Nicole is a psychology intern specializing in developmental disabilities at UCLA’s Semel Institute. She completed her B.A. in psychology at the University of Illinois, Chicago with a minor in criminal justice. Nicole completed her M.A. in clinical psychology at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas where she is currently a doctoral candidate in clinical psychology. Her clinical and research interests both lie in the area of pediatric neuropsychology, particularly the early assessment of developmental disabilities. She has extensive clinical experience in this area, and has worked in private practice settings as well as a neonatal developmental follow-up clinic at a children’s hospital in Nevada. Her future goals include continuing to practice clinically, and to obtain board certification, as a neuropsychologist specializing in pediatrics and to possibly pursue research in the area of neuropsychological profiles of children with Autism. Nicole’s doctoral dissertation focused on the differential diagnostic power of an MMPI-2 subscale with regard to traumatic brain injury, somatoform disorders, and malingering.

Alexander is a psychology intern specializing in developmental disabilities at the UCLA NPI. He moved to United States from Russia when he was 16 years old. He completed his B.A. degree in Psychology from UCLA and graduate with high honors, summa cum laude. While working on his undergraduate degree at UCLA, he was trained by Dr. Ivar Lovaas at the Lovaas Institute for Early Intervention in discrete trial therapy for Autism Spectrum Disorders. Before he started his graduate program at PGSP-Stanford Consortium Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, he worked at Specialized Health Services Inc., as a counselor with adults with developmental disability and co-morbid mental illnesses. During his graduate program he worked with children, adolescents and their families at Stanford Psychiatry and Kaiser Permanente Child Psychiatry. In addition, he received externship training at Palo Alto VA Hospital and other community mental health organizations working with adult dealing with mental health issues. He also received his Masters degree in Clinical psychology for PGSP-Stanford. During his graduate training he was involved with research on terrorism with Dr. Philip Zimbardo, and was involved as a teacher assistant with Dr. David Burns (CBT) and Dr. Keith Humphreys (Program Evaluation). His dissertation was focused on comparative predictive ability of functional and structural neuroimaging and behavioral assessments for developmental pathology in children. Currently, Alexander’s research interests include prediction, intervention and clinical studies of adolescence and transition into young adulthood in individuals with Aspergers/High Functioning Autism, Anxiety and Depression.

Jennifer is a psychology intern specializing in developmental disabilities at the UCLA NPI. She completed her B.S. in psychology and B.A. in Spanish with a minor in Linguistics at the University of Florida. Jennifer has earned her M.S. in clinical psychology from Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, where she is now currently pursuing her doctoral degree in clinical psychology. She has experience working with children and families through agencies dedicated to promoting the success of individuals with developmental disabilities, including Easter Seals and Achievement and Rehabilitation Centers, Inc. Jennifer’s research interests include promoting early intervention, improving accessibility to mental health treatment, and increasing collaboration between the public school system, governmental agencies, and mental health service providers. Her doctoral dissertation focuses on the identification and referral of children for treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.