Our Team

Meet the dedicated researchers and staff behind the SHARE Study. Our team brings together expertise in developmental psychology, neuroscience, public health, and lived experience.

Principal Investigator

Dr. Emily Hotez, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine & Fielding School of Public Health

Research Director, UC-LEND Program

Dr. Emily Hotez (she/her) is the director of the SHARE study and a professor and researcher at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine and Fielding School of Public Health. She also serves as the Research Director for the UC-LEND program, which trains future leaders in neurodiversity.

She conducts both national and international studies focused on supporting the health, well-being, and long-term thriving of autistic people of all ages. Dr. Hotez’s research is grounded in partnership—she works closely with autistic people, families, and communities to ensure that research reflects their needs, goals, and lived experiences.

As the sister of an autistic adult, this work is both personally and professionally meaningful to her. Dr. Hotez has a Ph.D. in developmental psychology. In her free time, she likes traveling, reading, and exploring Los Angeles!

Researchers:

Graduate & Postdoctoral Researchers Undergraduate Research Assistants SHARE Lab Alumni

Graduate & Postdoctoral Researchers

Beverly Yang

Yixin (Beverly) Yang (she/her) is a Ph.D. student studying in Mental and Psychiatric Epidemiology at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health. Her research focuses on mental health, health disparities, and clinical outcomes, with an emphasis on population-based psychiatric epidemiology.

She has contributed to research on disorders of gut–brain interaction, mental health disparities, and patient education, with publications in peer-reviewed journals. She is particularly interested in learning from the SHARE Lab’s community-partnered, strengths-based research approach that centers autistic individuals’ lived experiences and supports long-term well-being.

Lanxin Song

Lanxin Song (she/her) is a PhD candidate in Epidemiology at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health and a Graduate Researcher at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine. Her research interests include environmental epidemiology and reproductive & developmental health.

For the SHARE study, Lanxin helped operationalize REDCap surveys, set up SOP, and train student researchers in study protocols. She is excited to be part of the SHARE team and to contribute to research that supports the well-being of autistic individuals and their families.

Itay Ricon-Becker

Itay Ricon-Becker, PhD (he/him) is a biobehavioral scientist whose work in social genomics examines how social and behavioral factors shape gene expression relevant to immune function, inflammation, and long-term physical and mental health.

He recently completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at the Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology at the UCLA Semel Institute and holds a PhD in Psychoneuroimmunology, with expertise in clinical trials, transcriptomics, RNA-seq analysis, and longitudinal biomarker research.

As a collaborator with the SHARE Lab, Itay supports the use of TASSO devices for minimally invasive, at-home dried blood spot collection. This approach makes biological sampling more accessible and participant-friendly, in keeping with the lab’s community-partnered, strengths-based research.

Undergraduate Research Assistants

Adithi Nayak

Adithi (she/her) is a fourth year Molecular, Cell, & Developmental Biology major. Her volunteer experiences supporting autistic youth and working in cardiology inspired her interest in investigating how chronic stress influences cardiometabolic health in neurodivergent populations.

Through the SHARE-Bio study, she is excited to contribute to neuroaffirming research that advances the understanding of the connections between stress and physical health in autistic adolescents and young adults. In the future, Adithi hopes to pursue a career as a pediatric cardiologist, providing research-informed, compassionate clinical care to improve long term health outcomes for children and families.

Tanvi Deshmukh

Tanvi (she/her) is a third-year psychobiology major interested in the intersection between physiology and mental health in neurodivergent populations. She hopes to become a physician in pediatric psychiatry, serving children and families in underserved communities. She is excited to contribute to the SHARE study to interact with patient populations and learn about societal effects on health!

Grace En-Tsz Lee

Grace is a third-year Psychobiology major. Her research interests include adolescent development, social support, and the ways in which social and environmental experiences influence health and well-being. Her previous research experience in developmental neuroscience has strengthened her interest in understanding how biological and social factors interact to shape development.

She is excited to be a part of the SHARE Lab and to further develop her skills in participant-based research while learning more about social determinants of health. In the future, Grace hopes to pursue a career in healthcare and contribute to research that improves health outcomes and quality of care.

Kathleen Hue

Kathleen (she/her) is a first-year Public Health major. Her research interests include health disparities, pediatrics, and mental health. She hopes to become a physician and combine clinical care with research. She is extremely grateful to be in the SHARE lab and excited to contribute to research that promotes more informed care and support to autistic individuals and their families.

Jaden Jackson

Jaden (he/him) is a fourth-year Psychology major. His research interests center on autistic populations during pivotal transitional periods in life, such as adolescence through young adulthood. Additionally, he hopes to help expand this field of research to include more under-researched racial minorities, and how the intersection of these identities can impact psychological life outcomes. Jaden plans to pursue a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology and aspires to serve as a clinical counselor to give back to his community in California.

Gillian Labastida

Gillian (she/her) is a nurse and pre-med student. Her research interests focus on using evidence-based practice to transform the treatment of neurodivergent individuals in healthcare settings. Before returning to school, she spent six years as an ICU nurse and hopes to become a physician providing holistic, compassionate care in international and humanitarian settings. She is thrilled to bring her medical background to bridge the gap between clinical research and patient-centered support for the neurodivergent community.

Andrea Reji

Andrea (she/her) is a third-year Psychobiology major with a minor in Global Health. Her research interests focus on mental health and the effects of stress on the brain. She aspires to become a physician, with a commitment to serving underserved communities and building long-term relationships with her patients. Andrea is especially passionate about contributing to research that promotes neurodiversity-affirming practices and improves quality of life.

Josie Rose

Josie (she/her) graduated from UCLA in 2025 with a major in Neuroscience and a minor in the History of Science, Medicine, and Technology. Her research interests focus on mental health, especially in under-researched populations. She hopes to become a physician and establish continuity of care with her future patients. She is most excited about contributing to research that provides clarity and understanding to the autistic community, caregivers, and providers.