Meet Our Members

Paulo Graziano, Ph.D.

           

Lab Director; Professor.

IES Postdoctoral Fellow, Florida International University, Miami, FL
Pediatrics/Clinical Child Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
M.A., Clinical Psychology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
B.S., Psychology (Major), Sociology (Minor), University of Central Florida

As the director of the S.E.L.F.-Regulation Lab, Dr. Graziano’s research focuses on the role of children’s self-regulation as it pertains to School Readiness, Early Intervention, Learning, and Fitness (S.E.L.F.).  He is particularly interested in how parental and environmental factors (e.g., teachers/classroom) may influence or moderate the impact of regulatory processes on adaptive functioning outcomes. Special emphasis on the role of physiological (i.e., RSA suppression) and neurocognitive processes in the development of psychopathology (emphasis on disruptive behavior disorders) as well as pediatric obesity. A large portion of his research focuses on developing and examining early interventions (e.g., behavioral parent training, summer programs) that can target children’s self-regulation skills and subsequent adaptive and health related outcomes.  Dr. Graziano has authored or co-authored a number of papers and his work has been supported by both federal grants (e.g., NIMH, NIDDK, Institute of Education Sciences) and local agencies (e.g., The Children’s Trust).

Fun Fact: Dr. Graziano enjoys traveling with his wife, playing golf and is a proud father of two daughters (ages 11 and 13) and a son (age 3).

Curriculum Vitae

Current Doctoral Students

Melissa Hernandez

mlhernan@fiu.edu

 

5th Year Doctoral Student 

Masters Thesis: Individual differences in germ spreading behaviors among children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: The role of executive function

Education: University of Florida, B.S. in Psychology (major) and Health Disparities in Society (minor); Florida International University, M.S. in Psychology Mental Health Counseling 

Fun Fact: I love to travel and try new foods.

 

Madeline Curzon

mcurzon@fiu.edu 

4th Year Doctoral Student

Masters Thesis: Exploring Differences in Physical Health in Young Children with and without ADHD

Education: Northwestern University - B.A. in Psychology (major) and Business Institutions (minor); DePaul University - M.S. in Psychology  

Fun Fact: I love to bake desserts and cats are my favorite animal

 

Maggie Johansson

mjohanss@fiu.edu 

1st Year Doctoral Student

Research Interests: Executive functioning in children with ADHD, mechanisms of change for children with ADHD, and children with ADHD's risk and response to adversity

Education: University of Washington - B.S. in Psychology (major)

Fun Fact: I've been skiing since I was 2 years old

 

Leanett Reinoso

lreinoso@fiu.edu 

1st Year Doctoral Student

Research Interests: Examining how community factors influence mental and physical health outcomes in children with and without ADHD

Education: Florida International University - B.A. in Psychology (major) and Criminal Justice (minor)

Fun Fact: I enjoy baking and spending time outdoors

 

Eva Goldhagen

egoldhag@fiu.edu 

1st Year Doctoral Student

Research Interests: Examining emotion dysregulation as a transdiagnostic factor in young children with ADHD and disruptive behavior disorders

Education: University of Florida - B.S. in Psychology (major) and B.A. in Sociology (major); American University - M.A. in Psychology

Fun Fact: I love to bake bread and read novels

 

Dr. Graziano will not be taking a doctoral student for the 2025-2026 school year.  Click here for program and application information.

Research Staff

Eisler Leyva

Lab Coordinator

Education: Florida International University - B.A. in Psychology (major)

Fun Fact: I love all things spooky

 

Victoria Quintanilla

 

PCIT and STP PreK Coordinator

Education: Florida International University - M.S. in Psychology (Professional Counseling Psychology); 

 

Undergraduate Research Assistants 

 Ana Kondratovitch

 

Education: Florida International University - B.S. in Dietetics & Nutrition (major) and Psychology (minor)

Fun Fact: I was a competitve swimmer, and I love to line dance. 

 

Ana Uribe

 

Education: Florida International University, Sophomore Psychology Student with Applied Behavior Analysis Track

Fun Fact: I have a twin brother!

 

Gabriela Cordonado

 

Education: Florida International University - B.A. in Psychology (major)

Fun Fact: I am the only daughter of four children and love watching anime! I enjoy road trips and have recently travelled the US East Coast from Florida to New York City by car.

 

Fernanda Fontanez

 

Education: Florida International University, Senior Biology and Pre-Medical Student

Fun Fact: I'm ambidextrous! 

 

Lindsay Endicott

 

Education: University of Miami - B.A. in Psychology (major) and Studio Art (minor)

Fun Fact: When I’m not studying or assisting in the lab, you can most likely find me painting in the art studio or striking a pose on the runway!

 

Sofia Gonzalez

 

Education: New York University - B.A. in Psychology (major) and Child & Adolescent Mental Health (minor)

Fun Fact: I am a salsa instructor!

 

Gabriella Santamaria

 

Education: Florida International University - B.S. in Biological Sciences (major)

Fun Fact: I was on a dance team that would perform at Miami Heat and Dolphins halftime shows!

 

Doina Simona Lazar

 

Education: Florida International University - Junior Biological Sciences Student

Fun Fact: I had a role in a telenovela when I was 7 years old!

 

Marco Quintanilla

Education: Florida International University - Sophomore Biological Sciences Student (Pre-Med track)

Fun Fact: I enjoy trying complicated cooking recipes!