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 Student focused on developing infographics and educational content. She graduated from Northeastern University in May 2025 with a Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Neuroscience and is currently on the pre-medical track. 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.

Daphne Ying earned her B.S. in Psychobiology from the University of California, Los Angeles and her Masters 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. 

I'm Melissa Padilla, a graduate student at Boston University, completing my master's degree in medical sciences and an alumna of the University of Massachusetts Boston, where I earned my bachelor's degrees in biology and psychology. I am currently working as a research student in Dr. Yelu Zhang's psychiatry lab for my thesis project, where my work focuses on using multimedia tools, such as infographics, to enhance neuroscience education. Outside of academics, I love spending time with my family and dog, reading, and practicing pilates, all hobbies that keep me grounded, balanced, and able to show up as my best self in my academic work. 

Dr. Paulo Lizano is a neuropsychiatrist, physician-scientist, academic educator, and Assistant Professor in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School with expertise in translational neuroscience. His research laboratory focuses on understanding the inflammatory and microvascular basis of psychosis, as well as vision science and neuromodulation. Dr. Lizano is particularly interested in the use of complementary translational approaches to study inflammation and microvascular features from different perspectives. He is passionate about medical education and mentorship. 

Dr. Lizano's Work