Current Graduate Students
Maria Casteigne
Maria is a fifth-year Ph.D. student working with Dr. Laurie O’Brien and Dr.
Damian Murray. She earned her B.A. in psychology at Le Moyne College and her M.A. in experimental psychology at the University of Dayton. Her research interests include perceptions of parents, parental motivations, and discrimination judgements. If you would like to know more about Maria’s work, please email her at
mmusumeci@tulane.edu, or see her
CV.
Nieve Mahood
Nieve is a second-year Ph.D. student in Dr. O’Brien’s lab. She earned her B.A. in psychology from SUNY Geneseo. Her research interests include the marginalization of women, stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination. If you would like to learn more about Nieve, check out her LinkedIn or please email her at nmahood@tulane.edu.
India Polacek
India Polacek is a Behavioral Health Master’s student in Tulane’s School of Science and Engineering, and received her B.S. in psychology and cognitive studies from also Tulane in Spring 2026. She has been working in Dr. O ‘Brien’s Lab since her junior year, beginning first as a volunteer, developing into an undergraduate RA, and is now a graduate RA. Her research interests lie at the intersection of clinical psychology, social systems, diverse identities, neurodevelopmental populations, and implementation science. India hopes to become a clinical psychologist to one day practice and contribute to psychology research. She can be reached at ipolacek@tulane.edu or via
Linkedin.
Current Undergraduate Students
Aliana Dellarocco
Aliana Dellarocco is a senior at Tulane University, graduating in 2027, pursuing a triple major in Psychology, Public Health, and Cognitive Studies. She is passionate about exploring the intersection of psychology and public health, with a focus on applying psychological research to health equity and child advocacy. After graduation, Aliana plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. Feel free to reach out at adellarocco@tulane.edu You can learn more about her through her resume, and connect with her on LinkedIn.
Luciana Delgado González
Luciana Delgado González is a senior at Tulane University pursuing a B.S. in Psychology and Health & Wellness with a minor in Sociology (expected graduation December 2026). Her research interests include mental health, health disparities, and how social and psychological factors influence perceptions, behaviors, and healthcare outcomes. After graduation, Luciana plans to complete a post-baccalaureate premedical program before attending medical school, where she hopes to integrate her background in psychology and research into a career in medicine. She can be reached at ldelgado1@tulane.edu.
