Previous Lab Members
Although they are no longer at the Empower lab, our previous lab members' contributions have enhanced the lab's mission to advocate for victims of gender-based violence.
Lisa Pardee
Associate Director of Research, Team Leader for EMPOWER Clinic
Teams: EMPOWER Clinic, Trauma-Informed Care
I am passionate about and strongly align with Empower Lab’s emphasis on calling attention towards the intersection of gender-based violence and immigrant Americans. As someone who has many family members in Nicaragua, some of whom have immigrated to U.S., I am aware of the extent to which SGBV related issues not only effects individuals in Nicaragua, but for immigrant populations in the United States. The Empower Lab’s mission and research will allow me to be better equipped to advocate for and evoke change for this population as well as others who have been impacted by SGBV.
Jennifer Wu
Research Assistant
Teams: EMPOWER Clinic, Trauma and Pregnancy
As an aspiring OB/GYN, the lab’s values perfectly reflected my own career goals to not only provide marginalized women with comprehensive reproductive care, but also advocate for a more equitable female healthcare system in a way I have not seen in any other lab. I loved the lab’s interdisciplinary approach of combining the clinical and public health policy spheres to destigmatize sexual and gender-based violence, as science and advancing accessible reproductive healthcare are the two issues I am most passionate about.
Yasmin Hung
Research Assistant
Teams: Male IPV, Trauma Informed Care
As a future healthcare provider, I understand the importance of trauma-informed care and the pervading healthcare disparity for groups like womxn of color. I decided to join Empower Lab because I wanted to help further under researched areas of public health. I also want to better learn how to support survivors as a healthcare provider through trauma-informed and patient-centered care. Just as important, I wanted to be part of a lab that valued diversity, thus I love that I will have the opportunity to work with people pursuing such different fields of academic interests yet are allT passionate about SGBV research.
Angelina Gorbea
Research Assistant
Teams: Asylum/TIC, Advocacy
The inspiring mission and efforts of the NYU Empower lab greatly resonate with my passion for expanding proper representation, research, and protection for marginalized and low-income individuals, supporting patients and families in receiving individualized care and fostering better representation, patient-provider relationships, and cultural competence in trauma-based care. I’m most particularly interested in pursuing a career in psychiatry or psychiatric epidemiology for these reasons. I am passionate about exploring the research component of epidemiology and how scientific findings and expanded clinical knowledge about sexual and gender-based violence can be applied to the way we approach subsequent clinical and mental health services. I am driven to pursue a career in public health to work closely with my communities as a mixed-race woman, and I am particularly passionate about expanding awareness, understanding, and better services for sexual violence victims in marginalized communities.
Safa Fazili
Research Assistant
Teams: EMPOWER Clinic, Advocacy
I joined the lab to build teamwork skills in a research setting and expand my knowledge on factors affecting the care process. The intersection between sexual violence and healthcare is an important field of study, and I hope to enhance my intelligence regarding that area.
Grishma Patel
Research Assistant
Teams: Sugar Dating, Advocacy
I was drawn to this lab not only because I have always had an interests in women's health issues and the effects of gender based violence on individuals, but also because of its emphasis on weaving the research with advocacy efforts. I am a believer that research does not have to be independent of advocacy especially if that research can help to change someone's life in a positive way, and I am proud to say that this lab does just that. As an aspiring physician, I hope to use what I have learned with the EMPOWER lab to shape my future practice, effectively helping to change how women's health issues are approached in medicine globally.
Mary Dada
Associate Director of Research, Team Leader for Advocacy
Teams : Advocacy, Male IPV
I joined the Empower Lab because I was drawn to the value of intersectionality that informs and guides the research that the lab conducts. I was so excited to see relevant and important public health research be influenced by this important topic that also influences my desire to study public health and become a physician. Additionally, I joined the lab because I connected with its emphasis on advocacy surrounding issues of gender-based violence, and using research findings to empower those directly impacted by these problems. I am excited to see myself develop skills in hypothesis generation and advocacy-related writing. I am also excited to continually learn more about SGBV and ways in which I can contribute to bringing about change.
Omnia Soliman
Associate Director of Research, Team Leader for Male IPV and Sugar Dating
Teams : Male IPV, Sugar Dating
After volunteering with Sanctuary for Families and seeing how women and children were affected by domestic violence, I discovered a passion for work that supports and aids those affected by SGBV. As a North African woman, I’ve always seen how deeply entrenched SGBV is in my country and I developed a personal interest in the topic as well. I was so excited to see the Empower Lab does amazing research and work in this field, and I wanted to join a lab where I could combine my personal and professional interests. I strongly admire the work done in the Empower Lab, and I hope I can keep learning and contributing to support women affected as well as advocate for them!
Abibatou Marenah
Research Assistant
Teams: Trauma & Pregnancy, Sugar Dating
I was eager to join a team committed to creating a positive social impact and addressing critical issues that affect our society today. I am particularly drawn to the Empower Lab's interdisciplinary approach to research, as it aligns well with my own academic and professional aspirations. As an aspiring gynecologist, my interest in women's health drives me to seek research opportunities that contribute to the well-being of women in underserved communities. I firmly believe that research is an integral part of providing comprehensive and compassionate care in the medical field. To conclude, I really want to emphasize that the Empower lab would be providing me with the opportunity to do what I’m most passionate about, helping women in low income communities get back their voices through intensive research.
Nadir Arauco
Resarch Assistant
Teams: Male IPV, Advocacy
I joined the Empower lab because I wanted to learn and advocate for gender-sex violence. I grew up in a country where sexual and gender-based violence is seen in the news every single day. Unfortunately, the action taken against it is not working. I always tried to educate myself by acknowledging the victims and informing the people around me. That’s why I found the Empower lab an opportunity to advocate in a bigger scope and be around people passionate about SGBV.
Zeel Patel
Research Assistant
Teams: Male IPV, Asylum/TIC
I joined the lab in order to better understand how social science/ global public health intersects with the healthcare field. As an aspiring dentist and a sociologist, I really value a well rounded education and approach to treating patients. I recognize that treating patients is more than just treating the symptoms they present with so I pursued EMPOWER in order to better understand trauma and SBGV, which is an important and often overlooked factor in patient care.
Anchita Aurora
Research Assistant
Teams: Male IPV, Advocacy
I wanted to join the Empower Lab as I was fascinated by how it approached sexual and gender based violence from an interdisciplinary and intersectional lens. As a public policy major, I was excited to see that, along with understanding SGBV from a medical perspective, the lab also focused on how systemic factors such as immigration or poverty can contribute to SGBV. Additionally, I loved the lab’s emphasis on advocacy and making its research accessible to everyone.
Reet Kapur
Research Assistant, Team Leader for Sugar Dating
Teams: EMPOWER Clinic, Sugar Dating
On a personal level, I am deeply moved by survivors’ accounts of their experiences of sexual and gender-based violence and since starting my master’s program, I have truly come to realize how grave of a public health concern it is. The Empower Lab’s multidisciplinary approach and opportunities for skill development provide for an intellectually stimulating environment within which often-proscribed issues surrounding sex are discussed and handled with cultural competency. I hope to amplify the narratives of affected and at-risk populations by engaging in the lab’s research and ensuring that the implications of our findings are communicated to all.
Nicole Shiao
Associate Director of Research, Team Leader for Advocacy
Teams: Sugar Dating, Advocacy
My interest in advocating for marginalized groups in health care stems from my experience working as a Peer Health Educator with NYU Peer Health Exchange working with BIPOC students in NYC public high schools in lower-income areas. I joined Empower Lab as I was inspired to continue to learn more about the intersection between social inequities and healthcare disparities. I was eager to be involved with the efforts the Empower team is putting forth to better educate healthcare workers on the different barriers to access and agency that survivors of SGBV face when navigating the healthcare system. I believe that working on the Empower team allows me a unique opportunity to see how clinical research can be combined with public health advocacy in a profound and direct manner.
Lolayemi Charles
Associate Director of Research, Team Leader for EMPOWER Center Team
Teams: EMPOWER Clinic, Male IPV, Sugar Dating
I am passionate about the intersection between public health and clinical medicine on a global scale, particularly as it relates to health challenges within minority communities and populations within low and middle-income countries. I was drawn to the Empower Lab because its vision and values mirrored my own. I joined the Empower Lab because I believe the Lab's vision, values, and initiatives to address gender-based violence and other issues that disproportionately affect low-income women, align with my career goals and values. As a future medical doctor, I want to provide care to and advocate for women and marginalized communities without access to quality medical care. Being a member of the Empower Lab enables me to engage in research relating to these goals and life passions.
Michal Segall
Research Assistant
Teams: EMPOWER Clinic, Trauma Informed Care
I have long been inspired by the Empower Lab’s mission to help women and patients in their moments of greatest vulnerability. Over the last three years at Einstein, I have broadened my research and clinical experience in women’s health. Locally, my extracurricular experiences have included training as a doula for women undergoing abortions as well as volunteering as a clinic escort at a local abortion clinic. Globally, I have also studied sensitive women’s health topics, including cesarean section rates in the Dominican Republic and corresponding perceptions regarding perinatal care and cesarean delivery. I am excited by the way that the Empower lab integrates/stands at the cross-section between research and advocacy, and am motivated to find a way to incorporate the work that the Empower Lab advocates into my journey of becoming a physician. Most importantly, I am grateful for the opportunity to work alongside such a passionate and committed Empower team.
Ashley Tang
Research Assistant
Teams: Sugar Dating, Male IPV, Asylum
I was struck by the importance of the Empower Lab’s work in providing research to better inform healthcare practices in an area (sexual violence) that is often overlooked due to social stigma. Even in the wake of the #MeToo Movement, many sexual violence victims face prejudice and judgement, and are either provided with inadequate resources or are too afraid to seek aid. I loved the opportunity to not only learn about such critical, societal inequities, but to also directly participate in projects that address these issues on a policy, research, and advocacy level.
Jessica Alongi
Research Assistant, Team Leader for Sugar Dating
Teams: Advocay, Sugar Dating
The Empower Lab’s focus on SGBV and gender equity really spoke to me because I have always had an interest in women’s health. It is truly disheartening how common SGBV is globally. Seeing the lab’s work and mission made me want to join in on this research so that SGBV and other women’s health issues can be better addressed and hopefully reduced. I also believe that it is crucial to have a strong foundation in research when trying to improve any field, especially public health.
Sasha Elisabeth Gérard
Research Assistant, Team Leader for Asylum
Teams: Male IPV, Asylum
I was drawn to the Empower Lab because of the lab’s unique and incredible vision. Eye-opening experiences with immigrant populations both in NYC and abroad, within clinical settings and without, have inspired me to pair my professional goals in health care with a firm root in advocacy and equality. I’ve joined the lab with the hope of bringing my quiet but persistent regard for sexual- and gender-based violence to the forefront, and with a desire to become more aware of the ways in which I can serve as an active voice for underserved populations.
Abi Taye
Research Assistant
Teams: Trauma-Informed Care, Male Intimate Partner Violence
As a first year medical student aspiring to a career in global women’s health, I’m inspired by the Empower Lab’s evidence-based approach to combating one of the greatest barriers to gender equity. I have a personal investment in the issue of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) because I was raised in communities where violence against women, child marriage, and female genital mutilation are commonplace. The recent civil war in Ethiopia and countless reports of SGBV perpetrated by soldiers has made the issue a source of grief and an area of research interest. Furthermore, as a future healthcare practitioner, I hope to implement what I learn about trauma-informed care through EMPOWER in my future practice.
Aarna Dixit
Research Assistant
Teams: Male IPV, Advocacy
I’ve always been passionate about sexual violence advocacy and healthcare access. My interests have been centered more in the advocacy realm, so I wanted the opportunity to branch out and get more involved with research and the scientific aspects of social change. I want to be able to bolster my activism and advocacy through the research skills I learn through the lab.
Ali Foote
Research Assistant
Teams: Male Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Team, Asylum/Affidavit Case Follow-Up.
This past summer I worked in Uganda with a local peacebuilding organization to create a manual for supporting the psychosocial healing of survivors of conflict-related sexual violence. After seeing firsthand the long-term damage gender-based violence can cause at both the individual and community levels, I wanted to learn more about prevention efforts. I joined the Empower Lab because I was excited by the premise of using science to combat gender-based violence in my own community.
Annum Sadana
Research Assistant, Team Leader for EMPOWER Clinic
Teams: EMPOWER Clinic, Asylum/Affidavit Team
I was particularly drawn to the work of the lab, because it has a large interdisciplinary team working on research at the intersections of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), asylum, human rights, and global health. Prior to joining the lab, I was able to attend a Global Health Clinical Presentation by Dr. Ades. I’m looking forward to learning how a nuanced and clinical understanding of patient experiences can help me become a physician who both provides trauma-informed care and develops the skills to critically investigate trends and experiences I am privy to in my clinical practice.
Sarah Romanelli
Research Assistant, Team Leader for Trauma-Informed Care
Teams: Trauma-Informed Care, Advocacy
After volunteering as a Women’s Advocate at a Domestic Violence Safehouse, I became very passionate about bringing awareness to and learning more about gender-based violence. I look forward to combining two of my interests, advocacy for gender-based violence and research, as a member of the Empower Lab.
Anna Schick
(She/Her)
Associate Director of Research, Team Leader for Male IPV and Homelessness
Teams: Homelessness, Male IPV, Trauma-Informed Care
Throughout the past couple years, I have begun noticing and educating myself on the extreme lack of awareness and education concerning gender-based violence and unhealthy relationship behaviors in my previous schooling. My prior work as a crisis advocate working with survivors as well as facilitating workshops to educate my community about unhealthy relationship behaviors has helped foster a strong passion for empowerment. I joined the lab because I was drawn to the mission of engaging advocacy with research to best support and empower survivors.
Esther Beauchemin
Associate Director of Research, Team Leader for Male IPV, Masters of Public Health Candidate at NYU School of Global Public Health
Teams: EMPOWER Clinic, Male IPV
I joined the Empower lab because I am passionate about contributing to research of Sex and Gender Based Violence. During my undergraduate experience, I was an advocate for survivors of sexual assault and harassment and am thrilled to continue this journey through research in this lab.
Liv Sher
(She/Hers)
Research Assistant, B.A in Women’s Health from Gallatin School of Individualized Study, and pursuing a Masters in Public Health at NYU School of Global Public Health
Teams: Male IPV, Asylum , Sugar Dating
I have always had an interest in research, especially issues and populations that I have observed are under researched. I have spent the last four years studying women’s health, specifically maternal health where I have spent a significant amount of time learning about SGBV. I am especially interested in using SGBV research to advocate for women globally and fight for women’s equality. Empower lab SGBV research explores issues that I am both personally passionate about and I feel do not receive enough attention in the field of research. The lab’s mission aligns with so many of my personal research and advocacy goals. The lab will allow me to expand my foundational research skills while working on research that I am passionate about.
Avni Varshneya
Research Assistant, Team Leader for Homelessness, B.S. in Biology and Global Public Health with a minor in Chemistry at NYU
Teams: Advocacy, Homelessness
I grew up in countries where sexual violence and reproductive injustice is prevalent, and I am eager to see that change. I am incredibly passionate about reproductive autonomy, intersectionality, and women’s health, and the Empower Lab feels like a culmination of my strongest interests and goals. When I found out that a lab like Empower existed at NYU, I knew that I truly cared about the research and that I had to join the team. I am super excited to advocate for survivors of trauma, research how sexual trauma manifests on a biological basis, and work on intervening in the cycle of intimate partner violence. I want to help minorities and women in underserved communities in the future as an OBGYN and survivor advocate, so I can’t wait to see where the Empower Lab takes me in the future and towards my career goals!
Caryn Ha
Research Assistant, Team Leader for TET, Molecular Biology & Biochemistry B.A. (2016), Assistant Research Technician at NYU Langone Medical Center Pathology Department
Teams: TET, Healthcare Access, Identification, and Care
The EMPOWER lab is an amazing opportunity to help reveal disparities in the current healthcare system and revolutionize women’s health through my two passions: science and health-equity advocacy.
Anjali Mehta
Research Assistant, B.S. in Applied Psychology and Minor in Philosophy at NYU
Teams: Trauma-Informed Care, Male Intimate Partner Violence
Years ago, I spent my summer at a rural village in South India listening to stories of women who weren’t given the opportunity to be heard otherwise. As an Indian woman who does have a voice, I wanted to fight for these women. I realized immediately the power of advocacy. The only thing more powerful than advocacy, however, is evidence-based advocacy and that’s what the Empower Lab is all about. I joined to be a part of the effort to expand scientific knowledge of gender-based violence and contribute to evidence-based advocacy.
Samantha Goulding
Research Assistant, Team Leader for Advocacy, Medical Student at Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Teams: Trauma Informed Care, Advocacy
I was exposed to the issues surrounding SGBV and reproductive health justice that plague our country today while studying social determinants of health in graduate school. Complex and deep-rooted inequities intertwined with systemic barriers and accessibility problems fueled my interest in becoming a public health physician focused on policy change within the SGBV space. I was first exposed to the Empower lab and the practice of trauma informed care when Dr. Ades spoke as a guest lecturer during my first year of medical school. After hearing about the work she was engaged in with the lab, I knew this was the place I needed to be. I am beyond excited to be working with the other lab members to progress evidence-based practice and advocacy work in this space further.
Isabella Cuan
(She/Her)
Research Assistant. Medical Student at NYU
Teams: Empower Clinic, Advocacy
As a woman and future physician, I am passionate about applying interdisciplinary approaches to humanize and de-stigmatize illness and disease and to actively re-construct the interconnected social, economic, and medical systems fueling inequitable care. I deeply admire the Empower Lab’s mission to leverage the power of evidence-based science and medicine to bring awareness and change to very real issues facing humanity. Having uncovered horrifying truths about the reality of gendered violence in my work with asylum seekers and women experiencing homelessness, I believe the Empower Lab is the ideal place for me to actively combat these issues, as well as develop my professional identity and voice as a physician-advocate fighting for these patient populations.
Madeleine Goldberg
Research Assistant. Medical Student at NYU
Teams: Male IPV, Asylum
I am looking forward to further developing and improving my research skills while conducting research on sexual and gender-based violence- an issue which I hope to spend my career as a physician combatting. My own experiences working with individuals who have experienced sexual assault has made me committed to learning about and preventing gender-based violence, and I was drawn to the Empower Lab’s engaging, diverse, and creative research projects.
Madeleine Walsh
(She/Her)
Research Assistant. Team Leader for Homelessness, Medical Student at NYU
Teams: Homelessness, Male IPV, Trauma-Informed Care
My pursuit of a medical degree and my engagement with Empower Lab are both rooted in a desire to advocate for and elevate the voices of those that are not often heard. Empower Lab’s dedication to advocacy coupled with research resonates deeply with me. Time spent providing labor and birth support in various settings has exposed me to the immense importance of working to further gender equity and support those impacted by SGBV, as well as prevent it in the first place. I have also seen the importance of person-centered care and think that this research can help inform and improve the care we provide. I am looking forward to being a part of the collaborative environment at Empower Lab as we strive toward these goals.
Azul Savid
Research Assistant. NYU B.A. Psychology, Pre-Medical track
Teams: Dating, Male IPV, Trauma-Informed Care
I admire the amazing work done by the lab for research and advocacy in women’s health. I think the topics discussed by the lab are extremely important for everyone to be informed about, not only within healthcare settings. The lab incorporates many of my interests into its research: medicine, public health, women’s health, and psychology.
Justine DeSilva
(She/Her)
Research Assistant, Stanford University BA in Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity, London School of Economics and Political Science MSc in Gender, currently a paralegal and a volunteer rape crisis and domestic violence advocate at the Crime Victims Treatment Center
Teams: Dating, Advocacy, Asylum
I am extremely inspired by the Lab's vision, particularly its emphasis on conducting research around the experiences of survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. I've been involved in SGBV issues, both academically and professionally, for nearly a decade, and I believe that it's an issue that affects every single person on the planet.
Julia Leschi
(She/They)
Associate Director of Research, Team Leader for Dating and Empower, NYU B.S. Applied Psychology, a minor in Hebrew and Judaic Studies, and a minor in Public Health
Teams: Asylum, Dating, Empower
Growing up, I was always involved in politics and advocacy, but the path I want to follow to become a Psychologist pushes me more and more towards science and research. The Empower lab’s different research projects all aim to actively help survivors and improve women’s health, and I am very inspired and happy to be apart of it. It allows me to pursue scientific research while still feeling active politically.
Mackenzie Vohr
(She/They)
Research Assistant, Team Leader for Advocacy, NYU B.S. in Global Public Health and Biology, and now pursuing a M.P.H. from Columbia
Teams: Male IPV, Advocacy, Trauma-Informed Care
I’m passionate about the intersection of clinical research and advocacy work, particularly within the context of gender-based violence and disparities in health outcomes experienced by minority communities. Trauma and its implications are severely underrepresented in healthcare settings, and I am inspired by Dr. Ades’ vision of comprehensive and appropriate care for survivors of sexual violence. I hope to contribute to the actualization of this vision during my time working with the Empower Lab.
Victoria Medina
Research Assistant, Pursuing a B.A. in Global Public Health and Anthropology with a minor in Nutrition
Teams: Male IPV, Homelessness
When I learned about the Empower Lab, I was eager to join not only because of the lab’s mission, but because of the various ongoing projects. The Empower Lab’s teams focus on topics that are more focused than SGBV in general, which I believe is better able to provide clearer information and resources to marginalized groups or groups that want to provide support. As a future healthcare provider as well, I think it is important to know what SGBV looks like across different groups, and what is needed in order to improve the quality of care.
Rebecca Berger
Research Assistant, Master’s of Public Health at the CUNY School of Public Health
Teams: Sugar Dating and Advocacy
I'm very excited for my plans moving forward! I left the lab to start working as a Policy Analyst at NYU Langone Medical Center. Throughout my career in health policy I hope to change environmental and social factors to support people's health and ameliorate health disparities. I also hope to help create policies which advance gender equity, prevent gender-based violence and human trafficking, and increase access to culturally sensitive trauma-informed care.
Victoria Chen
Research Assistant, Team Leader for Empower Clinic, Medical Student at NYU
Teams: Empower Clinic, TET, and the Program for Survivors of Torture (PSOT) Team
I will never forget the first time I sat down in Bellevue to conduct chart reviews for our FGM/C project. Reading the heart-wrenching narratives of sexual and gender-based violence experienced by people we serve in the Empower Center has given me a newfound appreciation for the sanctity of the patient-provider relationship, which I hope to emulate on the wards.
Mirella Torresan
Research Assistant, Team Leader for Male IPV, and Associate Director of Research, Health and Social Justice at NYU Gallatin
Teams: Male Intimate Partner Violence, Sugar Dating, and TET
I joined the lab because of the unique opportunity to learn about and participate in research and advocacy on the issues of women’s rights and healthcare, which I care strongly about. I love the supportive, challenging, team-based environment of the lab, and the skills and experience I gain in the lab will be extremely valuable as I begin a career in women’s health.
Shirley Eng
Associate Director of Research, College of Arts and Sciences at NYU
Teams: Male IPV, Dating, and Empower Clinic
I joined the Empower Lab because of its multidisciplinary approach to advocacy for gender equity through research. Working with the talented individuals in this lab and Dr. Ades has not only allowed me to pursue research I am passionate about but has shown me the different ways in which research and advocacy go hand in hand.
Hayley Herzog
Research Assistant, NYU dual MPH/MPA program
Teams: Dating, Advocacy, Healthcare Access
I joined the lab because I was inspired by the work and vision of the lab.Understanding the experiences of survivors and how that relates to society is required to allow survivors to achieve social, political, and economic stability. I want to use my power and privileged to advocate, research, and educate the world on this topic through an intersectional lens. Being involved in the lab allows me to do concrete work on a topic I am very passionate about.
Katie Thompson
Research Assistant,, Team Leader for Healthcare Access Identification/Care, BA in Biology on the pre-health track with a minor in Public Health
Teams: TET, Sugar Dating, and Healthcare Access Teams
The Empower Lab's research focus appealed to me, given my experience with issues relevant to gender-based violence through service and advocacy. The opportunity to support the tremendous work done at the Empower Lab and to bring attention to gender-based violence and disparities in health is very exciting!
Sarah Bacio
Research assistant, Global Public Health and Sociology at NYU
Teams: Male IPV, Dating
Currently, my future plans are very much up in the air, but I am dedicated to working alongside marginalized communities, particularly LGBT+ communities of color and their access to positive health outcomes. Being an advocate for these groups and other intersections of marginalized identities is something I look forward to accomplishing in my future.
Mathilde Hainaut
Research assistant, Team leader for Healthcare Access, Medical student
Teams: Healthcare Access, Dating
Working in a basic science research lab which focused on female reproductive biology showed me that scientific inquiry can provide answers needed to address global problems like gender-based violence. This encouraged me to look for a research experience that could directly impact and improve the health of vulnerable women. The Empower Lab’s combination of clinical and public health research with advocacy aligns perfectly with that goal.
Alia Rohain
Research assistant, Pursuing M.A. at Columbia University
Teams: Male IPV, Dating
I am excited to learn more about the power dynamics of dating practices and the perpetuation of intimate partner violence. More broadly, I’m excited to learn more deeply how to integrate healthcare, gender-based issues and advocacy in research. Dr. Ades provides a strong direction for getting the most out of the research experience - I am excited to learn from both her and the strong team she has assembled.
Sarah Martell
Research assistant, Team leader for Empower, Medical student
Teams: Male IPV, Empower
For me, the EMPOWER lab represents the perfect intersection between my interests in Psychiatry/Mental Health and Women’s Health. I have focused on this intersection throughout my education and career. Most notably by working with young women suffering from borderline personality disorder who were very frequently survivors of trauma and by studying eating disorders in my undergraduate neuroscience thesis. I am excited to be part of a lab who’s research and advocacy is making the world a safer place for women.
Irene Jun
Research Assistant, NYU B.S. Applied Psychology
Teams: Empower Clinic and Dating
As an aspiring clinical psychologist, I hope to be informed on the experiences and unique needs of sexual and gender-based violence survivors to ultimately provide individualized treatment that both heals and empowers them. I also hope to further the Empower Lab's vision by contributing to research and advocating for an end to sexual and gender-based violence.
Savannah Pearson Ayala
Research assistant, Medical student
Teams: Empower Clinic and Healthcare Access
Growing up in an all-female household, I’ve always been interested in gender issues. While working as an interpreter in a women’s health clinic for survivors of domestic violence, I began to see the importance of trauma informed care in medical practice. The EMPOWER lab offered me the opportunity to build upon these experiences to make a difference in the care of these populations through research.
Brian Goddard
Research Assistant, Empower Team Leader, Medical student
Teams: Empower Clinic Study Team, PSOT Team
I plan to go into Obstetrics & Gynecology and am really interested in public and global health so doing research in the Empower Lab is the perfect intersection of these interests.
Pournami Rajeev
Research assistant, Medical student
Teams: Empower, TET, Healthcare Access, Dating
I have always been passionate about women’s rights and issues related to ob/gyn care. In college I worked on a research project on vocal indices in relationships with people who come from an abusive background. I’m really happy to have joined EMPOWER, because it combines my experience in DV research with my passion for furthering women’s rights.
Jayne Carson
Research Assistant, Team leader for Empower Medical student
Team: Empower
I had experience volunteering at a domestic violence crisis line before medical school and knew that I wanted intimate partner violence research within healthcare settings to be an important part of my career.
Cat Garcia
Research Assistant, NYU Global Public Health and Sociology with a minor in French
Teams: Male IPV, Dating
I hope to pursue my PhD in either Sociology or Public Health (maybe both!) and eventually become a researcher and professor. I hope to one day run a lab similar to Dr. Ades’, doing research that intersects closely with advocacy and informs policy changes.
Reagan Schoenholz
Research Assistant, Team Leader for PSOT, B.A.Sc McGill University
Teams: Healthcare Access, PSOT
I was initially drawn to The Empower Lab because of the research focus on women's health and trauma. I find that my career goals and passion for research are aligned with the lab's commitment to public advocacy through rigorous scientific approaches. As an aspiring physician, I hope to work within the intersection of science and advocacy to provide more comprehensive care. I am inspired by the lab's mission and I am thrilled to be part of such a dynamic, empowering, intelligent group of researchers.
Tiffany Hamidjaja
Associate Director of Research
Teams: Healthcare Access, Male IPV, Sexual and Gender Based Violence Book.
My research passion lies in taking an intersectional perspective on understanding inequalities within marginalized communities and vulnerable populations. I believe in a science that not only adds knowledge to the field, but also translates into tangible change in the real world, especially for the communities that we are studying. EMPOWER’s mission exemplifies just that. I am proud to be a part of a lab that tackles the important social issue of gendered violence locally and globally, embraces diverse disciplines for a more comprehensive science, and prioritizes empowerment and advocacy.
Jenny Leigh
Research Assistant, PhD in Sociology at NYU
Teams: TET, Healthcare Access,, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Book, Advocacy
I have been involved in both anti-violence activism and biomedical research for many years, and always wanted to do research that incorporates both. The lab's focus on empowerment, advocacy, and using scientific research to promote equitable healthcare has both enabled me to pursue many of my interests in one space and inspired me to redefine my understanding of what both medicine and research can accomplish in the world.
Gabe Herrera
Research Assistant, Team Leader for PSOT and Healthcare Access, Chemistry and Bioethics at NYU
Teams: PSOT, Healthcare Access
This lab interested me because of the help that the research would bring to the underprivileged members of our community. The EMPOWER Lab amplifies the voices that are swept away while aiding them in the pathway for gender equity and advocacy. Being able to be a part of this research and being able to help those that are normally turned away is what drew me to this lab.
Olivia O’Leary
Research Assistant, Sociology/Global Public Health
Teams: Dating, Healthcare Access,
I was never interested in doing research myself because I believed it was for older, more experienced professionals and the skill set seemed unattainable. When I found out about Empower, I was thrilled to see that even though I was only an undergraduate student, I could be doing the same research as a tenured professor! Having the opportunity to work in an environment where I'm being treated like a professional at such a young age was important to me. In addition, I'm very interested in women's health and more specifically disparities in health outcomes. Empower Lab seemed like a perfect fit to develop that interest.
Lydia Mason
Research Assistant, Team Leader for Advocacy, NYU Student
Teams: Male IPV, Book, and Advocacy
I am passionate about medicine and advocacy, and I have always enjoyed working in women’s health. After finishing an internship at Planned Parenthood, I wanted an opportunity that would allow me to be an advocate for women and their health while also allowing me to learn more about medicine and research, and this lab has provided me with that opportunity and so much more.
Nicole Acero
Associate Director of Research, Global Public Health/Sociology
Teams: Dating, TET
When I first heard about the Empower Lab, I was so inspired by Dr. Ades’ mission and the work that she has done. I wanted to have the opportunity to learn from her. Empower also excited me since it combines my interests in medicine, public health, and social justice. I am excited to do some important work for women’s health research and to use what I learn from this lab to inform my career in medicine and public health!
Sonya Chemouni Bach
Associate Director of Research, NYU post bac
Teams: PSOT, Empower
I have always been passionate about women’s health and in this current political climate especially, women and survivors of sexual violence need us in their fight. I am inspired to contribute to EMPOWER’s unique mission that weds a scientific, public health and advocacy-based approach to support and defend them.
Anna Chessky
Associate Director of Research, Global Public Health/Chemistry
Teams: CPP, Dating, Women in STEM
I was truly inspired by Dr. Ades mission and all that the EMPOWER Lab had already accomplished. I found that this lab was the perfect place to build a bridge between my passion for the sciences and public health. As an Advocate at Health Leads, I worked with many low-income families, especially single mothers, to connect them to government and community resources. I felt that the EMPOWER lab would give me a better understanding not only of the social needs of those low-income women but also their medical needs. I'm excited to one day become a physician and apply the knowledge learned from this lab in bettering patient care and conducting clinical research to do so.
Diana Mora
Research Assistant, Team Leader for Healthcare Access, GPH/Sociology
Teams: Healthcare Access, Advocacy, Male IPV
I joined this incredible lab because I’ve always had a passion for social activism and the health of underserved/underrepresented populations, but I never knew how to combine these passions with my growing love of medicine and scientific research.
Olivia Sortirchos
Research Assistant, Global Public Health/ Anthropology, Environmental Studies
Teams: PSOT, Advocacy
I joined the Empower Lab in order to merge my passion for women’s health advocacy with my interest in the scientific side of public health research. I want to be an advocate for those who have been affected by gender-based violence and work alongside my dedicated peers who share this goal!
Adam Kirschner
Research Assistant, Team Leader for Advocacy, NYU Undergraduate in Global Public Health and Media Culture and Communications
Teams: Advocacy, IPV, CPP
For the past few years, I have gotten more and more involved in volunteering and interning with organizations that fight gender based violence and advocate for survivors. It is work that I find very rewarding and I would like to continue it in my future professional career.
Ydelsie Vasquez
Research Assistant, Team Leader for TET, NYU Undergraduate in Pre-med and Psychology
Teams: TET, IPV
I was looking for a research lab that was investigating topics I cared about and found equally interesting and important. When I stumbled upon the Empower Lab, I was excited to learn more about research revolving around gender based violence to make a difference.
Anna Nathanson
Research Assistant, Team Leader for Male IPV, Masters in Social Work at NYU
Teams: PSOT, Male IPV
As a social worker, I will use research-based modalities to work with clients, and I wanted to become more involved in how that research comes to life. As a graduate student at a big research institution like NYU, I was excited that work in research was available to me. I am inspired by the work the lab does and I am looking forward to my work here!
Stephanie Wu
Research Assistant, Medical Student, NYU; BA in Visual Arts, Duke University
Teams: TET, EMPOWER Clinic
I am interested in trauma studies, mental health, and women’s health. Having conducted research on the media and visual culture of trauma back in college, I joined the Empower Lab to further explore my interest in the field.
Connor Smith
Research Assistant, NYU College of Arts and Science, Biology/Spanish Major
Teams: EMPOWER Clinic
I have worked with Spanish speaking populations in a healthcare setting as well as survivors of sexual assault. Joining the Empower lab seemed like the best way to integrate those activities. I am excited to work as a physician with disadvantaged communities in urban environments.
Debbie Schwartz
Associate Director of Research and Research Assistant; B.A in Jewish Studies and Pre-Med from University of Pennsylvania
Teams: PSOT, MST, Male IPV
I joined the lab because I wanted to fuse my passion for women's issues and science. I am excited to see myself have a career as a physician who is involved in patient care as well as clinical research.
Emily Rabinowitz
Associate Director of Research, Undergraduate Applied Psychology and Global Public Health
Teams: IPV, Advocacy
I have always been passionate about women’s health and wanted to advocate for victims of sexual assault, trauma, and violence. As a public health major and supporter of the UN’s SDGs, I am passionate to accomplish the goals of good health and well-being, as well as gender equality. I hope to work with an internationally involved non-profit or the WHO to help coordinate women’s health projects in the areas where women cannot easily access quality healthcare.
Ryan Griffin
Research Assistant, English Degree from NYU
Teams: MST, Male IPV
I feel the EMPOWER Lab allows me to observe/aid at-risk minority populations from all angles, down to the telomeres on DNA. The lab is an amazing community where everyone strived to prop each other up and lend a helping hand to see them succeed. I hope to achieve a M.D or D.O and apply that to deeper scientific knowledge towards helping at risk populations.
Grace Kim
Research Assistant, Master of Public Health in Global Health Leadership
Teams: IPV, Advocacy
I have always been passionate about women’s health and wanted to advocate for victims of sexual assault, trauma, and violence. As a public health major and supporter of the UN’s SDGs, I am passionate to accomplish the goals of good health and well-being, as well as gender equality. I hope to work with an internationally involved non-profit or the WHO to help coordinate women’s health projects in the areas where women cannot easily access quality healthcare.
Stephanie Serafino
Associate Director of Research, Master of Public Health at NYU-Community and International Health
Teams: EMPOWER Clinic, EMPOWER Music Study, Internship project, Sexual Violence PTSD and unintended pregnancy
I joined Empower because I am passionate about women's health, specifically sexual and reproductive health and the lab is an incredible opportunity to learn and contribute to the research community here in New York.
Jenny Yang
Research Assistant, Bachelors in Neural Science at NYU CAS, Masters in Middle Childhood Education at Brooklyn College
Teams: MST, Male IPV
Working at an all girls school, I see many obstacles that affect young women of color from pursuing careers in the science. I hope to share the knowledge gained from this experience to inspire and empower my students to study global issues about women’s health and enter STEM career fields where they can become the new generation of advocates.
Dominiq Williams
Research Assistant, Nursing, BSN
Teams: Advocacy, PSOT
I joined the lab because of my desire to help in making health care more accessible to vulnerable populations. I went to nursing school hoping to care for patients in a way that increased their agency. Being a member of the Empower Lab provides me with an opportunity to help bring issues of women’s health to greater prominence and learn to address health disparities from a public health and solutions standpoint.
Shaella Morales
Associate Director of Research, MPH, Immigration Specialist at Mercy Center
Teams: Male IPV
I have a strong passion for the topic of immigrant health and many immigrants are victim of sexual assault. The EMPOWER Lab allows me to focus on my passion while advancing research on important topics involving sexual trauma, reproductive health, and women empowerment.
Nicole Parada
Research Assistant, Research Project Coordinator in Clinical Research Oncology
Teams: IPV, MST, Advocacy
I joined the lab to continue exploring the healthcare field. I want to learn more about Public Health and engage in more community outreach projects. My hope is to pursue a PhD in Public Health. My dream is to develop community clinics in Latin America that focus primarily on health outreach and education.