SBSB Fellows

Aleah Brown is a postbaccalaureate fellow working with Dr. Bobby Cheon to investigate socioeconomic and psychological influences on eating behavior. Her current research interests are internalizing behavior and mood disorders and family/parenting psychology in minority populations. Previous research experiences include work in psychology and art, nutritional neuroscience, sleep, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and social anxiety. She graduated from Spelman College with a degree in psychology and a concentration in neuroscience. Following her fellowship, she hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in clinical or counseling psychology.

Zoe Chang is a postbaccalaureate fellow working with Dr. Stephen Gilman. Her research interests include investigating the etiology of internalizing disorders in disadvantaged populations and health disparities in mental health. She graduated from Hunter College - City University of New York with a B.A. in clinical psychology and is looking to pursue a Ph.D. in clinical psychology.

Allison Choe is a postbaccalaureate fellow working with Dr. Tonja Nansel on research examining dietary behavior in pregnancy and early childhood. She is interested in child and adolescent mental health, addressing health disparities, and behavioral interventions in health care. She graduated from the University of Michigan in 2023 with a major in biopsychology, cognition, and neuroscience and a minor in community action and social change. After her fellowship, she hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in clinical psychology.

Amara Channell Doig, Ph.D., M.P.H. is a postdoctoral fellow working with Dr. Tonja Nansel on examining dietary behavior in pregnancy and early childhood. Her research examines parenting practices and child diet quality. Her previous work includes research on health disparities and culture in infant feeding. She earned an M.P.H. from The George Washington University in 2015 and a Ph.D. in behavioral and community health from the University of Maryland in 2023.

Nitya Kari is a postbaccalaureate fellow working with Drs. Bobby Cheon and Julia Bittner, examining socioeconomic influences on health behaviors and outcomes among women and children. Her previous research focused on the impacts of health policy and exposure to stigmatizing messaging on health disparities among sexual and gender minority populations. She graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2024 with a B.A. in medicine, health, and society as well as minors in data science and South Asian language and culture. Following her fellowship, she hopes to pursue an M.P.H. or a Ph.D. in health policy or social and behavioral science.

Julia M.P. Bittner, Ph.D., M.P.H., is a postdoctoral fellow working with Dr. Bobby Cheon. Her research investigates the ways in which objective and subjective social disadvantages impact health behaviors (e.g., eating practices) and produce inequitable health outcomes in women and children. She also focuses on identifying interventions to diminish the influence of these disadvantages and promote positive health practices. She studied epidemiologic science at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, earning an M.P.H. in 2017 and a Ph.D. in 2021.

Matt Siroty is a postbaccalaureate fellow working with Dr. Bobby Cheon, examining psychological influences on eating behaviors. His previous research focused on disparities and attitudes affecting eating behaviors and factors contributing to suicidal ideation in sexual minority populations. Following his fellowship, he hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in clinical or counseling psychology. He graduated from the College of William & Mary with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in kinesiology and health sciences.

Andre Tulloch is a postbaccalaureate fellow working with Dr. Stephen Gilman, investigating the effects of social and environmental factors during the prenatal period on children’s neurodevelopment. His research examines eating and other health trajectories among Black adolescents. Other research interests include carceral health and the school-to-prison pipeline. He has prior experience studying adolescent development and friendship as well as the implications of heavy policing for adolescents, specifically regarding the likelihood of experiencing of trauma. He earned his bachelor’s degree, with distinction, in social justice studies from the University of Rochester in 2023. After his fellowship, he hopes to attain his M.D. or M.P.H.