Zola Narisetti is a rising senior at Brown University pursuing a double concentration in Psychology and French & Francophone Studies. Growing up in Belgium and India, and now residing in Brooklyn, NY, sparked her interest in how culture, social context, and healthcare systems shape mental health and access to care. Her research interests include childhood and adolescent development, the influence of power dynamics and early adversity on mental health, and equitable access to mental healthcare. She hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and conduct research that informs equitable, evidence-based interventions for underserved populations.
This summer, Zola worked under the supervision of Christopher Ferraris, DSW, on two HIV-related research projects. She supported the launch of a study examining the relationship between cannabis use and engagement in HIV prevention services by developing and testing REDCap surveys, conducting literature reviews, assisting with IRB materials, and preparing the study for participant enrollment. She also contributed to a narrative review on factors associated with antiretroviral therapy adherence among
sexual and gender minority populations in the United States.
Zola is grateful for the opportunity to participate in the Columbia–WHO Center for Global Mental Health Internship Program, where she strengthened her skills in implementation research, scientific collaboration, and interdisciplinary teamwork. Her greatest takeaway was recognizing that careers in psychology and global mental health are rarely linear, reinforcing the importance of remaining intellectually curious and open to interdisciplinary experiences. She looks forward to continuing her collaboration with the Center and her project during the academic year while pursuing her honors thesis and preparing for doctoral training in clinical psychology.