Our Team – M-Body Research Lab

Principal Investigator

Dr. Inger Burnett-Zeigler

Inger Burnett-Zeigler, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist and Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University. She is also a mindfulness trainer and certified yoga instructor. She received her undergraduate degree in psychology from Cornell University, doctorate in clinical psychology from Northwestern University and completed a post-doctoral fellowship in mental health services research at the University of Michigan. Her scholarly work focuses on the role that social determinants of health play in disparities in mental illness and treatment, particularly in the African-American community. In her research, she examines the factors associated with access and engagement in mental health service utilization and uses this data to develop, test and implement acceptable and accessible evidence based interventions in community based settings. Dr. Burnett-Zeigler is a proud south-side Chicagoan. She enjoys the arts, yoga and travel.

Graduate Students

Andrea Haidar is a graduate research assistant for the M-Body lab and a PhD candidate in Clinical Psychology at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. She is also a licensed clinical social worker and certified yoga teacher. Her research interests include culturally acceptable and accessible care for racial and ethnic minority communities, stress and resilience, mindfulness-based interventions, and immigrant and refugee mental health. Prior to her doctoral studies, Andrea worked as a trilingual psychotherapist at a Federally Qualified Health Center, providing services in Arabic, Spanish, and English. She holds a Master’s in Social Work and a Bachelor’s in Sociology from the University of Chicago. Andrea enjoys staying active and is always trying out different forms of movement (her current obsession is pickleball). She also loves reading novels, creative writing, a good cup of coffee, and spending time in nature.

Anthony Morales is a queer, first-generation, Latino student completing his first year in the Clinical Psychology PhD program at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University. Anthony is broadly interested in understanding the mechanisms that contribute to the increased risk for psychopathology among underrepresented populations. He recently graduated summa cum laude from Indiana University and holds a bachelor’s in psychology, certificate in clinical science, and a minor in counseling. At Indiana, he was the Director of Social Impact and a research assistant, where he conducted his thesis on the short-term psychological effects of viewing racial discrimination online. Among his many honors/awards, Anthony was named a Founder’s Scholar, Hudson & Holland Scholar, recipient of the 2021 Milton J Feinberg Scholarship and 2022 James Dinsmoor Research Excellence Award, and selected as a research fellow for the competitive Kovener Teaching Fellowship Program. Anthony is also the recipient of the 2021 Curtis R Simic Scholarship for Leaders, one of the most prestigious leadership awards at Indiana. Outside of research, Anthony enjoys weightlifting, traveling, and interior design.

Research Assistant

Clare Wongwai is a research study assistant for the M-Body Lab. She graduated from St. Olaf College in 2022 with a Sociology/Anthropology and Asian Studies major and an emphasis in Psychology. They conducted research through St. Olaf’s CURI program, exploring the visibility, identity formation, and cultural influence of Asian American experiences in higher education, and UNC-Chapel Hill’s MURAP program, exploring messages of racial affirmation, inclusion, and socialization in children’s picture books. Her research interests surround racial/ethnic socialization processes, combating racial biases and stereotypes, and promoting the well-being of racially marginalized youth and families. Her research interests are informed by engaging in the topics of racial and ethnic disparities and intersectionality through taking courses, tutoring students, and leading cultural organizations. They hope to evaluate accessible and culturally informed interventions from interdisciplinary and intersectional approaches. Clare enjoys learning languages, making music, and baking for family and friends.

Lab Alums

Postdoctoral Scholars

Dr. Jen Martinez