People

Dr. Yelu Zhang is a psychiatrist and medical educator at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) and an Instructor in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. She completed medical school at Boston University and her general psychiatry residency at BIDMC. Her work bridges neuroscience and clinical psychiatry, with a focus on integrating brain-based understanding into mental health care and education. She is passionate about training the next generation of psychiatrists to think critically about the mind, brain, behavior, and evidence-based care.

Janelle Lardizabal is a Research Assistant focused on developing infographics and other educational content. She graduated from Northeastern University in May 2025 with a Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Neuroscience. She was introduced to this team through her work as a Medical Assistant in BIDMC's Cognitive Neurology Unit, and she is excited to combine her interests in research, education, design, and neuroscience. In her free time, she enjoys journaling, exploring Boston, and spending time with friends.

Parinita Aroori is a medical graduate from the Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, India, and is applying to the Match in 2027. She is currently a research student in Dr. Yelu Zhang’s psychiatry lab, where she is pursuing questions at the intersection of brain function, cognition, and behavior. Outside of her academic work, she enjoys running, portrait sketching, and reading! 

Tun-Yiu Cheng is a graduate student at Boston University’s Graduate Medical Sciences. He is currently working in Dr. Yelu Zhang’s psychiatry lab as a research student. He is especially passionate about neuroimaging and improving medical education. Tun-Yiu’s work involves developing immersive digital tools to be incorporated in the psychiatry residents' curriculum at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Outside of work, Tun-Yiu enjoys hiking, listening to audiobooks, and spending time with family and friends. 

Daphne Ying earned her B.S. in Psychobiology from the University of California, Los Angeles and her Master's of Science in Medical Science from Boston University. She is interested in medication adherence, trauma, and insight in early course psychosis. She enjoys running, bird watching, and art history while she is not working. She is currently completing medical school in Connecticut. 

Melissa Padilla is a graduate student at Boston University, completing her Master's degree in Medical Sciences. She is an alumna of the University of Massachusetts Boston, where she earned her Bachelor's degrees in Biology and Psychology. She is currently working as a Research Student in Dr. Yelu Zhang's psychiatry lab for her thesis project, where her work focuses on using multimedia tools, such as infographics, to enhance neuroscience education. Outside of academics, she loves spending time with her family and dog, reading, and practicing pilates, all hobbies that keep her grounded, balanced, and able to show up as her best self in her academic work.