OUR LAB MEMBERS
Grishma Patel
Position within Lab: Research Assistant
When did you join the lab?: September 2018
Projects: Sugar Dating and Advocacy
Major/occupation/level of schooling: Neuroscience at NYU
Why’d you join the lab? I was drawn to this lab not only because I have always had an interests in women's health issues and the effects of gender based violence on individuals, but also because of its emphasis on weaving the research with advocacy efforts. I am a believer that research does not have to be independent of advocacy especially if that research can help to change someone's life in a positive way, and I am proud to say that this lab does just that.
Excited to see yourself do: As an aspiring physician, I hope to use what I have learned with the EMPOWER lab to shape my future practice, effectively helping to change how women's health issues are approached in medicine globally.
Fun fact: I am absolutely in love with plants, trees, and all other leafy things! I recently got to zipline through the Craggy Mountains in North Carolina and I do not think I will ever forget the views or the sound of the wind softly rustling the leaves. Maybe that obsession is a bit weird, but I blame my Mississippi roots.
Lameya Rahman
Position within the lab: Research Assistant
When did you join the lab? June 2021
Projects: Trauma-Informed Care, Homelessness, Male IPV
Major/occupation/level of schooling: Intending to Pursue a Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences, on the Pre-Health Track at Hunter College
Why’d you join the lab? I joined the Empower Lab because I am incredibly inspired by this lab’s mission to approach the issue of gender-based violence through a scientific approach. It is critical to see research mixed in with advocacy efforts to help deal with many of the public health issues in our society today.
Excited to see yourself do: I am excited to be a part of a dedicated and passionate team of individuals while we work together to better understand SGBV. I also look forward to building my research skills and understanding ways to apply research to improve health inequities that significantly impacts the lives of many individuals.
Fun fact: I’ve rescued a baby pigeon and watched it learn how to fly!
Lisa Pardee (She/Her)
Position within the lab: Associate Director of Research, Team Leader for Asylum
When did you join the lab? June 2022
Projects: Trauma-Informed Care, EMPOWER Clinic
Major/occupation/level of schooling: Pursuing a B.S. in Global Public Health and Biology at New York University
Why’d you join the lab? I am passionate about and strongly align with Empower Lab’s emphasis on calling attention towards the intersection of gender-based violence and immigrant Americans. As someone who has many family members in Nicaragua, some of whom have immigrated to U.S., I am aware of the extent to which SGBV related issues not only effects individuals in Nicaragua, but for immigrant populations in the United States. The Empower Lab’s mission and research will allow me to be better equipped to advocate for and evoke change for this population as well as others who have been impacted by SGBV.
Excited to see yourself do: My prior experience has been with qualitative and quantitative data entry, so I am excited to learn and acquire more essential skills throughout the research process such as data analysis and manuscript writing. I also hope to expand my knowledge on how to advocate for SGBV related issues, and acquire skills that will make me better equip me for my future career in public health.
Fun Fact: I became Barista certified during quarantine for the purpose of being able to make myself and friends fun and quality drinks!
Mary Dada
Position within the lab: Associate Director of Research, Team Leader for Advocacy
When did you join the lab? June 2022
Projects: Advocacy, Male IPV
Major/occupation/level of schooling: Pursuing a B.Sc. in Global Public Health and Biology at NYU on the pre-med track
Why’d you join the lab? I joined the Empower Lab because I was drawn to the value of intersectionality that informs and guides the research that the lab conducts. I was so excited to see relevant and important public health research be influenced by this important topic that also influences my desire to study public health and become a physician. Additionally, I joined the lab because I connected with its emphasis on advocacy surrounding issues of gender-based violence, and using research findings to empower those directly impacted by these problems.
Excited to see yourself do: I am excited to see myself develop skills in hypothesis generation and advocacy-related writing. I am also excited to continually learn more about SGBV and ways in which I can contribute to bringing about change.
Fun fact: My unofficial love language is food!
Omnia Soliman (She/Her)
Position within the lab: Associate Director of Research, Team Leader of Male IPV team
When did you join the lab? June 2022
Projects: Male IPV, Sugar Dating
Major/occupation/level of schooling: Pursuing a BS in Global Public Health and Biology at NYU on the premed track
Why’d you join the lab? After volunteering with Sanctuary for Families and seeing how women and children were affected by domestic violence, I discovered a passion for work that supports and aids those affected by SGBV. As a North African woman, I’ve always seen how deeply entrenched SGBV is in my country and I developed a personal interest in the topic as well. I was so excited to see the Empower Lab does amazing research and work in this field, and I wanted to join a lab where I could combine my personal and professional interests. I strongly admire the work done in the Empower Lab, and I hope I can keep learning and contributing to support women affected as well as advocate for them!
Excited to see yourself do: I’m excited to learn a lot about the public health research process from start to finish and specifically to develop the hard and soft skills that pertain to women’s health research. I hope to be a pediatrician in the future, so learning more about SGBV work and research will equip me with knowledge I’d like to use in a career caring and advocating for marginalized groups.
Fun fact: I love cooking and watching Egyptian soap operas!
Yasmin Hung
Position within the lab: Research Assistant
When did you join the lab? September 2022
Projects: Male IPV, Trauma Informed Care
Major/occupation/level of schooling: Pursuing a BSN in Nursing at New York University
Why’d you join the lab? As a future healthcare provider, I understand the importance of trauma-informed care and the pervading healthcare disparity for groups like womxn of color. I decided to join Empower Lab because I wanted to help further under researched areas of public health. I also want to better learn how to support survivors as a healthcare provider through trauma-informed and patient-centered care. Just as important, I wanted to be part of a lab that valued diversity, thus I love that I will have the opportunity to work with people pursuing such different fields of academic interests yet are allT passionate about SGBV research.
Excited to see yourself do: I’m excited to become more acquainted with the world of public health research, especially learning more about SGBV. I’m also excited to join a team of individuals who have similar passions and the drive to further SGBV research and advocacy.
Fun Fact: I started crocheting during the pandemic!
Nicole Munoz
Position within the lab: Research Assistant
When did you join the lab? Spring 2023
Projects: Male IPV, Asylum/TIC
Major/occupation/level of schooling: Pursuing a B.S. in Global Public Health & Biology with a minor in Social Entrepreneurship
Why’d you join the lab? I joined the Empower Lab due to my strong desire to get involved in public health research, as I would love to gain a new perspective that I can implement for the rest of my medical career. I found it interesting how lab members worked to question established healthcare constructs like that of screenings health care systems used to investigate gender-based violence perpetrated among men. I also appreciated not only the diversity of sexual health topics being investigated but also the lab’s commitment to empowerment by having a predominantly female team. Throughout my life, reproductive health and the importance of gender equity has been a recurring theme, which is why I decided to join in order to better comprehend my lived experiences and future aspirations.
Excited to see yourself do: I hope that by analyzing data and learning how to interpret those findings, I am able to adopt a more holistic perspective and understanding of trauma and SGBV as a whole. I’m eager to familiarize myself with the intricacies of the lab’s mission in order to grow into a more well-rounded individual and professional as well.
Fun Fact: I have a Bichon Frise puppy named Astro after the Houston Astros Baseball team!
Annette Milu
Position within the lab: Research Assistant
When did you join the lab? May 2023
Projects: Male IPV, Empower Clinic
Major/occupation/level of schooling: Pursuing a B.A. in Global Public Health with a concentration in Anthropology.
Why’d you join the lab? I joined the lab because of its commitment to researching the healthcare needs of survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) through an intersectional lens. As a Kenyan immigrant, I’ve been unfortunately exposed to the high prevalence of SGBV in my home country, particularly female genital mutilation (FGM). Consequently, I’ve developed a strong passion for addressing health disparities and advocating for equitable maternal and women’s health. Through the Empower Lab, I’m eager to gain a lot of invaluable knowledge and transferable skills to make myself become a better advocate for those impacted by SGBV.
Excited to see yourself do: I’m excited to gain relevant experience in public health research and improve my skills in data collection and analysis. Additionally, I’m grateful to work and be a part of a motivated team that shares a similar passion for sexual and gender based violence advocacy.
Fun Fact: I love learning languages! I’m currently learning Arabic and hope to be fluent soon!
Sophia Onadja
Position within the lab: Research Assistant
When did you join the lab? Fall 2023
Projects: Advocacy, EMPOWER Clinic
Major/occupation/level of schooling: Pursuing an MPH in Global Health at NYU
Why’d you join the lab? I was immediately drawn to the lab because of their research surrounding gender-based violence, sugaring, and sex trafficking. I strongly desire to work towards the healing and empowerment of others. Previously, I’ve worked directly with commercially sexually exploited children and witnessed the importance of confidence, safety, and self-esteem in restorative pathways to healing. I aim to expand my knowledge and expertise in this area by collaborating with folks who are conducting this transformative research.
Excited to see yourself do: I'm excited to be actively engaging in research on these topics. I'm looking forward to gaining expertise in various areas, including hypothesis generation and development, crafting advocacy materials, building manuscript writing skills, and enhancing my quantitative data analysis abilities within SGBV research.
Fun Fact: I lived in my father’s hometown Niamey, Niger for the first year of my life.
Berfin Guzel
Position within the lab: Research Assistant
When did you join the lab? Fall 2023
Projects: Sugar Dating, Trauma & Pregnancy
Major/occupation/level of schooling: Pre-med at NYU Tandon studying Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (Junior)
Why’d you join the lab? As an international student from middle-east and a woman in STEM, I always seek to be part of a multidisciplinary environment where people from different backgrounds can present their unique views to reach a long-term solution. The diverse student body of the lab, as well as the way they approach the intersection between sexual and gender-based violence and health, is a valuable opportunity that perfectly aligns with my aspirations as a future physician. The step-by-step methodology used in the lab, from literature reviews to quantitative analysis, makes the findings not only credible but also sustainable, both of which are essential to address SGBV.
Excited to see yourself do: Having a background in engineering and being a part of wet lab and dry lab experiments, I can’t wait to contribute to the quantitative analysis aspect of the projects while learning more about project development and manuscript writing!
Fun Fact: After studying abroad in Australia, Antarctica is now the only continent that I haven’t been to!
Kate Tolleson
Position within the lab: Research Assistant
When did you join the lab: Spring 2024
Projects: Trauma & Pregnancy, EMPOWER Clinic
Major/occupation/level of schooling: M1 at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. BS in Chemical Engineering with a minor in psychology from Clemson University in 2022. MS in Applied Health Research and Evaluation from Clemson University in 2023.
Why’d you join the lab? I am planning to become an OB/GYN physician and am specifically interested in maternal-fetal medicine. I hope to gain skills in research and teamwork through the Empower Lab that will prepare me to be a leader of research in the field in my future career. I also hope to learn more about sexual and gender based violence, trauma in pregnancy, and other areas of women’s health so that I can provide the best care to my future patients. I also have a lot of previous experience in mentoring roles and am very interested in learning more about women’s health topics so that I can work to empower and support women throughout my career.
Excited to see yourself do: I’m most excited to learn about female asylum seekers and how trauma affects pregnancy. I have a lot of previous experience working with pregnant people- I currently volunteer as a birth doula- and I deeply understand how intertwined mental health and pregnancy can be. Additionally, since moving to NYC I have been very interested in learning more about the migrant crisis and how to best support the many women and pregnant people who are coming to New York for refuge. These topics will both teach me so much that I will be able to take with me into my future practice, and I’m excited to continue learning more.
Fun Fact: I am a big lover of fantasy books and I am currently reading the Throne of Glass series!!
Jennifer Wu
Position within the lab: Research Assistant
When did you join the lab: Spring 2024
Projects: Empower Clinic, Trauma and Teen Pregnancy
Major/occupation/level of schooling: Undergraduate student in the College of Arts and Sciences at NYU, pursuing a B.A. in Biology
Why’d you join the lab? As an aspiring OB/GYN, the lab’s values perfectly reflected my own career goals to not only provide marginalized women with comprehensive reproductive care, but also advocate for a more equitable female healthcare system in a way I have not seen in any other lab. I loved the lab’s interdisciplinary approach of combining the clinical and public health policy spheres to destigmatize sexual and gender-based violence, as science and advancing accessible reproductive healthcare are the two issues I am most passionate about.
Excited to see yourself do: I am incredibly excited to delve into and better understand the complexity of the intersection between SGBV and marginalized identities, whether in relation to socioeconomic, immigration, or housing status. I am also excited to gain more qualitative analysis skills, work on manuscript writing, project development, and get to know everyone in the lab!
Fun Fact: I love collaging and scrapbooking!
Sarika Vura
Position within the lab: Research Assistant
When did you join the lab: Summer 2024
Projects: Trauma & Pregnancy, Empower Clinic Team
Major/occupation/level of schooling: MPH at NYU, Concentration in social and behavioral sciences
Why’d you join the lab? I was drawn to the EMPOWER Lab because of its focus on gender-based violence and intimate partner violence, which reflected my own commitment to combating these pressing issues. The lab's multidisciplinary approach fosters innovation and collaboration, which I think are crucial for developing sustainable solutions in this field. My graduate studies have deepened my interest in addressing health disparities, particularly within marginalized communities, and the lab provides me with the ideal platform to both learn and contribute effectively.
Excited to see yourself do: I'm excited about delving into the complex dynamics between trauma and pregnancy, and equally excited about collaborating with the EMPOWER Clinic. I have always had a keen interest in women's health and I'm eager to uncover how diverse factors interact to impact pregnancies. But most of all, I'm looking forward to contributing to research that addresses crucial societal issues while nurturing my own growth as a healthcare professional.
Fun Fact: I can speak 4 languages!
Angelina Gorbea
Position within the Lab: Research Assistant
When did you join the lab: Spring 2024
Projects: TIC/Asylum, Advocacy
Major/occupation/level of schooling Undergraduate student in NYU’s College of Arts and Sciences majoring in Global Public Health and Biology and minoring in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Studies
Why’d you join the lab? The inspiring mission and efforts of the NYU Empower lab greatly resonate with my passion for expanding proper representation, research, and protection for marginalized and low-income individuals, supporting patients and families in receiving individualized care, and fostering better representation, patient-provider relationships, and cultural competence in trauma-based care. I’m most particularly interested in pursuing a career in psychiatry or psychiatric epidemiology for these reasons. I am passionate about exploring the research component of epidemiology, and how scientific findings and expanded clinical knowledge about sexual and gender-based violence can be applied to the way we approach subsequent clinical and mental health services. I am driven to pursue a career in public health to work closely with my communities as a mixed-race woman, and am particularly passionate about expanding awareness, understanding, and better services for sexual violence victims in marginalized communities.
Excited to see yourself do: I am excited to strengthen my experience with narrative and literature review writing and my data analysis skills!
Fun Fact: