Research Assistants
Claire Wray earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Maryland, College Park and her Master’s in Social Work from the University of Maryland, Baltimore. She is a licensed clinical social worker, providing psychotherapy for young children ages birth to 12. Through practice, she’s observed the positive impact of research, discovering her interest in research projects on young children and their emotional development. Claire’s goal is to pursue a PhD and contribute to child development research. Her research interests include children’s emotional regulation, factors during infancy that lead to dysregulation issues and the impact of the parent-child relationship on children’s development, especially in minority families.
Erandy earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Arizona State University, with a minor in Family and Human Development. As a lifelong learner with a deep drive to conduct research, she also holds a Certification in Clinical Research Coordination. She is a research assistant with an interest in understanding children's cognitive, social, and physical development. Particularly intrigued by caregivers' involvement and how it shapes their achievements through cultural and ethnic differences in parenting behaviors. Through her experience in community health education, behavioral health, and extensive research, she can bridge the gap between knowledge and practice to support families in diverse communities, as well as fulfill her interest in higher education.
Parker Landau
Parker is a Bachelors in Science candidate at the University of Maryland, College Park. She is a Freshman with a major in psychology on the pre-medical track. During Fall 2025, she was granted the opportunity to work in the Family Involvement Lab as a research volunteer participating in entering data IDs for the BB2 project, completing literature systematic reviews, and gaining experience by shadowing others. In Spring of 2026, she was given the opportunity to work alongside PhD student R. Pinar Karan in gathering research for her dissertation which is set to be published in August of 2026. Her research interests include child development, how culture plays a role in parenting and the development of children's executive functions, and mental health of both adolescents and parents and how that plays a role in their development and relationship.
Ria is a pre-med student at the University of Maryland, majoring in Neurobiology and Physiology and Psychology, with a strong interest in child development and maternal-fetal medicine. She is particularly drawn to topics such as playfulness and injury risk in children from low socioeconomic backgrounds, as well as the impact of socioeconomic conditions on maternal and child health. Currently, she is involved in research on parental playfulness, and also enjoys exploring parenting practices across different cultural contexts.
Suhani Shah
Suhani is a junior at the University of Maryland, College Park, majoring in Human Development. She is part of the UMD Honors College, specifically the Interdisciplinary Business Honors. Suhani finds a deep interest in parent-child interactions as well as the long lasting effects of a good parent-child relationship. Outside of FIL, Suhani enjoys dancing, singing, and engaging with Leukemia and Lymphoma Society at UMD as the event coordinator.. She is excited to work with the Family Involvement Lab as a research assistant as well as gain hands-on experience!