Colorado State University

Dr. Emily Merz

(she/her)

Principal Investigator/ Lab Director

Emily Merz, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Colorado State University. As a neuroscientist and licensed clinical psychologist, she directs the LEARN lab where she and her team study associations between socioeconomic inequality and the developing brain. She is particularly interested in the factors in children’s lives that promote resilience and effective strategies that reduce socioeconomic disparities in children’s health and development. Dr. Merz received her graduate degree at the University of Pittsburgh, completed her clinical internship at the University of California, San Diego, and completed postdoctoral training at Columbia University.  

Jordan Strack

(she/her)

Graduate Student

Jordan Strack is a fifth-year graduate student at Colorado State University. She is interested in studying the neurobiology of mental health, especially in high risk populations. She is particularly interested in the neural development of children experiencing chronic stress and how this may manifest as psychosis later in their lifetime. Jordan received her Bachelor of Science in neuroscience from Baylor University. Jordan can be contacted at jordan.strack@colostate.edu

Melissa Hansen

(she/her)

Graduate Student

Melissa Hansen is a fourth-year graduate student at Colorado State University. She is interested in studying the underlying mechanisms that contribute to the relationship between socioeconomic inequality and neurobiological and cognitive development in children. Melissa received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Baylor University and holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.

Lydia Jacobs

(she/her)

Graduate Student

Lydia Jacobs is a second-year graduate student at Colorado State University. She is interested in studying how childhood experiences and circumstances related to socioeconomic status affect brain development into early adulthood. She is also interested in exploring ways to alleviate or harness the neurodevelopmental outcomes that follow these childhood circumstances. Lydia received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Southern Utah University.