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NOMAD Laboratory
Nomad Lab
Meet the Team
Principal Investigator​
Dr. Chris H. Miller
Dr. Miller currently directs the NOMAD Lab and is an Assistant Professor of Biological Psychology at California State University, Fresno. He received his PhD in Neurosciences from Stanford University School of Medicine. His research interests broadly include the development and application of meta-analytic and machine-learning tools for the functional neuroimaging of psychiatric disorders, particularly mood and anxiety-related disorders, to advance our understanding of their neural signatures and mechanisms and to strengthen our diagnostic systems and clinical interventions. Professor Miller deeply enjoys and values mentoring students in his research lab, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds. In his personal time, he enjoys traveling, dancing, biking, and playing frisbee with his dog.
Graduate Student
Alexandra Arnett
Alexandra Arnett is a graduate student in the General/Experimental Psychology M.A. program at California State University, Fresno, where she works in the NOMAD Lab under the mentorship of Dr. Chris Miller. Her current research focuses on a meta-analysis exploring the therapeutic potential of cannabis and cannabinoids for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), with an emphasis on dosing, quality of life outcomes, and distinctions between observational and experimental studies.
Alexandra holds a Master of Science in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Oregon. Outside of her academic work, she serves as a writer for Herb, where she creates evidence-based cannabis education content for a broad audience. She has also contributed to cannabis curriculum development and worked in research and compliance roles across the cannabis industry. Alexandra is passionate about improving access to accurate, inclusive, and nuanced information about cannabis, especially for neurodivergent and medically vulnerable communities.
Undergraduate Student
Zulaikha Ali
Zulaikha Ali is a biochemistry major with a minor is psychology at California State University, Fresno. Her research interests involve Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and MRI contrast agents. She aspires to be a physician, working in an underserved community. She enjoys sleeping, binge-watching Bollywood movies, and eating french fries in her free time.
Undergraduate Student
Manuel Cardenas
Manuel Cardenas is a psychology major in the NOMAD lab at Fresno State. His research interests include mood disorders specifically anxiety disorders and the neural mechanisms of addiction. Manuel wishes to pursue a career in clinical psychology or in neuropsychology. On their free time, Manuel enjoys reading, walking his dog, spending time with friends and going to concerts.
Undergraduate Student
Simran Gill
My research interests include the neural basis of psychopathy, mood disorders, and eating disorders. My career interest is to go to medical school to become a psychiatrist. My hobbies include reading, martial arts, and baking.
Undergraduate Student
Melanie Gonzalez
Melanie Gonzalez is an undergraduate psychology student at California State University, Fresno, conducting research in the NOMAD Lab. She is interested in the neural and biological basis of disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder, borderline personality disorder, and major depressive disorder. She plans on pursuing an Ed.S. in School Psychology following the completion of her undergraduate degree at CSU Fresno. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, baking, and video games.
Undergraduate Student
Ariana Sanchez-Virrueta
Ariana Sanchez is a psychology honors student in the NOMAD lab. They have interests in transdiagnostic biomarkers between psychiatric conditions and plans to pursue a PhD in clinical neuropsychology. During their free time, Ariana loves to cross-stitch and read.
Postgraduate Student
Ting Guo
Ting Guo is a recent graduate from UC Berkeley with a B.S. in Molecular Environmental Biology and B.A. in Psychology and a member of the NOMAD lab at Fresno State. She is interested in emotion regulation and biological psychology, specifically the relationship of psychiatric disorders and physiological mechanisms. She plans to pursue a career in medicine following her gap years. In her free time, she loves to go to the movie theater, hang out with friends, and watch C-dramas and K-dramas.
Postgraduate Student
Kollin Grunberg
Kollin Grunberg is a Fresno State graduate and emeritus student in the NOMAD lab. He is a current student at UC Davis School of Medicine. Kollin is interested in anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and autism spectrum disorder. In his free time, he enjoys playing basketball and pickleball.
Postgraduate Student
Saneh Kahlon
Saneh Kahlon is a neuroscience student in the NOMAD Lab at Fresno State. She is interested in investigating the neural basis of psychiatric disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder. Upon graduating, she plans on pursuing a career in medicine and psychiatric research. In her free time, she enjoys reading, listening to good music, and going on long walks!
Visiting Student
Adam Badawia
Adam Badawia is a high school senior at University High School and a member of the NOMAD lab at Fresno State. He's interested in fueling the development of new treatments and methods for diagnosing mental disorders by discovering neural activation differences through meta-analyses. Outside of the lab, he wishes to pursue a career in medicine, organizing informational events with physicians about the medical field, and conducting diabetes research for an outpatient endocrine clinic. In his free time, he enjoys volunteering at the local hospital, practicing violin, playing frisbee, and reading Russian novels.
Visiting Student
Maya Roberts
My name is Maya Roberts. I am an undergraduate student at Amherst College currently planning on majoring in neuroscience. I have been with the lab for 2 semesters and researched the effects of PTSD and social anxiety on the brain. In the future, I hope to study the effects of schizophrenia. In my free time, I enjoy playing piano, rowing, and rock climbing!
Visiting Student
Adesh Kailay
Adesh Kailay is a University High School senior in the NOMAD Lab at Fresno State. He is interested in cognitive neuroscience and neuropsychology, and he is fascinated by psychiatric disorders. He has plans on pursuing a bachelors in Biological psychology, or a degree that demonstrates the correlation between biology and psychology. After receiving his bachelors, he would like to go to medical school, in hopes of getting matched to become a Psychiatrist, later specializing in pediatrics so he can become a Pediatric Psychiatrist. Outside of the academic environment, he's a mental health advocate who prioritizes advocating for suicide prevention and the de-stigmatization of mental health. When he's free, he likes to play badminton professionally and likes to go mountain biking, or meet up with friends from school.
Visiting Student
Chris Leung
Chris Leung is a high school student at University High School working in the NOMAD lab. His research interests include psychometrics, treatment efficacy, and neurological markers of psychiatric disorders. Chris aspires to a career as a clinician-scientist in psychiatry, where he can combine patient care with ongoing research. In his free time, you can find him playing jazz piano, volunteering, practicing karate or taking an afterschool nap.
Visiting Student
Aruthra Ranjithprabhu
Aruthra Ranjithprabhu is a BS/MBA/MD student at Union College and Albany Med conducting research in the NOMAD Lab. She is currently majoring in Biology and Sociology while minoring in psychology. Her interests center around cognitive neuroscience and she enjoys researching panic disorders, autism spectrum disorder, and obsessive compulsive disorders. When she’s not in the lab or studying, Aruthra loves writing for the John Locke Institute, geeking out over philosophy, practicing calligraphy, or cooking for her friends.
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