Calarge Lab Members

As a physician scientist with interest in child and adolescent psychiatry, I have focused my research on examining the long-term effects of psychiatric medications in youth on health, including weight and development, bone health, and iron regulation. I have also been interested in the intersection between psychiatric conditions and psychiatric medications with regard to how each might affect these outcomes and how genetic factors would influence them as well. This includes the role of the gut bacteria in health and illness. The hope is to better understand psychiatric disorders and be able to offer a safer way to treat them. 

I’ve been in the research field for over a decade and have had the privilege of working with Dr. Chadi Calarge since 2016! The years speak to my passion for the important work we do here. I’m dedicated to improving mental health, especially for kids and underserved populations. As the lab manager, I ensure our studies run smoothly by overseeing protocols, training staff, and managing our dataset. I’m also involved in creating new protocols and ensuring our research is carried out efficiently and effectively. When opportunities arise, I enjoy attending conferences to stay up to date on various topics like depression, anxiety, OCD, and suicide. I hope all our research families enjoy participating in our studies as much as we enjoy working with them!

Hi! My name is Juhi Bhatt, and I am one of the assistant clinical research coordinators and have been with the Calarge lab for about three years! I graduated with a B.S. in Public Health from the University of Houston in 2021, Go Coogs! As part of the lab, I assist with sample collection, recruitment efforts, conducting research visits and have had the chance to work on multiple studies over my time here! Outside of the lab, I enjoy exploring the Houston food scene, photography, and doing volunteer work!

Hello! My name is Stephanie Dinh, and I am the Senior Data Analyst for the Calarge lab. I received both my M.S. in Statistics and Data Science and B.S. in Mathematical Biology from UH. I started with the lab in 2021 and take care of the back-end data matters for all the different studies we conduct here. In my free time I like to read, play games, and spend time with my family/friends!

Hi, I’m Aranza, and I am Research Coordinator II with the Calarge Lab. I graduated from Texas A&M University in 2024 with a B.S. in psychology and worked in different developmental psychology research labs throughout my time there as well as volunteering for the Helpline. This led me to becoming really interested in learning more about internalizing disorders such as depression and anxiety. As a research coordinator for the lab, I mostly work on recruiting new families to participate in our research and run the research visits. Outside of the lab, I like to read, sing, and play video games.

Hello! My name is Ana Romero, I joined at the beginning of December of 2024 and am an assistant research coordinator with the Calarge Lab. I help out with prepping for visits, processing samples, and data organization. I graduated from the University of Houston in the Spring of 2025 with my bachelor's degree in Psychology and a minor in Biology. I love going to concerts and trying new food/boba places in the Houston area.

My name is Temesgen Bihonegn, and I am a postdoctoral associate researcher in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences department. I earned an M.S. in Applied Mathematics from Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, and a Ph.D. in Mathematics and Statistics, specializing in Geometric Analysis in Medical Imaging, from Masaryk University, Czech Republic. I recently joined the Calarge Lab to contribute to research on quantitative susceptibility mapping and further develop my expertise during my postdoctoral training.
In my free time, I enjoy swimming, traveling, watching science documentaries, and spending quality time with family and friends.

Hello! My name is Annie Zhou, and I am an Assistant Research Coordinator with the Calarge lab. I am a Sophomore at the University of Houston Honors College majoring in Psychology and minoring in Medicine and Society. I started with the lab in January 2026 and now primarily work on recruiting families to participate in our research, screening for studies, helping with data entry, and assisting with other minor tasks that come up. Outside of the lab, I enjoy volunteering, listening to music, and trying new food spots across Houston!

Hi! My name is Aleeza and I am a Research Coordinator I at the Calarge Lab. I graduated from University of Houston with a Bachelor’s of Psychology and a minor in Human Development and Family Sciences. As a Research Coordinator, I work on recruiting families to participate in our studies and assess study eligibility. I enjoy learning about child development and mental health, and am grateful to help support research that improves healthcare for kids! Outside of the lab, I love music, exploring creative hobbies, and the color lavender (everything I own is purple)!