People | FERN Lab

Alexis Brieant, Ph.D.

Lab Director (she/her)

Dr. Brieant is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychological Science at the University of Vermont. She received her B.A. in Psychology and French from SUNY Geneseo and her Ph.D. in Psychology at Virginia Tech. Prior to joining the faculty at UVM, she completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Yale University.

Dewey Hall 338 || alexis.brieant@uvm.edu

|| CV

Our Team

At FERN Lab we have a team of incredibly compassionate and hardworking members who have dedicated their time to our lab.

5242CAAE-A1FB-449D-AC80-743EFDB2881C - Emma Renwick_edited.png

Lab Manager

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Emma Renwick (they/them)

Emma is a senior majoring in Psychological Sciences and minoring in both Human Development and Family Studies and Special Education. They are passionate about youth mental health advocacy and community education, with an interest in the effects of interpersonal trauma on development. Emma plans on pursuing a graduate degree in clinical developmental psychology, focusing on the interaction between neurodiversity and early life adversity, and their effects on communication development. Outside of the lab, Emma spends much of their time working with children in the greater Burlington area, and is otherwise outside in nature or making art.

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Jenna Gonzalez (she/they)

Jenna is a senior majoring in Psychological Sciences and minoring in Human Development and Family Studies. They are interested in studying the impacts of childhood adversity in adults and children. Jenna plans on pursuing a path in clinical psychology focusing on the effects of childhood trauma. Outside of the lab Jenna is an active musician in the Burlington VT area.

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Emily Tan (she/her)

* bio coming soon*

Master's Student

Rachel Lamb (she/her)

Rachel is going into her third year at UVM and is majoring in Psychological Science with minors in Human Development and Jewish Studies. She loves working with kids and hopes to work with them in her future career, focusing on family relationships and adolescent mental health. If she isn't doing school work, you can find Rachel doing something outside- whether it's rock climbing, snowboarding, hiking, or just hanging out with friends at the beach.

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Lexie Divers (she/her)

Lexie is a junior at the University of Vermont, majoring in both Psychological Science and Dance. After UVM, she hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in clinical psychology. Outside of the lab, Lexie serves as a resident advisor and teaching assistant. She also enjoys teaching her cat, Twyla, new tricks.

Undergraduate Research Assistant

OV Poddar (he/him)

Avinabo (OV) is a junior at the University of Vermont majoring in Psychology with minors in Biology and Neuroscience. He is especially interested in how external stressors affect mental health and the application of this knowledge to overcome inequalities in the field of psychology. OV is considering pursuing a Ph.D. program in child clinical psychology after graduation. Outside of the lab, he is a sprinter on the track team at UVM and a peer mentor in the Honors College.