Healthspan Lab Director
Emma K. Stapp, PhD, MHS (GWSPH, Epidemiology)
Dr. Emma K. Stapp’s (PI, Healthspan Lab) is a psychiatric epidemiologist and Assistant Research Professor of Epidemiology and affiliated faculty in the GW Institute for Brain Health and Dementia. She completed her PhD and MHS at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, in Baltimore, MD, and postdoctoral training at the National Institute of Mental Health in the Intramural Research Program in Bethesda, MD.
Dr. Stapp’s main research interests are the fundamental processes influencing the development, maintenance versus recovery, and consequences of neuropsychiatric conditions, and, increasingly, both non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic interventions to promote recovery and prevent or reduce excess morbidity and mortality at the intersection of mind, brain, and body.
Accordingly, Dr. Stapp’s long-range vision is 1) to contribute to the restoration of healthspan of persons experiencing or at risk for mood disorders, particularly bipolar disorder, and 2) to generate insights and scalable approaches to reduce mental and physical suffering due to neuropsychiatric dysregulation more broadly in the population.
Healthspan Lab Staff and Trainees
Joya Bhattacharyya, MPH, Research Program Coordinator
Joya Bhattacharyya (she/her) is an Epidemiology PhD student at George Washington University and serves as the Research Program Coordinator at the Healthspan Lab. Her research interests include the psychiatric epidemiology of affective and neurodegenerative disorders, especially within populations of color and LGBTQ+ populations. She is also passionate about building capacity for mental health research and care in low- and middle-income countries. Joya earned her Bachelor’s degrees in Cognitive Neuroscience and Global Public Health from the University of Virginia. She went on to complete her MPH in Epidemiology at Columbia University. Along with her work at the Healthspan Lab, Joya also works as a Graduate Research Assistant in the GWU Department of Epidemiology with Dr. Melinda Power. She previously held research positions at the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Global Mental Health, the Nathan Kline Institute of Psychiatric Research, and the UVA Cognitive Aging Laboratory. In her free time, Joya enjoys creative hobbies such as singing a capella and Indian classical dance.
Ariel Eikenmeyer, BS, Mood-CPET Practicum Research Assistant
Ariel Eikenmeyer (she/her) is a current MPH Epidemiology student at George Washington University serving as a Research Assistant at the Healthspan Lab. Her professional experience includes serving as a research assistant at the University of Southern California, where she developed codebooks and conducted survey administration while earning her Bachelor of Science in Global Health. She has also held multiple positions with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services as a member of the Covid-19 Response and Recovery Team. Ariel’s epidemiological research interests include psychiatry, infectious diseases, and pharmacology, with an emphasis on Native American and LGBTQ+ populations. She plans to use her MPH training for research efforts in these areas. Outside of these professional pursuits, Ariel enjoys running, participating in ultimate frisbee, and attending sporting events of all kinds.
Bernice ThambiRaja, MPH, Data Analyst
Bernice ThambiRaja is a passionate advocate for public health and evidence-based research to improve health outcomes.. Born in Kwantan, Malaysia and brought up in Muscat, Oman, Bernie’s upbringing was marked by a rich tapestry of cultures, having lived in various countries across the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Bernie majored in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), graduating summa cum laude. Building upon that foundation in biological sciences, Bernie then received a Master of Public Health, summa cum laude, with a concentration in Epidemiology from the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health. During the MPH, Bernie completed the MPH practicum as an evidence synthesis research assistant, followed by contributing to IRB and protocol development as the Mood-CPET study’s first research coordinator, and is now contributing as a data analyst. Bernie is looking for full time research roles in Northern California or remote-based.
Lab Alumni
Akhilesh Jakhete, BDS
Akhilesh Jakhete is deeply committed to the philosophy of preventive medicine and evidence-based research. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Dental Surgery from Government Dental College and Hospital, Mumbai. His experiences working as a dentist in urban and rural settings motivated him to transition to public health. He is currently pursuing his MPH degree in the Epidemiology concentration at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University. He is interested in working at the intersection of clinical medicine and public health–i.e., applying epidemiologic principles for health promotion and disease prevention. Akhilesh completed his MPH practicum as a Mood-CPET Evidence Synthesis Practicum Research Assistant.
Fernando Hern Munoz, MPH
Fernando Hern Munoz received his MPH in Epidemiology at GWSPH, and prior to that, at the University of Colorado he majored in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology & Spanish, with undergraduate certificates in public health and neuroscience and behavior. Fernando was an Evidence Synthesis Practicum Research Assistant with the lab, working on a systematic review. In September 2024 he began a National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA) Hispanic Leadership Development Fellowship (HLDF), and is now a Scientific Program Analyst at NIH.
Lauren Chatfield, BS
Lauren Chatfield, a native of Lexington, KY, is deeply passionate about public health and behavioral neuroscience. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Behavioral Neuroscience from Centre College. She is pursuing her Master of Public Health degree at George Washington University’s Milken Institute School of Public Health as a HRSA Public Health Scholar.