2025-2026 Lab Mentees
2025-2026 Editorial Team
Duaa Faquih
Duaa Faquih recently graduated from Vanderbilt University with degrees in Political Science and Psychology and a minor in Human & Organizational Development. She has led research at the Research on Conflict and Collective Action Lab, investigating refugee attitudes in Uganda and bureaucratic repression in the West Bank, and served as President of Vanderbilt’s Muslim Students Association. Duaa also worked with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women, where she authored reports on the use of AI in policing and language-access challenges for survivors. Deeply committed to community advocacy, she has been working with Asians Against Domestic Abuse in Houston, developing youth programming, writing grants, and creating social media campaigns. Duaa is passionate about the intersections of mental health, faith, and culturally grounded services.
Sundas Saboor, MD, MPH
Sundas Saboor, MD, MPH, is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Health Behavior and Health Equity (HBHE) at University of Michigan School of Public Health. She is a physician from Pakistan and did her MPH in Maternal Child Health, Social and Behavioral Sciences from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Broadly, her research interests are Muslim women’s health, global health, and artificial intelligence. She is interested in using artificial intelligence techniques and technology to identify factors that influence health behavior change for enhancing prevention strategies among Muslim Women globally.
2025-2026 Islamic Psychology and History Team
Shahd Fulath Khan | Team Lead Mentee
Shahd Fulath Khan is a registered psychotherapist (Ontario) working with individuals, couples, and families. Her training in neuroscience and psychology led her to continue her journey in researching various psychology topics (e.g., cognitive science) from an Islamic lens. Shahd is currently completing her Islamic studies with Albinaa Almanhaji Academy.
Merve Nursoy-Demir | Team Lead Mentee
Merve Nursoy-Demir, MA, is currently serving as the co-lead of the IPH team in the lab. She has pursued graduate-level education in clinical psychology upon completing her double major in psychology and history at Bogazici University, Istanbul. Her research interests include theories, practices, and institutions of psychology/ psychiatry in premodern Islamic history.
2025-2026 Team Members
Amyna Tarakji, Danah Elsayed, Fatima Alemam, Leena Sfar, M. Furkan Cinisli, Murad Mastrouk, Rahaf Almomani, Rami Dawood, Saniyah Qazi, Sayema Zulfeqar, Sumaiya Qazi, Yusuf Zahurullah
2025-2026 Community Based Participatory Research and Social Justice Team
Maram Saada | Team Lead Mentee
Maram holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Religious Studies from UC Davis, where her undergraduate thesis examined the pathologization of religion in psychology and how the field’s secular orientation has often minimized religion in clinical practice. She is now a second-year Master of Science student in Clinical Psychology at San José State University. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Maram works as a mental health trainee with elementary school children and aspires to become a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She is passionate about fostering resilience, growth, and well-being in children and families through a culturally responsive and compassionate approach.
2025-2026 Team Members
Ammaar Kazi, Hareem Ali, Hibah Berhanu, Jenna Shagan, Dr. Kubra Tor-Cabuk, Dr. Linda Humaidan-Zayed, Ranya Al-Khayyat
2025-2026 Suicide Response Team
Aaima Akbar Cheema | Team Lead Mentee
Currently pursuing a Master’s in Medical Science at the University of Toronto, Aaima is exploring the neurobiological correlates of irritability and suicidality in MDD, using neuroimaging techniques. Previously, Aaima worked as a lab manager in a clinical neurosciences lab conducting research on suicide prevention. Aaima is passionate about studying Muslim mental health from a clinical lens and she aims to get her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology. Outside of research, she enjoys staying active, exploring downtown Toronto, and discovering new cafes.
2025-2026 Team Members
Dania Azzawi, Iman Dar, Sanaa Bladh, Sara Siddiqi, Yasmeen Quadri
2025-2026 Substance Use and Addiction Team
Huda Naeem | Team Lead Mentee
Huda Naeem graduated in May 2025 with a Master’s in Psychology from George Mason University, where she completed an accelerated program focusing on Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience. Her research interests center on the outcomes of trauma, including risk behaviors such as substance use and suicidality, particularly within diverse populations and historically underrepresented communities in behavioral health research. She is also interested in intergenerational trauma and the role of cultural influences in shaping mental health and well-being. Huda is a Hafidha working toward her first Ijaaza and aspires to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology.
2025-2026 Team Members
Abdurrehman Khan, Dewi Qisti, Haneen Hammad, Heba Khan, Maryam Khan, Ridhwanlai Badmos
2025-2026 Global and Refugee Mental Health Team
Talha Topçu, M.Sc. | Team Lead Mentee
Talha Topçu, M.Sc., is a Clinical Psychologist, Psychotherapist in Training, Research Fellow, and PhD Candidate in Global Mental Health. His research explores health inequalities, with a particular focus on how language barriers affect access to and quality of mental health care for migrant and refugee populations. In addition to his academic and clinical training, Talha has studied classical Madrasa disciplines at the IFIS&IZ al-Ġazzālī Academy in Mannheim, Germany, which shapes his integrative and cross-cultural perspective on psychotherapy.
Dr. Miski Osman | Team Lead Mentee
Dr. Miski Osman is a physician, trained at Queen Mary University of London, with an MPH in Health and Social Behavior from Harvard University. Her areas of interest include mental health, refugee and immigrant health, and addressing social determinants of health. On the side, she studies Arabic, Quran, and Islamic Sciences with the Rabata Institute. In her free time, she enjoys reading, playing soccer, and trying new coffee shops.
2025-2026 Team Members
Masa Chamout, Mohammad Edrees Alizai, Sadaf Dada, Seyyide Zeynep Ozlu, Zainab Khatib
2025-2026 Student Mental Health Team
Neshwa Rajeh | Team Lead Mentee
Neshwa B. Rajeh, MPH, is passionate about advancing equity in mental health. With a background in public health, her research explores mental health disparities among marginalized youth and the ways evidence-based interventions can be adapted to diverse communities. Neshwa is pursuing both a PhD in Psychology and an MBA, while also working as a Research Educator at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. Beyond her academic and clinical work, she channels her creativity into entrepreneurship as the co-owner of AteaCo Coffee and Tea, a specialty coffee and tea company.
2025-2026 Team Members
Lina Chihoub, Mahir Awsaf, Malaz Mohamad, Sameeha Ahmed
2025-2026 Psychoeducation Team
Sanah Ahmed | Team Lead Mentee
Sanah Ahmed graduated from Cornell University with a degree in Psychology and is passionate about the intersection of mental health, education, and community well-being. She serves on the Psychoeducation Team, where she contributes to developing culturally responsive training materials and resources aimed at supporting diverse Muslim populations.
Tasnim Saada | Team Lead Mentee
Tasnim is a Master’s candidate in Design at San Francisco State University with a concentration in User Experience (UX) Design. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Cinema and Digital Media with a minor in Religious Studies from the University of California, Davis, where she developed an early research interest in media representations of refugees and Muslims. Her academic and design practice is motivated by an interest in how visual storytelling and user-centered design shape public perceptions and foster cross-cultural understanding.
2025-2026 Team Members
Amine Gülnare İleri, Anayah Ahmed, Anosha Waqar, Ashooha Samsudeen, Asma Begum, Ipshita Khan, Najwa Lindsey, Yagmur Ozturkoglu, Zara Alam
2025-2026 Autism Spectrum Disorder Team
Tahira Ayub | Team Lead Mentee
Tahira Ayub is a 5th-year PsyD Candidate based in Philadelphia, studying clinical psychology. She holds a Master's in both Clinical Psychology and Communication Disorders, as well as Bachelor's degree in Health Sciences and Psychology. Her dissertation is focused on Media Influences on Mental Health and Identity Development of Muslim American Young Adults. She has a strong passion for community organizing and increasing awareness of Mental Health in Muslim communities. After completing her degree, Tahira hopes to continue growing her skills in social justice advocacy, as well as increasing resources and research in Muslim mental health. Tahira loves nature, reading, and exploring, and you can follow her work and adventures on Instagram at @tahira.ayub17 and @tahirawanders.
2025-2026 Team Members
Hala Alkhatib and Dr. Jeannine Saadeh
2025-2026 AI, Islamic Psych, and Muslim Mental Health Team
Omar Al-Naggar | Team Lead Mentee
Omar Al-Naggar holds dual master’s degrees, including one in Islamic Law from Zaytuna College, where he explores the intersection of Islamic thought and modern technology—specifically, the impact of Artificial Intelligence on human intellect (ḥifẓ al-‘aql) and the integration of Islamic psychology with his engineering expertise. He earned both his BS and MS in Engineering from UCLA, specializing in Robotics and Automation, and conducted research at the TANMS Lab. With a robust career in research and development, Omar has contributed to projects in Artificial Intelligence, computer vision, machine learning, and medical technology.
2025-2026 Team Members
Dr. Chiheb Trabelsi, Emad Albalas, Eptehal Nashnoush