The ALAS Lab

Jerry Fu is a third-year PhD student in Social Work at Boston University. His research examines how structural stigma shapes health outcomes and access to comprehensive sexuality education among sexual and gender minority populations, within a broader focus on the health equity of LGBTQIA+ individuals and immigrants. Prior to doctoral training, he worked as a licensed social worker and LGBTQ+ advocate in Taiwan, and has experience designing, facilitating, and evaluating school-based sexuality education programs in both Taiwan and the United States. He is mentored by Dr. López and Dr. Daniel Miller.

Tiffany is a graduate student at Boston University School of Medicine. She earned a B.A. in Biological Sciences from Cornell University, where she conducted discipline-based education research examining evidence-based approaches to STEM teaching and learning. Her academic and research interests include health equity, infectious disease, and community health. Her medical thesis advisor is Dr. López. Outside of research, Tiffany enjoys mentoring students, reading, and spending time with family and friends.

Micaiah is an M.S. candidate in Medical Sciences at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, conducting thesis research in the ALAS Lab with Dr. Jacobson López. He advances health equity and clinical outcomes for underserved communities, drawing on his experience as a cardiology patient care aide, non-emergency medical transporter, and high school chemistry teacher. He holds a B.S. in Biochemistry from Oakwood University, a historically Black institution, where he studied silver nanoparticle–bacteria dynamics as an NSF HBCU-UP Scholar, and conducted oncology research on BRCA1–NRF2 interactions at Meharry Medical College. In his free time, he enjoys music, basketball, and photography.

Marcus is a clinical MSW alumnus of the Boston University School of Social Work and earned his bachelor’s degree at Dartmouth College in African and African American Studies. He currently interns at Essence of Pearls Counseling, where he works with BIPOC clients aged 8 to 48 in individual, family, and couples contexts. Marcus supports clients in navigating traumatic life experiences and achieving their goals through liberation, strengths-based, psychodynamic, narrative, and mindfulness approaches. He works with the ALAS and MenTalK labs and is also involved in the Yale NIH study.

Rhea specialized in Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Boston University, with a strong foundation in statistical programming, clinical research, and public health data analysis. She holds a Bachelor of Dental Surgery and serves as a Graduate Research Assistant in the ALAS Lab, where she screens and recruits study participants, conducts literature reviews, and carries out healthcare disparities research. Previously she worked as a Clinical Documentation Specialist, improving patient data accuracy and clinical workflows, and interned at MGM Dental College & Hospital providing care in public health centers. She is dedicated to using data-driven approaches to address health disparities in underserved populations.

Xavier is a graduate student at Boston University pursuing a dual degree in Medical Sciences and Public Health, with a concentration in Epidemiology and Biostatistics. He aspires to attend medical school and to use his training to advance health equity and improve outcomes for underserved communities. His medical thesis advisor is Dr. López. He works with the ALAS and MenTalK labs, contributing to the BU CISS and Yale NIH studies.

Lukas is a second-year PhD student in Boston University’s School of Social Work. His research uses qualitative methods to examine how systems of oppression — including racism and cisheterosexism — shape relational navigation among individuals with intersecting marginalized identities. He is also interested in cultural betrayal trauma theory, trauma and dissociation in sociocultural context, social determinants of health, and HIV/AIDS. He holds two master’s degrees: one in clinical mental health counseling and an MSW in clinical social work, both from Rhode Island College. Before beginning doctoral studies, Lukas worked across psychiatric emergency services, higher education case management, university accessibility services, hospital social work, mental health education, and suicide-prevention clinical research. He is committed to producing research that centers the lived experiences of marginalized communities and informs equitable social work practice.