Team Members

Nina is a research intern that joined the team in 2024. She is a current sophomore at UW-Madison and double majoring in English and biology. As a member of the SMAHRT Team, she is interested in some of the positive opportunities and implications that social media has to offer.

Maggie Cooper is the communications lead on SMAHRT and joined the team in 2018. Maggie is working on a project using LIWC, a text analysis software, and disseminating information about SMAHRT's work and programs. She is interested in bridging the gap between researchers and the general public.

Simi is a research intern that joined the team in August 2024. Simi is a senior majoring in microbiology and is excited to study the effects of social media and internet use on adolescents, with a strong interest in studying demographic characteristics that may make an individual more susceptible to stress, anxiety, and depression due to social media and internet use.

Isabel Garlough-Shah is a communications intern that joined the SMAHRT Team in 2022. Isabel majored in journalism and mass communications and gender and women studies. She is interested in studying social media research, strategic communication, and feminist theory.

Matt is a communications intern that joined the team in 2024. Matt is majoring in Journalism and Data Science. He is interested in studying psychology and environmental studies.

Abby is a student at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Abby is a research intern on the SMAHRTeam. She is interested in the relationship between social media use and social anxiety for adolescents and is excited to learn more through her independent project.

Junnie joined the SMAHRT Team in early 2024. She is a sophomore at Brown University pursuing a self-made major in Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood. As a high school sex-ed teacher and EMT on the side, Junnie is passionate about adolescent mental, physical, and sexual health. She is excited to identify and promote healthy ways for teens to navigate social media through her research with SMAHRT.

Brad joined SMAHRT in 2011 as a research coordinator. He has worked on several projects related to adolescents’ health displays on social media and is currently leading an intervention study. With a Master’s in Higher Education Administration, Brad also focuses on educational initiatives, including working with a team of undergraduate interns in supporting the research of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine division faculty.

Joelle is a communications intern that joined the team in 2024. Joelle is majoring in journalism and strategic communication. She is interested in exploring the intersection of social media usage and mental health, along with enhancing communication between researchers and the broader community.

Chelsea Olson is a SMAHRT scientist that joined the team in 2022. Chelsea is working on the SMAHRT study TYAH and is interested in studying adolescent involvement in cyberstalking on social media and associated mental health outcomes.

Kyle joined SMAHRT in June of 2024. He graduated from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota with a B.A. in Psychology. With a research background in Social Media Addiction and Sleep, Kyle is excited to continue pursuing similar research here at SMAHRT

Avery joined SMAHRT in November of 2022. She has a B.A. in Psychology and Spanish and Hispanic Studies from Earlham College and is a former elementary school teacher. Avery is interested in the relationship between mental health, behavior, and social media use among adolescents. Avery is the staff lead for SMAHRT's contributions to the American Academy of Pediatrics Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health. She is also passionate about providing research experiences to youth through SMAHRT's Health Behaviors Youth Advisory Board and Summer Research Scholars programs.

Gage is a research intern that joined the team in 2023. Gage is majoring in biology and is interested in studying pediatrics, dentistry, and mental health. Gage is currently coding on the B3 project as well as running an independent project investigating oral health care on social media.

​​Lily Stratman is a research intern that joined the team in 2024. Lily is majoring in Biology and interested in studying the effects social media has on adolescents’ health and wellbeing, as well as being a part of the B3 project. Lily is excited to learn and contribute to the team as she continues her pursuit of a career in medicine!​

Emma is a research intern that joined the SMAHRT team in 2024. Emma is a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is majoring in Psychology with a certificate in Criminal Justice. Emma is interested in studying the impact of social media usage on adolescent self-esteem and other aspects of well-being.

Ethan Yu is a research intern that joined the team in 2024. He is majoring in statistics and data science, interested in studying the way data plays a role in our society and economy.