Research Assistants

MINT Clinic Research Assistants

Patrick Fernandez

Patrick Fernandez is currently on his way to finishing his Bachelor’s Degree, and is a Psych major at FIU. Along the way, his plan is on doing his best in helping people when they are in need and just seeing people succeed. As he does these things altogether, he hope to continue his way in academia with the goal of getting into grad school with the focus on a Ph.D in Psychology.

Jonathan Guzman

Jonathan Guzman is an undergraduate student at Florida International University (FIU) majoring in psychology. He plans on working towards a PhD in Clinical Psychology and wants to focus on early intervention with children and adolescents. He is very passionate about helping those in need and wants to use his love for psychology as means for doing so.

Dylan Rodriguez

Dylan Rodriguez is an undergraduate at FIU entering his sophomore year as a Biological Sciences major. He aspires to go into Medical School and become an Orthopedist or Pediatrician to improve the lives of many people.

Brooke Fasano

Brooke Fasano is a second year medical student at the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine at Florida International University. She is interested in pursuing a specialty in pediatrics. It is her goal to be a mental health advocate for her patients as she continues her journey through medicine.

Iyo Aghedo

Iyo Aghedo is a rising senior and Psychology major who aims to one day become a mental health counselor that focuses on intergenerational trauma, specifically in marginalized communities. Her hobbies include writing and learning random trivia. She’s excited to work with the MINT Lab!

Camille Nugent

Camille Nugent has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Florida International University. She loves all things Psychology and has a passion for the subject and field. She plans to get her Doctorate in Psychology (Psy.D) and go on to be a Clinical Psychologist.

Alejandra Meneses

Alejandra Meneses was born in Cuba and immigrated to the United Stated when she was 10 years old. She has always been interested in the field of Psychology, and when she graduated high school, she decided to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Recently, she decided to switch to pre-med to help at risk patients and do research on ways external factors change internal biological aspect of a person’s body.

Cassandra Castex

Cassandra Castex is currently in the process of completing her Psychology Bachelor’s degree at Florida International University (FIU) to pursue her Master’s in Mental Health Counseling after that. She intends to get a Master’s degree in Mental Health to assist families with ADHD and ADD by teaching them how to provide a safe learning environment for their children. She is interested in continuing her research on how young children with ADHD and ADD might be caused by their home environment rather than being inherited genetically. Her ultimate goal in becoming a Mental Health Counselor is to help gain a positive image of themselves that will help them confront obstacles in the future with a greater sense of confidence.

Samantha Mariscal

Samantha Mariscal is an undergraduate student pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology at Florida International University (FIU). She plans to work towards a master’s degree in Professional Counseling Psychology in order to become a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. She aspires to help make the lives of those with mental illnesses fulfilling and better.

Florentina Montoya

Florentina Montoya is an undergraduate student studying Psychology at Florida International University (FIU). She was born in Caracas, Venezuela, and developed a passion for psychology and the different aspects of human behavior throughout high school. Currently, she is very invested in expanding her knowledge of different psychology fields and further understanding how to help others through research, investigation, and analysis. In the future, she plan on advancing a career in clinical psychology and obtaining a PhD.

Natalia Reyes

Natalia Reyes Kontorovsky is a senior undergraduate student at Florida International University majoring in Psychology with a certificate in Health Humanities. After completing her B.A., she plans on pursuing a degree in Clinical Psychology. Natalia is passionate about improving children’s mental health and conducting research on the treatment of personality disorders.

Kids Face Fears Research Assistants

Nazla Lara

Nazla Lara received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from FIU in May 2021. She is a Senior Research Assistant with the MINT lab for the Kids FACE FEARS project where she began volunteering in Fall 2020. Nazla’s research interests focus on how depression and anxiety present itself in children and teenagers based on isolation habits. She is also interested in examining how internet addiction from a young age can affect cognitive awareness and social skills later in life.