Meet Our Research Team!
Who We Are
Team GABA is an interdisciplinary undergraduate research team in the Gemstone Honors program at the University of Maryland, College Park. We are composed of people from different academic backgrounds, united by a common goal: to explore how ACES and stress affect gastrointestinal health.
Dr. Héctor E. Alcalá
Mentor
Dr. Alcala studies the impact of early life adversity on health, particularly its link to cancer risk, and investigates ethnic and racial disparities in health outcomes. With expertise in survey sampling and interviewing within behavioral and community health, he addresses ethical, practical, and feasibility considerations in research. His work contributes to understanding health inequities and their implications for diverse populations.
Isabelle Baxter
Librarian
Associate Head of STEM Library and Agriculture and Natural Resources. Her specialities are (and are not limited to) database selection, developing search strategies, creating proper citations, publishing, supporting evidence synthesis work and more.
Paola Rojas
Mentor Liaison
Paola is a Neuroscience and Human Development double major at the University of Maryland. On team GABA, she serves as the mentor liaison and contributes to data analysis on the qualitative team.
Fun Fact: She likes to collect pins on her backpack!
Kathlyn Rodriguez
Team Liaison
Kathlyn is a first-generation Psychology major and Neuroscience minor at University of Maryland. As a member of Team GABA, she serves as a liaison between faculty and Gemstone students and she contributes to data analysis on the quantitative team.
Fun fact: She loves to hike!
Raquel Tolin
Social Media Liaison
Raquel is an Accounting major at the University of Maryland. On team GABA, she's the social media liaison and the involvement liaison. She also contributes to the data analysis on the quantitative team.
Fun fact: She runs track!
Joyce Oruitemeka
Web Liaison
Joyce is a recent Information Science graduate from the University of Maryland. She manages Team GABA’s website and contributes to quantitative data analysis for the project.
Fun fact: She can play the violin!
Eian Manalo
Financial Liaison
Maedot Aklilu
Social Media Liaison
Eian is a Mathematics and Economics double major at the University of Maryland. On team GABA, he serves as the financial liaision. and contributes to data analysis on the quantitative team.
Fun fact: He likes to read fantasy in his free time!
Maedot is a Neuroscience major at the University of Maryland. On team GABA , she serves as the social media liaison and contributes to data analysis on the quantitative team.
Fun Fact: As a kid, she did swimming, gymnastics, karate, ballet, and tap dancing!
Tehillah Sabath Beit-Halachmi
Experts and Library Liaison
Tehillah serves as the experts and library liaison for team GABA and also contributes to the data analysis on the qualitative team.
Michael Abakah
Ombudsperson and Fundraising
Michael serves as the ombudsperson and is on the fundraising team for team GABA. He also contributes to the data analysis on the quantitative team.
April Collins
Team Clerk
April is a Cell Biology and Genetics major with Creative Writing minor at the University of Maryland. On team GABA, she serves as the team clerk and contributes to data analysis on the quantitative team.
Fun Fact: She used to be a competitive swimmer and competed at the state level!
Sarai Celestine
Team Clerk and Fundraising
Sarai is an Animal Science major at the University of Maryland. On team GABA she's the fundraising chair and the team clerk. She also contributes to the data analysis on the quantitative team.
Fun fact: She has a baking business!
Hailie Lim
Ombudsperson and Community Outreach
Hailie serves as an ombudsman for team GABA and contributes to community research. She is also on the qualitative team for data analysis.