Meet the incoming Clinical Science graduate students
August 7, 2025 - Shelly DeJong
A warm welcome to the new graduate students who are joining the Department of Psychology at MSU this month. Fiona Guo, Kristen Johnson, Logan Gillenwater, Sarah Jones, and Sydney Damon will be joining the Clinical Science research area. Get to know them a bit below!
Name: Fiona (Ziyi) Guo (she/her)
Hometown: Beijing, China (I’ve been studying in the U.S. since middle school.)
Education: BA in Psychology from The George Washington University and an MA in Clinical Psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University.
Why grad school: I hope to advance awareness and change the conversation around perinatal mental health by conducting rigorous research paired with inclusive clinical training.
What do you hope to study when you’re here? My research interests center on maternal and perinatal mental health, including cultural influences and early parent-infant interactions. I’m committed to advancing culturally responsive research that brings awareness to the complexity and fluctuations of the perinatal period and the diverse experiences of families.
Hobbies: I enjoy going to pilates, growing green onions, and hiking.
Name: Kristen M. Johnson (she/her)
Hometown: I was born and raised in Lubbock, TX but have spent the last 14 years living and working in Chicago, IL (which feels more like my hometown at this point).
Background: I received my B.A. in Psychology and Theatre from Carleton College before moving to work as a theatre and film director in Chicago, IL. During that time, I also worked as a theatre teaching artist at city schools and behavior support specialist for children with neurodevelopmental differences. That work helped me realize I wanted to pivot to a career in psychology. I enrolled in Northwestern University’s post-baccalaureate program in Clinical Psychology and joined several labs on campus. After finishing that program, I continued conducting research with the Narrative Lab at University at Buffalo-SUNY before enrolling in the University of Chicago’s master program in Psychology, which I graduated from this year.
Why grad school? I have always loved learning and knew I would likely return to higher education after getting my B.A. However, the real reason for grad school is pretty pragmatic: only a Clinical Psychology PhD program would afford me the training and education needed to serve the populations I hope to help in both a clinical and research capacity.
What do you hope to research while you're here? I am incredibly excited to continue my research in narrative identity through work with Dr. Cowan’s lab, while also extending those methods to populations that are being served in other labs such as Dr. Ingersoll’s Lab. I see narrative identity research as a valuable tool for clinical research that is especially beneficial for neurodiverse populations.
In your free time, what do you like to do? I love to garden, travel, and cook/try new foods. I’m also always down for a day at the museum, trip to the theatre, or a good hike in nature.
Name: Logan Gillenwater (he/him)
Hometown: Ellettsville, IN
Background: I graduated from Indiana University with a BS in Clinical Psychological Science. After graduating, I worked as a research project manager and grant writer at Indiana University School of Medicine for the Adolescent Behavioral Health Research Program.
Why grad school? I am going to graduate school to further my training as a clinical scientist. I aspire to work as a principal investigator at either a traditional university or academic medical center, where I can lead research projects investigating the developmental origins of externalizing psychopathology in adolescence.
What do you hope to research? I am interested in investigating DNA methylation as a mechanism by which environmental exposures, such as lead and green space, influence psychological development in adolescence and, consequently, the development of psychopathology. Under the advisement of Dr. Alex Burt, I plan to leverage a variety of behavioral genetics methods toward this aim. I believe this research will deepen our understanding of the etiology of psychopathology and inform future approaches for classification, intervention, and prevention.
In your free time, what do you like to do?
I like being outside, particularly on my bike. Lately, I have taken up bikepacking, which blends my love of cycling with the joy of camping. I enjoy cooking and am always eager to learn new recipes. I am also an avid reader, though I never seem able to make my way through my ever-growing book collection.
Name: Sarah Jones (she/her)
Hometown: Williamston, MI (most recently)
Education: Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Minors in Cognitive Science and French
Work background: Lab Administrator at MSU, and previously a Writer/Editor/Hiring Manager at a writing company
Why grad school? Because knowledge gained through science helps people live better lives. That, and a history of incessantly asking "Why?" narrowed down my career options drastically!
What do you hope to research while you're here? I intend to research the relationships between ovarian hormones, genes, hormone sensitivity, and the development and life course of psychopathology, particularly in women. I was drawn to this niche because of how understudied women's experiences are in different life stages in general, and the complementary scope of impact. I also believe that the extensive influence of gonadal hormones on development, mood, cognitive function, and overall health is something to be respected and studied more closely in both males and females.
In your free time, what do you like to do? I enjoy reading high fantasy and humanist sci-fi, watching movies, biking with my dog, taking up-close photos of insects, playing Zelda, and spending time with my partner, friends, and family.
Name: Sydney Damon (she/her)
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
Background: I have a B.S. in psychology from the University of Pittsburgh. I first became involved in research as an undergraduate, studying the impact of acute psychological stress on mitochondrial DNA. Following graduation, I knew I had fallen in love with research and so I accepted a 3-year position at the University of Pittsburgh coordinating two studies! The first was a mindfulness intervention trial and the second was a longitudinal study investigating health outcomes. During this time, I also volunteered to conduct cognitive interviews for scale development on pregnant individuals facing food insecurity and worked on several independent research projects focused on disordered eating attitudes and behaviors.
Why grad school? My ultimate career goal is to become a clinician-scientist and Michigan State University is wonderfully suited to this. Dr. Burnette is also the perfect advisor to help me develop the specific skills and knowledge necessary to achieve my goals!
What do you hope to research while you're here? I am interested in examining the mechanisms driving body image and eating disorders with a focus on social, environmental, and biological determinants and interoceptive pathways. Specifically, I am interested in how marginalized groups and/or groups that may have experienced aspects of disadvantage perceive and interpret signals from their bodies. Using this work, I would like to ultimately establish a line of research exploring how this impacts the ability to eat intuitively and what factors may encourage intuitive eating among these groups.
In your free time, what do you like to do? I love being outside even if I’m doing nothing, running, painting, and ending the day curled up with my cat, watching a TV show!