People
AMP Lab

Collaborators

Director

Daniel Fulford, Ph.D.

Dr. Fulford is a clinical psychologist whose research centers on uncovering mechanisms involved in human motivation: the drive to set, strive for, and accomplish goals. He uses both experimental studies conducted in laboratory settings, as well as ambulatory assessment done in the “real-world,” to better understand barriers to motivation and participation across a variety of health problems, including serious mental illness (e.g., schizophrenia and bipolar disorder). Dr. Fulford is passionate about translating his research findings through the design and implementation of evidence-based behavioral interventions. He brings expertise in clinical research of mental illness to help form an invaluable bridge between the Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation and the Department of Occupational Therapy at Boston University.

Research Coordinator

Coleman Garner, B.A.

Coleman is responsible for coordinating daily research operations in the AMP Lab. Prior to joining the lab, Coleman earned his Bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, where he assisted faculty with research in the disciplines of clinical neuroscience and health psychology. His general research interests include psychopharmacology, community and occupational health, clinical trials, and statistical methods. Outside of his scientific pursuits, Coleman enjoys reading, video games, collecting gadgets, hiking, and traveling.

Research Assistants

Rachel Friedman, B.S.

Rachel is a master’s candidate in the Mental Health Counseling and Behavioral Medicine program at Boston University School of Medicine. She graduated from Tufts University, where she majored in Psychology and Child Development. During college, Rachel was a part of a research team studying the effects of neurofeedback treatment for adolescents with depression. Prior to starting graduate school, Rachel worked at Boston Children’s Hospital coordinating clinical drug trials in the Translational Neuroscience Center. Her research interests include non-pharmacological approaches to treating depression and anxiety, motivation and decision making in mental illness, the relationship between brain and behavior in individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders and risk factors for autism. Rachel’s clinical focus is on counseling children and adolescents with behavioral and emotional disorders. Currently, Rachel is interning with the Boston Emergency Services Team.

Cindy Do

Cindy is a sophomore majoring in Human Physiology at Sargent College. Her interests include studying how personality influences willingness to follow medical regimens. Cindy is currently working on a funded project examining Effort in Parkinson’s Disease (PD). People with PD may have difficult following exercise regimens due to many factors. Cindy’s research includes studying motivation, motor functions, and effort in people with PD to understand how exercise regimens can be improved in this population. Her hobbies include rowing, hiking, biking, and exploring picturesque locations. She aspires to be a physician and hopes to incorporate her research into her future medical career.

Sravya Vajram

Sravya is a senior majoring in Psychology. Her interests include learning more about eating disorders, specifically on their presence across cultures and different ethnicities. Growing up in Bangalore, India as well as in California for her first 18 years of her life, has inspired her to look into how mental illnesses play out in each society. She joined the AMP lab to learn more about how motivation affects and works in people with mental illnesses. She has her own college student support group on campus, Speak UP BU, that aims to help students who are currently struggling with body image issues, eating disorders and anxiety. She also interned with the multi-eating disorders association (MEDA) here in Boston and is working on her current project on campus. Apart from academics, she is a huge animal lover and activist, a classical Indian dancer and an avid book reader!

Kara Dillaway, B.A.

Kara is a recent graduate from Boston University where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in psychology. Kara is interested in studying mental illness, particularly in children and adolescents. While in college, she had the opportunity to intern at an adolescent mental health facility while studying in Australia. Kara joined the AMP lab to learn more about how mental illness plays a role in people’s daily effort and motivation. She plans on furthering her career in research and eventually going back to school to earn her Master’s in clinical psychology. Kara’s other hobbies include yoga, traveling, exploring the city of Boston, and spending time with friends and family.