oud in middle eastern music ensemble.

Research Assistant

My name is Caleb Wilcox. I’m a neuroscience and psychology double major in the class of 2028. I am interested in the fields of cognitive neuroscience and clinical neuropsychology, so I hope to pursue a graduate degree concentrated in one of these fields in the future. Outside of academics, I am on the track and cross country teams at William and Mary. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, playing video games, and playing the piano.

Research Assistant

My name is Ethan Piccolo (class of ’29), and I am majoring in biology on the pre-med track. Outside of the classroom, I am a rush chair of a social fraternity and serve on the executive board of the American Red Cross Club. I am also an EMT who has worked in a hospital, as well as an EMT instructor aide. I am excited to join the lab and gain research experience while learning more about the scientific process and how it can contribute to human health. Outside of school, I love traveling, swimming, scuba diving, working out, and watching sports. I also enjoy spending time with friends and being involved in the William & Mary community.

Research Assistant

My name is Sadie Vaughan, and I am a senior studying Kinesiology and Dance. I plan on pursuing clinical research connecting the arts and neuroscience. Besides research I am a member of Orchesis Modern Dance Company, on the women’s ultimate frisbee team, part of Sinfonicron, and a member of Appalachian Music Ensemble. I am incredibly thankful for the opportunities I get in the lab and for the ability to complete an Honors thesis this year.

Research Assistant

My name is Sammy Ryan! I am class of ’28 double majoring in Neuroscience and Psychology. I am very interested in Neuropsychology and Cognitive Science and hope to learn more about these fields in a graduate program. Outside of the lab, I am on the Honor Board for Delta Gamma and volunteer for another lab on campus. My favorite past times are doing yoga, watching movies, listening to new music, and spending time in nature (usually on a beach)!

Lab Mascot

Lilly is a German-Short Haired Pointer/Vizsla Mix. She is incredibly smart and loves to bring happiness to all of the research team! The goal is to teach Lilly how to use her nose to detect the presence of migraines and cancer one day!

Phebe Fahmy

My name is Phebe Fahmy (William & Mary ’26), and I’m pursuing a major in Kinesiology & Health Sciences with a concentration in Human Nutrition. I am the youngest of two siblings, with an older brother, mom, and dad. My family has been a big part of my life in college; I always enjoy spending time with them! A favorite activity of mine is going on walks in Williamsburg. It is so scenic and beautiful! However, when it comes to vacation spots, nothing beats the mountains for me—I absolutely love them! I have LOVED my time in the lab so far and am so excited for what lies ahead. 

Sofia Istnick

Right now, Sofia is working towards a Masters of Neuroscience through the Wake Forest University School of Medicine’s Biomedical Graduate Program. Her lab combines biomedical engineering with neuroscience to look at the impacts of head acceleration events in youth football players, with her specific interest focusing on the cognitive implications of these events.

Sydney Ridge

After graduation, Sydney will be working in a lab in the TEACCH Autism Program at UNC Chapel Hill. She will be part of a project studying a daily living skills intervention for autistic high schoolers aimed to improve their transition to adulthood

Alec

My name is Alec. I am a senior double majoring in music and psychology at William and Mary. I am one of two siblings with a sister also at William and Mary. I play in a campus band during the semester which I really enjoy, I’ve met a lot of cool people from it! I plan to attend grad school after graduating and want to pursue therapy with a focus on lifestyle interventions. My time in the lab has been delightful and I’m excited to continue for the foreseeable future!

Carlie Meyerholz

This May I will be graduating with as a Neuroscience major and a Psychology minor. Following graduation, I will soon be moving to Baltimore, Maryland to begin working as a clinical research coordinator for the neurology department at Johns Hopkins. I will be assisting a team with clinical research studies involving brain imaging and neuropsychological testing in vulnerable populations. I am beyond grateful for my time in the Neurobehavioral Nutrition lab and all the experiences that I have received to prepare me for my next steps!

Elaina

Elaina is a junior from Blue Bell, PA majoring in Biology and Kinesiology on the pre-med track. In her free time, she loves to bake, cook, watch/play soccer, and hike. At W&M, she is a part of Club Soccer Gold, Orthodox Christian Fellowship, TribeTHON, and Kinesiology & Health Sciences Club. She’s excited to be a part of Dr. Caligiuri’s lab and explore how human nutrition affects the health and well-being of all different groups of people!

Saayeh Zarei

My name is Saayeh Zarei (William & Mary ’26) and I’m pursuing a major in Neuroscience on the pre-medical route! I am working on the Neuroscience and Dance Study and am excited to begin researching the correlations between our brain and expressions of creativity in dance, especially because this research connects my own passion for dance with my study interests. Outside of the lab, I am a member of Orchesis Modern Dance Company, am on the executive board of Camp Kesem, and volunteer at the Lackey Clinic in Yorktown, VA. I also love to cook, try new foods, and spend time outside with friends and family!

Paige

My name is Paige and I’m a senior studying nutrition and biochemistry here at W&M! I enjoy learning about the intersections of food and social justice, and hope to work in community nutrition as a dietician. Right now, I’m working at a local food pantry to develop Food is Medicine initiatives and refresh our community garden. I also enjoy rowing, playing the cello, hiking, and spending time with my two younger brothers!

Meaghan Jain

Hi, my name is Meaghan Jain, and I am graduating Magna Cum Laude with a B.S. in Neuroscience as part of the Class of 2026. Following graduation, I will be returning home to Northern Virginia, where I will work as a Medical Assistant/Patient Service Representative at an OB/GYN practice. Next year, I plan to apply to medical school with the ultimate goal of pursuing a career as a physician in women’s healthcare. In the meantime, I hope I can learn some new recipes and maybe even go on a solo trip!