Dr. Pankhuri Aggarwal

Director

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Dr. Pankhuri Aggarwal is a Tenure-Track Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Cincinnati. Dr. Aggarwal completed her doctorate in clinical psychology at Miami University of Ohio and her predoctoral internship at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. Thereafter, she was appointed as the Madigan Family Clinical Research Fellow at the Family Institute at Northwestern University where she completed her postdoctoral fellowship.

Sarah Shahriar B.S.

(she/her)

Graduate Student

Sarah is a first-year Clinical Psychology PhD student at the University of Cincinnati. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a concentration in Neuroscience from Penn State University before gaining experience in several clinical research settings. Most recently, Sarah worked on psychosis research at the University of Pennsylvania, where she conducted clinical diagnostic and cognitive assessments with individuals on the psychosis spectrum of diverse ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Her current research interests focus on the intersection of immigrant experiences and the development of serious mental illness, including psychosis spectrum disorders. Sarah was drawn to the CREW lab for its collaborative environment and its dedication to advancing research and improving health outcomes through a culturally inclusive lens.

Fun Fact: Sarah has a cat named Oikotan (Oiko for short!), which is the musical term for "harmony" or "togetherness" in Bangla.

Contact: shahriss@mail.uc.edu

Undergraduate Research Assistants

Psychology and Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies Minor

Mika Sevilla

Mika is a senior at UC with research interests in cultural psychology, program intervention, and implementation. They joined the CREW Lab to connect with other scholars and contribute to innovative approaches for understanding culture and well-being. Their current work reflects a passion for translating research into practical strategies that can improve lives across diverse communities. After graduation, they plans to apply to Clinical Psychology Ph.D. programs to further pursue these interests. Outside of academics, Mika enjoys baking and playing video games.

Communications; Psychology

Lucy Guenther

Lucy is a sophomore passionate about researching the intersection of cultural context mental health treatment outcomes. She is particularly interested in how past experiences influence depression and suicide, which has driven her to volunteer with veterans in the Cincinnati community. Lucy values the opportunity to dissect the role that culture plays in doctoral training and the types of psychological care provided. After graduation, her long-term goal is to become a psychologist specializing in supporting veterans through counseling and mental health services, with plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology focused on serious mental health illnesses. Fun fact: she is currently studying abroad in Lisbon, Portugal this semester!

B.S Chemical Engineering

Jasmine Ramirez

Jasmine holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Her research interests focus on evaluating the effectiveness of integrating cross-cultural psychological concepts within Western frameworks. Drawn to the CREW Lab, Jasmine is particularly invested in developing psychological models that are culturally relevant and applicable across diverse populations. She plans to continue her academic journey through graduate study in psychology. Fun fact: Jasmine is an avid reader and read an impressive 24 books in just one month—this past December!

Psychology and Minority Health Studies Certificate

Diana Martins

Diana is an aspiring psychologist with a strong interest in multiculturalism, bilingualism, and self-esteem. She is currently contributing to Dr. Aggarwal’s Professionals in Psychology project and is an active member of the CREW Lab, where she helps explore often overlooked cultural dimensions in therapeutic practice. As the child of immigrant parents, Diana has experienced firsthand how traditional therapeutic models can overlook critical aspects of identity. This personal insight fuels her passion for culturally responsive care. She plans to pursue graduate studies in psychology and ultimately hopes to become a practicing therapist.Fun fact: Diana is bilingual in English and Portuguese!

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Psychology

Aastha Yadav

Aastha is a junior with an interest in researching mental health, particularly in relation to immigrants. After graduation, Aastha plans to pursue either a Master’s and PhD or directly enter a PhD program. In addition to academic pursuits, she is musically talented, playing both the saxophone and the bagpipe.

Psychology and Spanish

Brooklyn Blaising

Add a short bio for each team member. Make it brief and informative to keep visitors engaged.

Psychology B.A; History Minor, Deaf Studies Certificate

TJ Journey

TJ is a fourth-year undergraduate student with research interests in sexuality, LGBTQ+ issues, sexual deviance, and behavioral addictions. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, TJ joined the CREW Lab to help bring visibility to populations that have often been underrepresented in academic research. After graduation, TJ plans to pursue a Ph.D. to further explore these important topics.Outside the lab: TJ works at an art house theatre in Cincinnati and has a deep passion for film.

Psychology and Neuroscience

Dhanvi Sayani

Dhanvi is a Psychology and Neuroscience double major whose research interests center on how cultural contexts, social relationships, and emotional processes interact to shape mental health and well-being. She is particularly drawn to studying these dynamics in diverse and underrepresented populations, with the goal of promoting resilience, equity, and positive life outcomes. She joined the CREW Lab because of its interdisciplinary approach and its use of both quantitative and qualitative methods to understand complex human experiences. Through this work, she hopes to bridge scientific rigor with culturally informed, real-world applications. Fun fact: Dhanvi used to be a national-level chess player

Alumni

Blessing S. Johnson

Blessing is a recent graduate with an interest in understanding how different factors such as culture, socioeconomic status, race, and gender intersect to influence mental health outcomes, access, treatment, and perception. He joined the CREW Lab to focus on research that amplifies the voices of those who are often underrepresented in psychological studies. After graduation, he plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. In his free time, he enjoys, traveling, reading, playing and watching soccer and hanging out with his dog, Beni.

Volunteers

Nainika Pansari

Molecular and Cellular Biology; Psychology

Johns Hopkins University alumni

Nainika is interested in researching health disparities within clinical health psychology, with a focus on how psychoneuroimmunology, genetics, and environmental factors interact in the development of mental health problems and chronic diseases. She is particularly drawn to studying these issues in minority and culturally diverse groups, including South Asian populations. Her time in the CREW Lab deepened her interest in cultural influences on well-being while also providing valuable training in data analysis theory and application. She is now an incoming Ph.D. student in the Joint Clinical-Health Psychology program at the University of Pittsburgh, where she hopes to continue working toward a career as a licensed Clinical Health Psychologist.

Ummul Fatima

M.Phil in Clinical Psychology

Ummul is interested in multicultural competence, intervention development, and cross-cultural formulations of mental illness. She was drawn to the CREW Lab because of its focus on examining the cultural applicability of Western psychological theories, diagnostic systems, and treatment modalities—an area that aligns closely with her interests in help-seeking and treatment across cultures. Her work reflects a commitment to understanding how mental health is shaped by sociocultural contexts, particularly in non-Western settings. Through the lab, she is excited to grow her interests in context-sensitive, globally informed mental health research through both scholarly and applied engagement.

Surabhi Rathore

MA Applied Psychology with Specialization in Counselling Psychology

Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai

Manager

Surabhi is interested in how social institutions and everyday relationships shape psychological well-being across diverse cultural and structural contexts. Her research draws on social, cultural, and abnormal psychology while integrating insights from public health, social neuroscience, and environmental psychology. She is particularly focused on issues related to gender, trauma, addiction, poverty, and marginalization, with the goal of informing applied, interdisciplinary approaches to mental health. She joined the CREW Lab because its focus on culture, relationships, education, and well-being aligns with her interest in connecting collective and institutional factors to individual and community outcomes.