People

Sarah H. Sperry, Ph.D.

Richard Tam Early Career Professor of Translational Bipolar Research

Dr. Sperry is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Faculty Associate of Psychology at the University of Michigan. She also serves as the Associate Director of the Heinz C. Prechter Bipolar Research Program. Her research broadly examines bipolar spectrum disorders from affective, cognitive, and physiological perspectives. More specifically, Dr. Sperry uses ambulatory assessments to characterize intraindividual variability in emotion, cognition, and behavior (e.g., impulsivity) and how altered dynamics may represent risk factors for greater psychopathology. Her work emphasizes dimensional characterizations of psychopathology rather than traditional categorical diagnostics.

When not In the lab, she is playing with her amazing golden retriever, norweigan forest cat, spending time with family and friends, swimming, on the Peloton, or traveling to near and far places!

Education & Training

• B.S. Tufts University, Clinical Psychology

• M.A. University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Clinical Psychology

• Ph.D. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Clinical-Community Psychology

• Clinical Internship: Medical University of South Carolina

• Postdoctoral Fellowship: Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Hanjoo Kim, Ph.D.

Hanjoo joined the EmoTe Lab as a research fellow with the Heinz C. Prechter Bipolar Research Program at University of Michigan. Prior to joining the lab, Hanjoo completed the University of Michigan/VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System (VAAAHS) Postdoctoral Consortium under the mentorship of Dr. Liz Duval. He received his PhD in Clinical Psychology from Penn State University, and completed a psychology internship at the New Mexico VA/Southwest Consortium. Hanjoo’s primary research interests lie in understanding the nature and treatment of anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorders. His current research examines how repetitive negative thought processes, such as worry and rumination contribute to the development and maintenance of these conditions. Hanjoo is interested in utilizing methodologies from psychophysiology (e.g., emotional facial expressions, heart rate, skin conductance, etc.), network analysis, and ecological momentary assessment to better understand these processes. Outside of academics, Hanjoo loves playing basketball, reading history articles, and drawing portraits.

Awards: 

• 2023 Society for Research in Psychopathology President's Award 

Audrey Stromberg, B.A.

Primary Graduate Student

She is a third year student in the Clinical Science PhD Program at the University of Michigan. Audrey graduated from Amherst College in 2020 and subsequently served as a clinical research coordinator at the Massachusetts General Hospital Dauten Family Center for Bipolar Treatment Innovation. She is interested in discovering patterns of emotional responses within different environments using EMA/digital phenotyping and leveraging her findings to develop and implement more personalized treatment programs. 

Awards: 

• 2022 Society for Research in Psychopathology Travel Award

• 2024 e-HAIL Summer Research Funding

Carly Lasagna, B.A.

Affiliate Graduate Student

Carly is a fourth year clinical science PhD student working with Dr. Ivy Tso. She is interested in the mechanisms of cognitive control and perceptual decision-making in bipolar disorder. Her goal in research is to bring together computational modeling, neuroimaging, and neuromodulation methods in order to generate model-based neuroscience perspectives on complex psychiatric disorders that will facilitate more effective, individualized treatment. Carly will be collaborating with the EmoTe lab to help identify mechanisms underlying emotion-based impulsivity by linking computational estimates of affective inhibition and cognitive control with real-world behaviors. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, drawing, and photography.

Awards: 

• 2022 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship

• 2023 ERP Bootcamp Scholarship

Jack DiCarlantonio

Jack completed his B.S. in Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh in April 2024. During his time there, he served as a research assistant for two studies in the Personality Processes and Outcomes Laboratory. Jack conducted his honors thesis on children and adolescents with bipolar disorder and comorbid ADHD, examining their mood lability and emotion regulation levels. Broadly, his research interests are focused on mood disorders, with a particular interest in understanding emotion dysregulation and comorbid disorders in bipolar disorder. In the future Jack is interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in clinical psychology but is excited to gain more research experience before doing so. In his free time Jack does a lot of art which includes sculpture, ceramics, and film photography

Study: BD2

Victoria Murphy

Victoria graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience and a minor in Statistics. Victoria joined the EmoTe lab through the competitive Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) at UM in 2021 and has now transition to a Clinical Research Coordinator Position on the PRIORI study. Victoria aims to understand contributing factors of bipolar spectrum disorders and explore how personalized intervention can change illness trajectory. She is currently conducting an honor's thesis focused on the relationship between sleep and circadian rhythms, emotion regulation, and bipolar disorder. Victoria is interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in Neuropsychology. In her free time, she enjoys yoga, baking bread, and audiobooks.

Study: PRIORI

Awards: 

• 2022 University of Michigan Undergraduate Mini-Grant

• 2023 Best Undergraduate Poster Award, Albert J. Silverman Research Conference,  Michigan Medicine

• 2023 Louis Bernstein Undergraduate Psychology Research Award

• 2024 Al Cain Honors Award

• 2024  High Honors Distinction for Honor's Thesis

Gabi Skinner

Gabi gradudated from the University of Michigan in 2023 with a B.S. in Biopsychology, Cognition and Neuroscience. Prior to joining the EmoTe Lab and Prechter Program, she has been a Clinical Research Assistant on several studies focused on early psychosis in adolescents and adults (PI: Steven Taylor). Gabi is primarily interested in improving the quality of psychoeducation and accessibility of current interventions for those diagnosed with psychosis spectrum disorders, in hopes that this will lead to positive clinical outcomes and patient experiences. During the Fall of 2025, Gabi will begin pursuing her MSW at the University of Michigan's School of Social Work but is hoping to pursue a Ph.D. in Social Work with a concentration in Psychology in the future. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, working out, and caring for her cats. 

Study: PRIORI

Gina Viviano

Gina recently completed her BA in Psychology with a minor in Spanish at the University of Michigan. She has been involved with the Heinz C. Prechter Bipolar Research Program since February 2022. Gina is passionate about a wide range of psychological topics including but not limited to the treatment of anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorders. Gina aspires to pursue their Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology focusing on the treatment of mood disorders and providing mental health care to those in need. During her free time, Gina enjoys playing their guitar and singing, hiking, reading, and spending time with animals

Study: BSB, EBI-BD

Lillie Birnie

Lillie is a senior undergraduate student at the University of Michigan studying Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience with a minor in Intergroup Relations. She joined the EmoTe lab as an independent studies research assistant, and is working on the Emotion-Based Impulsivity in Bipolar Disorder (EBI-BD) study. Lillie’s interest lies in the diagnosis and treatment of mood and psychotic disorders, with particular emphasis on comorbid substance use disorders. Lillie is currently investigating potential avenues for her graduate studies, and she is leaning towards pursuing a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. She is driven by a strong passion to contribute to the destigmatization of mental health disorders. In her free time Lillie enjoys making art of many forms, having game nights with friends, and spending time with her cat, Lola. 

Awards: 

• 2025 Eisenberg Family Depression Center George Orley Student Advocate Award

Alana Colvin

Alana Colvin is a first-year undergraduate at the University of Michigan studying Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience.  Alana joined the EmoTe lab's Emotion-Based Impulsivity in Bipolar Disorder study in 2024 as a UROP student. In the future, she hopes to get her PhD and continue doing clinical research, specifically in fields involving mental health and sleep disorders. In her free time she enjoys creating art (painting, origami, etc.), reading books, and learning new languages.

Malina Maxham

Malina is a second-year undergraduate student at the University of Michigan, majoring in Biopsychology, Cognition and Neuroscience, with a minor in French. She joined the EmoTe lab in 2024 as a research assistant and is working on the Emotion-Based Impulsivity in Bipolar Disorder (EBI-BD) study. Malina is interested in the development and treatment of mood disorders. After graduation, she plans to pursue a graduate degree in clinical psychology. In her free time, Malina enjoys spending time outside, reading, playing the violin, and cooking.

Natalie Neubecker

Natalie is a first-year undergraduate student at the University of Michigan studying Biomedical Engineering with the intention of later attending medical school. She joined the EmoTe Lab in September of 2024 as a research assistant through Michigan's Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program, and she is working on the Emotion-Based Impulsivity in Bipolar Disorder (EBI-BD) study. While she is not sure what medical specialty she'd like to pursue, her current interests lie in medical and radiation oncology. Natalie is incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to work in the EmoTe Lab, where her knowledge about research, psychiatry, and the interconnectedness of physical and mental health grows daily.

Fleur Helmink, Ph.D. Candidate

Fleur Helmink was awarded the prestigous Fulbright Scholarship to visit the EmoTe Lab in fall 2022. Fleur is a fourth year Ph.D. Candidate from the Erasmus MC in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, where she is working with Professors Manon Hillegers, Dr. Estehr Mesman, and Dr. Eeske van Roekel. She is interested in intergernerational risk of psychopathology, digital mental health, and the effect of psychopathology on daily life. Fleur is working on the Dutch Bipolar Offspring Study, in which longitudinal data of traditional measures of psychopathology are combined with innovative smartphone measures. In her Ph.D., she focuses on bridging psychopathology and daily life functioning, emotions, and behavior. With the EmoTe Lab, Fleur will study emotion and behavior dynamics. When she is not reading papers on how psychopathology works or making cool figures in R, she enjoys photography, watching movies, and playing video games. 

Awards: 

• 2022-2023 Fulbright Scholarship

Anders Sperry, M.A.

Anders received his bachelor's in begging and master's in stick eating. His favorite pastimes include zoom bombing meetings, decreasing negative affect in EmoTe lab members, especially its director, and providing essential support services during grant and manuscript writing. 

Skogee Sperry, B.A.

Skogee received his bachelor's in climbing - cat towers and people. This Norweigan Forest Cat soars from one high surface to the next.  His favorite pastimes include zoom bombing meetings, decreasing negative affect in Anders Sperry, and providing essential support services during grant and manuscript writing. 

Julia Smith

Julia completed her BA in Psychology and BA in Sociology of Health and Medicine at the University of Michigan. She joined the University of Michigan’s Department of Psychiatry in May of 2022, where she worked as a Study Coordinator with the INSPIRE Lab (PI: Dr. Suzuki). In 2023 Julia started as the Study Coordinator for the Emotion-based Impulsivity in BD study. 

Awards: 

• 2024 Best Post-Bac Poster Award, Albert J. Silverman Research Conference,  Michigan Medicine

Julia will begin her PhD in Clinical Psychology at the Indiana University Indianapolis under the mentorship of Dr. Melissa Cyders in August 2025. 

Margo Menkes, M.S.

Affiliate Graduate Student

Awards: 

• 2020 International Society for Bipolar Disorders Best Poster Award

• 2021 ERP Bootcamp Scholarship

• 2021 Eisenberg Family Depression Center Star Award

• 2022 Society for Research in Psychopathology Travel Award

• 2024 Best Graduate Student Poster Award, Albert J. Silverman Research Conference,  Michigan Medicine

Internship (2024 - 2025): University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB)/Veterans Affairs Maryland Health Care System (VAMHCS) Psychology Internship Consortium: Clinical High-Risk for Psychosis (CHiRP) Track

Postdoctoral Fellowship (2025 - ): Psychology Training Program, Jesse Brown VAMC, Chicago IL

Sara Bernardo

Sara was in the EmoTe Lab from 2023 - 2025 working on the EBI-BD study. Sara graduated from the University of Michigan in May 2025 and is currently applying to medical school and working as a volunteer to finish an independent project in the EmoTe Lab. 

Claire Janssen

Claire was in the EmoTe Lab from 2023 - 2024 working on the EBI-BD study. Claire is planning to pursue a law degree.

Tianli Jiang

Tianli is a junior at the University of Michigan studying Psychology. He was a part of the EmoTe Lab in 2023. 

Emily Berriman

Emily graduated from the University of Michigan studying Psychology. She was a part of the EmoTe Lab from 2022 - 2023. Emily plans to pursue a Masters in Social Work. 

Bronya Sandorffy, B.S.

Bronya Sandorffy graduated from the University of Michigan studying Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience in 2023. She was a part of the EmoTe Lab from 2022 - 2023. Bronya is currently a clinical research coordinator at New York University (NYU) and will be attending Medical School in Fall 2025.

Awards: 

• 2022 University of Michigan Mini-Grant

Carolyn Andrews, M.S.

Affiliate Graduate Student

Carolyn received a B.S. In Psychology and B.S. in Neuroscience from the Michigan State University in 2019. She received her masters in Clinical Science from the University of Michigan in 2021. Carolyn is currently a Data Analyst at the University of Michigan in the School of Public Health.