SARRC Research Faculty
Christopher J. Smith, Ph.D.
Chief Science Officer
Dr. Christopher J. Smith is an experimental psychologist with expertise in diagnosing autism spectrum disorder and measuring associated traits. Dr. Smith oversees all diagnostic evaluations and assessments for our clients while also directing all internal and external research projects. Prior to joining us at SARRC, he worked as an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, where he still maintains a faculty position. Originally drawn to study autism because of the complexity of the disorder, here at SARRC, Dr. Smith values the ability to work with clients across all age groups and engage in out-of-the-box research endeavors. Originally from New York, when he’s not doing science, he enjoys running, biking, hiking, and being active with his family.
Nicole Matthews, Ph.D.
Director of Research
Dr. Matthews’ research program includes multiple lines of research with a broad goal of improving quality of life for individuals on the autism spectrum and their families. Her recent research includes: (1) development and testing of adaptive functioning and social skills interventions for adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD); (2) the development of novel methods for improving access to ASD screening and evaluation, and (3) the experiences of individuals with ASD and their families during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Raun Melmed, M.D.
Medical Director and SARRC Co-Founder
Raun D. Melmed, MD, co-founder and medical director of SARRC, is a developmental and behavioral pediatrician and is director of the Melmed Center in Scottsdale, Ariz. He is an Adjunct Senior Researcher at the Translational Genomics Institute in Phoenix and on faculty at Arizona State University. Dr. Melmed earned his medical degree at the University of Cape Town in Cape Town, South Africa, and completed a fellowship at the Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Boston, where he was an Instructor at Harvard Medical School.
Research Staff
Summer Boyd, PsyD
Diagnostic Services Manager
Summer is a licensed psychologist who plays a crucial role in various research initiatives at SARRC, including a study funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) which is examining the progress and benefits of early intervention services. Her other responsibilities include leading the parent group for MINDful Time, assessment and diagnosis of children and adults on the autism spectrum as well as providing other psychological services as needed for various research studies. She is passionate about helping parents better understand their children, helping individuals to better understand themselves, and contributing to the research base regarding autism diagnosis and intervention. When not at SARRC, Summer enjoys spending time with her kids, exploring/hiking beautiful Arizona, billiards, yoga, tennis, and bowling.
Sophia Crisler
Research Coordinator I
Sophia is responsible for coordinating multiple clinical research studies, most of which aim to investigate how medications and therapies can be used to improve symptoms associated with autism spectrum disorder. Her responsibilities include communicating with participants and study staff, scheduling, recording data, recruitment, administering study tests when needed, and most importantly ensuring all aspects of the trial run smoothly. In her free time, you can find Sophia traveling, spending time with her friends and family, or scouring Arizona for the best coffee shop.
Garrett Gibbons
Medical Research Technician
As the Medical Research Technician and SPARK Coordinator for SARRC, Garrett performs various roles and has a wide range of responsibilities. On the MedTech side, he takes ECG’s, collects vitals, performs blood draws/does specimen collections, processes/ships the samples, and makes sure the lab is stocked and ready for each study participant. As the SPARK Coordinator, he facilitates contact with families, registration, collection, and shipment of samples for genetic sequencing. Garrett graduated from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi with a degree in Biology and worked as an EMT and Emergency Room Technician before moving to Arizona. When he is not at work, Garrett enjoys spending time with his friends, family, and dogs. He enjoys reality TV, traveling, scuba diving, hiking, boating/jet skiing, wakeboarding/wake surfing, and floating the Salt River.
Hannah Honda
Research Coordinator II
Hannah acts as a coordinator for our NSF-funded study partnering with museums to help create more inclusive learning environments for autistic individuals. She also manages a clinical research study investigating eye-tracking technology as an objective tool for measuring treatment progress. Her other responsibilities include conducting assessments and helping out with our MINDful Time study. Having grown up with an autistic sibling and worked with many families like her own, she believes in SARRC’s vision and the breadth of support and research they provide to families in the Valley. Some of her research interests include parent mental health and coping, and the development of more culturally sensitive services. On the weekends, Hannah enjoys exploring, hiking, and jogging around the area with her husband, Shogo.
Stephen James, Ph.D.
Research Data Manager
Stephen is responsible for the organization, consistency, and integrity of data collected, and the export, analysis, and summary of data for publications. Stephen’s research interests include sex/gender differences in ASD and improving early screening and access to early diagnosis among underserved populations. Outside of doing research, Stephen enjoys traveling and spending time with his wife and their two dogs.
Will Kirwan
Data Entry Specialist
Will is a Data Entry Specialist with over a decade of experience. His roles include entering assessments, management of physical folders, and creating reports through scoring programs. In his free time, Will enjoys drawing, watching movies, and eating pizza with his dog in central Phoenix.
Padmaja Lakamsani, BS; CCRC
Clinical Trials Manager
Padmaja received her bachelor’s degree in science from Andhra University, India. She has experience in phase II-IV clinical trials for ADHD, Fragile X, and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Her responsibilities include coordinating studies in compliance with study protocol, local/federal laws and regulations, and overseeing the work of research coordinators. Padmaja loves her job and believes it is giving her the opportunity to help improve lives of individuals with ASD and their families. She speaks English, Telugu and Hindi languages. In her free time, she loves spending time with her family and friends, watching movies, and cooking.
Amanda Malligo
Research Training Manager
Amanda is the primary psychometrist for SARRC’S research team. She administers a variety of diagnostic assessments for research studies and other SARRC-wide programs, and trains other staff to administer these tools. She has experience working with infants as young as six-months old, toddlers, and young children, but teens and adults are her favorite population. After spending many sessions as the PEERS Teen Instructor, Amanda is currently the Parent Group Leader for the PEERS program. In her free time, she can be found creating in her studio, reading, spending time with her menagerie of cats, rockhounding, and cooking.
Olivia Melita
Research Associate
Olivia is a research associate at SARRC. She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Arizona and a Master’s in Neuroscience Research from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Olivia has experience in neurodegenerative disease research, including the development of a novel blood-based biomarker for diagnosing Multiple Sclerosis. Additionally, she has worked in human-cognitive research, focusing on the electrophysiological assessment of neurons involved in cognition. As a member of our team at SARRC, Olivia is involved in recruitment for our clinical trials, data entry, and performing assessments. She is eager to learn and grow as a researcher while also contributing meaningfully to the ASD community. Outside of her research, Olivia enjoys cooking, vintage shopping, reading fiction and staying active through yoga and running.
Zakiyyah Merritt
Research Coordinator I
Zakiyyah acts as the primary coordinator to the IRIS study researching the effects of medications specifically targeting communication and repetitive behaviors in children and adolescents with ASD. She also coordinates the Earlipoint study looking at eye-tracking device that can help as a tool for diagnosis ASD and related developmental delays. When she is not working on her own studies, she assists her fellow coordinators with any work they need an extra hand with. In her free time, Zakiyyah enjoys breakdancing with the local breaking community in Arizona, when she is not dancing, she is hanging out with her cat, Stardust, and giving her all the treats and chin scratches she wants.
Melissa Mitchell
Research Program Manager
Melissa plays a significant role in research, including managing clinical trials, overseeing clinical trial recruitment, leading the Recruitment Core team, and supervising RAs and interns. She also administers psychometric assessments for research studies and diagnostic evaluations. Additionally, Melissa is involved in writing and analyzing data for published manuscripts and co-leads the Teen Group of the MINDful TIME Study. In her free time, she can be found reading, doing yoga, or spending time with family, friends, and her cat.
Riley Stark
Research Coordinator I
As a clinical trial coordinator at SARRC, Riley has various roles that include conducting trial visits, data entry, and administration of assessments. Riley oversees a clinical trial that is focused on irritability associated with ASD as well as a clinical trial focused on Major Depressive Disorder in adolescents. Riley graduated from Northern Arizona University and has a background in Research that allows her to contribute to her role here at SARRC. She has a passion for developmental biology and working with SARRC has allowed her to further her knowledge of ASD. On a day off you can find Riley in the gym or cooking her favorite meals.
Maya Swift
Research Associate
Maya acts as a Research Associate at SARRC. Maya received her Bachelor of Science in Psychological Sciences from Arizona State University and minored in Studio Art. Her research interests include studying children and adolescents with developmental disorders and those who have dealt with trauma and is especially interested in art-based treatments and therapies for that population. Maya’s role at SARRC includes assisting with recruitment, data entry, and assessment. In her free time, she loves to do hot yoga, mixed-media art, and play Stardew Valley.
Richard B. Tayrien, DO, FACOI, FAMIA
Study Physician
Dr. Tayrien is board certified in internal medicine, practicing acute and critical care medicine at Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center and Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix. Developing midcareer interests and training in medical informatics Dr. Tayrien served as Chief Health Information Officer for Dignity Healthcare and HCA Healthcare where he led the digital transformation of over 170 US hospitals. Dr. Tayrien’s experience in applied information theory, terminology management and systems specification for heath information informs and supports related interests in bioinformatics and neuroscience. He joins the SARRC research team enthused to contribute to the understanding of mechanisms and potential solutions for ASD patients and supporting community. Dr. Tayrien and wife, Cecilia, live in the greater Phoenix area where they raised their four children. They enjoy many outdoor activities, water sports, travel and photography. Cecilia, a former elementary teacher, has invested much of the past 3 years better understanding ASD, nutritional interventions and available resources. They are both active members of the SARRC grandparents’ group.
Shraddha Tiwari
Clinical Research Coordinator
Shraddha is a Clinical Research Coordinator at SARRC, where she leverages her extensive background in clinical research. She earned her Ph.D. from Jaypee University of Information Technology in India in Biotechnology and brings over seven years of experience from the higher education sector. She worked at a cardiology and electrophysiology clinic as a Clinical Research Coordinator before joining SARRC. Her expertise includes medical devices, drug trials, regulatory assistance, and scientific writing. With more than 12 publications in peer-reviewed journals and over 650 Google Scholar citations, Shraddha is a well-established contributor to her field. At SARRC, she is responsible for coordinating research study procedures, managing data entry, resolving queries, and communicating with regulatory agencies. Outside of her professional life, Shraddha values her time with family. When she’s not engaged in research, she enjoys spending time with her child and friends, cooking Indian cuisine, exploring new places, or simply relaxing and unwinding.
Andrew Wachtel
Research Associate
Andrew is a research associate at SARRC. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Belmont University. Having studied Psychology and Biology, he has experience conducting rodent-behavioral research as well as human-centered, social psychology while an undergraduate. At SARRC, he is focused on study recruitment, data entry, and learning to administer assessments. He is always excited to grow as a researcher, learner, and person. A valley native, Andrew enjoys camping trips, making breakfast tacos (he has extensive experience), and playing music with his friends.
Diagnostic Services Staff
Nancy Muhlenkamp
Diagnostic Program Assistant
Nancy assists with program enrollment screening as well as coordination of services for SARRC’s amazing team of Licensed Clinical Psychologists. Nancy loves working at SARRC because she’s able to support SARRC’s clients and families through the process of obtaining their formal diagnosis – the ticket to life-altering services. When out of the office you can find Nancy quilting, reading, and hiding from the sun while cooking with her five children.
Research Interns and Volunteers
Caleb Southard
Research Intern
Caleb is a research intern at SARRC. He’s currently a sophomore at Arizona State University on the pre-med track, with a strong interest in psychology. Here at SARRC, he performs data entry, literature review, keeps track of supplies, and many other general tasks. Outside of his role here, he also works at the Mayo Clinic as a medical assistant. When he’s not at SARRC, school, or work, he enjoys cooking, playing guitar, watching MMA, and volunteering.