People | Mind-Body Research Lab

Lab Members

Julienne Bower, Ph.D. (Director)	Dr. Bower’s research focuses broadly on mind-body interactions among individuals confronting stressful life events, particularly diagnosis with life-threatening illnesses such as cancer. One area of her research examines how positive psychological factors, such as benefit finding, positive affect, and goal engagement, influence physical health, with a focus on the biological pathways that link positive psychological states and health outcomes. Another line of research examines immune effects on mood and behavior, including fatigue, depression, and sleep disturbance. Dr. Bower also conducts mind-body interventions (i.e., yoga, Tai Chi, and mindfulness meditation) with a focus on how these treatments influence immune and neuroendocrine function. Dr. Bower is associated with the Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology and the Division of Cancer Prevention and Control Research at UCLA and provides trainees with didactic and research training in these areas.
Tyrus Korecki	Tyrus Korecki is a graduate student in Health Psychology. His primary research interests include health and resilience among individuals in high-stress occupations, mindfulness-based interventions for stress management, and psychological factors that impact inflammation, resilience, and thriving in the face of difficulty. Outside of school, Tyrus enjoys working out, teaching yoga, and reading a good book.
Yrvane Pageot	Yrvane Pageot is a graduate student in Health Psychology. Ms. Pageot’s research is focused on the intersections between physical and mental health, specifically the influence of psychological factors on chronic disease. She is also interested in assessing how socioeconomic and racial/ethnic health disparities can influence health outcomes. In her free time, Yrvane enjoys traveling to new places and learning about different cultures, trying new foods, and watching movies.
Robin Blades	Robin Blades is a graduate student in Health Psychology. She is interested in how chronic stress adversely affects health through inflammatory pathways. Her current projects leverage neuroimaging to examine how threat and reward activity in the brain are linked to systemic inflammation. Her current projects investigate how mind-body interventions, such as mindfulness meditation and savoring techniques, alter these neuro-immune dynamics to promote resilience and mitigate stress-related health risks. Outside of research, she enjoys taking yoga classes and hiking with her dog.
Enya Daang	Enya Daang is a graduate student in Health Psychology. She is interested in how emotion regulation and social relationships affect behavioral and physiological responses to stress. In her free time, Enya likes to crochet, try new coffee shops, and browse around bookstores.