THE Stony Brook PIGMENT Lab
Our Team!
Our research team is dedicated to generating new knowledge that can inform interventions and policies aimed at improving the lives of adolescents. We use a variety of rigorous and innovative research methods, including surveys, interviews, and magnetic resonance imaging, to investigate topics such as social and emotional development, risky behavior, protective factors for mental health, and effective interventions for mental health problems.
Greg Perlman
Principal Investigator
Dr. Perlman is the principal investigator of PIGMENT. He received his Ph.D. in clinical psychology at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. For many years, he served as director of the ADEPT project at Stony Brook University. ADEPT, which stands for Adolescent Development of Emotion and Personality Traits, is an ongoing research study of adolescent development in 550 Long Island girls. His research with the ADEPT project and other projects has led to over 70 published studies in peer-reviewed journals, mainly about adolescent health and development.
Link to bibliography in PubMed: Link
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Dr. Perlman is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University. He prefers cats to dogs, but will pretend to be interested in your dog to be polite. He drinks a lot of coffee.
Alexandria (Allie) is the coordinator of the PIGMENT study. She graduated from Stony Brook University with a Bachelor's in Psychology and a Minor in Health, Medicine, and Society. Her plans for the future include pursuing further education in the field of Neuroscience and exploring various places abroad. Besides doing research, Allie can often be found reading books, gardening, singing, crafting, and enjoying the sunshine.
Alexandria Trepiccione
Study Coordinator
Krysta is the PIGMENT study's interviewer. She received her Master's in Social Work in 2023 and is certified as an equine assisted therapist. She loves all animals and has a rescued cat and dog of her own. She hopes to use her experience in research to contribute to the field of human-animal interactions and animal-assisted therapies. In her free time she likes walking dogs, listening to audiobooks, spending time outside or being by the water.
Krysta Roper
Study Interviewer
Inayah (Bibi) Gruberg has been a coordinator in the Translational And Clinical Epidemiology (TrACE) lab for the past year. She received her BA in psychology from SUNY Old Westbury in 2022 and graduated with a MA in psychology from Stony Brook University in 2024. She's previously worked on lab projects such as the Negative Valence Systems (NVS) lab, the Study for the Comprehensive Assessment of Lived Emotions (SCALE), and currently the Pediatric Imaging: Measuring Neuromelanin Trajectories (PIGMENT) lab. She loves cats, sour candy, and being a helpful team player! She hopes to further her education in the coming years to become a licensed practicing clinician. Her research interests broadly include psychometrics, assessment and diagnosis, and the mental health equity of Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC).
Inayah Gruberg
Study Coordinator
Mia is a third-year psychology major with a passion for reading, spending time with friends outdoors, attending Broadway musicals, and drawing. She aspires to earn a Psy.D. in clinical psychology and eventually open her own practice. Finally, she aims to live life to the fullest while making a meaningful impact by helping people through her work.
Mia Quiles
Research Assistant
Emma is a research assistant in the PIGMENT study. She plans to pursue a career as an X-Ray/ CT technician and will be applying to programs in the fall of 2025. In her free time, she enjoys watching hockey, going to the gym, and spending time with her cat and dogs.
Emma Trepiccione
Research Assistant
Bree is a Psychology major with a minor in Health, Medicine, and Society, graduating in Spring of 2026. In her free time, she enjoys reading, listening to music, and being outside! She loves traveling, hanging out with her friends and family, and spending time with her dogs.
Bree Cantone
Research Assistant
Sophia is a senior double majoring in Psychology (BA) and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, as well as a member of the Honors College. Outside of the classroom, Sophia works as an office specialist at the Center for Prevention and Outreach (CPO), and she is also an undergraduate clinical intern at the Krasner Psychological Center. She plans on pursuing a PhD or PsyD in Clinical Psychology, focusing on child and adolescent psychopathology and treatment.
Sophia Goodkin
Research Assistant
Grayson is a Junior double-majoring in psychology and anthropology to pursue a PhD and career in developmental psychology. Grayson has been with PIGMENT since August of 2024, and is thrilled to be continuing her work in the lab. In addition to working at PIGMENT, Grayson is a Research Assistant with Dr. Guardino's lab through the psychology department at Stony Brook University, Resident Assistant, avid jewelry collector, and coffee addict. Grayson's favorite parts of working at PIGMENT are the positive atmosphere and getting to know the participants!
Grayson Kaufman
Research Assistant
Sofia is a research assistant for the PIGMENT study. She will graduate from Stony Brook University in Spring 2026 with a Bachelor’s in Psychology BS and plans to further her education in graduate school. She enjoys playing volleyball and crafting in her free time.
Sofia Migliore
Research Assistant
Francesca is a Health Science major at Stony Brook University on the pre-nursing track. She is passionate about patient care and hopes to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. Outside of academics, Francesca enjoys playing piano and spending time with her friends and family.
Francesca Fortunato
Research Assistant
Gianna is a student at the University of Pittsburgh who intends to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and a certificate in the Conceptual Foundations of Medicine while on the Pre-Med track. She is expected to graduate from the University of Pittsburgh in 2028. Down the line, Gianna plans on attending Medical School and becoming a doctor. For fun, she enjoys going to the gym, spending time with friends and family, baking, drawing, and painting!
Gianna Trepiccione
Research Assistant
Hidayah is currently a Biology major and loves learning about psychology. In the future, she hopes to become a radiologist and positively impact people’s lives. In her free time, you’ll find Hidayah painting with oils, gardening, or enjoying a good book outdoors.
Hidayah Muhammad
Research Assistant
Eleanor is a Biochemistry and Psychology double major, graduating in May 2026. She is passionate about child and adolescent psychiatry and is interested in pursuing a career in medicine. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, photography, watching true crime, and exploring new places!
Eleanor Chin
Research Assistant
Malaika is a current Psychology major with a concentration in Physics and Chemistry
at Stony Brook University, graduating in May 2027. She hopes to attend medical school in the future and is interested in neuroscience and developmental psychology. In her free time, she enjoys reading, watching movies, and listening to music (she's a big Harry Styles fan)!
Malaika Safian
Research Assistant
​Sathwika is a psychology major with a keen interest in child psychology. She is passionate about understanding how children think, grow, and navigate their emotions, with the goal of making a meaningful impact through her work. After graduation, she plans on pursuing a Ph.D in Clinical Psychology. In her free time, Sathwika enjoys watching movies, spending quality time with friends and family, and listening to music.
Sathwika Sandiri
Research Assistant
Isabella is a junior at Stony Brook University, majoring in Psychology (B.S.) with concentrations in Chemistry and Biology. She has a strong interest in the fields of neuroscience and neuropsychology and plans to pursue a career that bridges these disciplines. Outside the classroom, Isabella serves as a Peer Educator at the Center for Prevention and Outreach, is a member of the Stony Brook Dance Team, and enjoys attending concerts and listening to music.
Isabella Mangan
Research Assistant
Former PIGMENT RAs
Where are they now?
Daniel is a medical student at NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine. His experience with PIGMENT has strengthened his passion for advancing medical knowledge and caring for patients, and he is excited to continue building on this foundation throughout his medical training.
Daniel Elias
Alumnus
Lauren is a current Master's student in the Stony Brook University Department of Psychology. She is interested in understanding how the interplay of social, environmental, and developmental factors contributes to internalizing psychopathology. Lauren is presently investigating these themes as the correlates and outcomes of social media use in young adulthood as a member of Dr. Daniel Klein's Developmental Psychopathology Lab. Lauren is also interning at the Krasner Psychological Center as an intake coordinator and is curious to explore more of her clinical interests.
Lauren Rothburd
Alumna
After Isha graduated from Stony Brook, she moved to Boston and is currently participating in a gap year program in dermatology, during which she is also applying to medical school.
Isha Patel
Alumna
After graduating from Stony Brook University this past May, Michelle began an accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Mount Sinai Phillips School of Nursing. It’s been a busy but incredibly rewarding transition, and she's excited to be taking this next step toward a career in healthcare.
Michelle Salas
Alumna
Since graduating from Stony Brook, Miao has started nursing school at Mount Sinai’s Phillips School of Nursing. So far, this new adventure has been academically challenging but also extremely rewarding. She is learning so much and making so many friends along the way. Miao deeply misses Allie, Greg, and the friends she made in the lab, but knows they will continue to do amazing things. PIGMENT was one of the most rewarding activities she participated in at Stony Brook and hopes future RAs and participants leave with a similar sentiment.
Miaoting Zhen
Alumna
Alumni:​
John, Radyson, Alisha, Skyla, Devi, Leena
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Current RAs:
John B, Atika
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Updates:
Mia, Allie