Our Team — Falzarano Family Caregiving Lab

Meet the Lab

Research Assistants

Francesca Falzarano, PhD

Lab Director

Dr. Falzarano, Director of The FFCL, is a developmental psychologist and Assistant Professor at the University of Southern California’s Leonard Davis School of Gerontology. Motivated by her own experiences serving as the primary caregiver for both parents from a young age, Dr. Falzarano’s research aims to understand and address the diverse, evolving needs of caregivers throughout the dementia journey, from diagnosis to bereavement, and examine how to leverage technology to better support family caregivers. She is currently funded by the National Institute on Aging to develop and evaluate a web-based tool that connects caregivers with relevant resources to meet their needs. Her overall goal is to establish a line of innovative, technology-based intervention work to connect vulnerable caregivers with personalized resources to enhance well-being.

Annabelle Greenfield

Research Coordinator

Annabelle joined the FFCL in September 2022. She graduated magna cum laude with honors from Fordham University in 2022 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology. During her tenure at Fordham, Annabelle was actively involved in research related to various subjects such as psychological assessments, body image, and the influence of smartphone usage on mental health. Since her graduation, she has dedicated her research endeavors to enhancing the well-being of dementia family caregivers and examining care-partner dynamics through the utilization of technology as a research coordinator at the University of Southern California's Leonard Davis School of Gerontology.

Francesco “Frankie” Osso

Frankie joined the FFCL in June 2022. He graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. in psychology and minors in sociology and disability studies. At Fordham, he served as a suicide prevention intern for Counseling and Psychological Services, completed an honors thesis during his senior year, and went on to become a TA for a youth participatory action research course. He now works as a research assistant for Weill Cornell Medicine and will be pursuing a Ph.D. in developmental psychology with a focus on young caregiver development at Fordham University fall of 2024.

Kate Bumbalova

Kate is an undergraduate student at the University of Washington who joined the FFCL team in March 2023. Majoring in Psychology and Data Science, she aspires to pursue a PhD in Psychology where she hopes to make substantial contributions to mental health research, bridging the gaps in understanding to improve the lives of individuals facing these challenges. She has contributed to other research projects, including an ADHD focused lab where she gained valuable experience in studying neurodevelopmental disorders and their impact on children’s lives.

Carly Kalunian

Carly Kalunian is a third year undergraduate Psychology and Brain Sciences student at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). Carly joined the FFCL in March 2023. Outside of the lab, she volunteers as a peer-to-peer non-crisis mental health supporter for a text line on UCSB’s campus. She hopes to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology after graduation. She is passionate about making mental health care accessible, and hopes to open an accessible practice one day.

Hannah Mason

Hannah joined the FFCL as a research assistant in October 2022. She graduated from Fordham University with a BS in Biological Sciences and Psychology in 2023. Hannah is currently a research assistant at Weill Cornell Medicine’s Center of Aging and Behavioral Research. She hopes to pursue a PhD in neuroscience focusing on neurodegenerative disease.

Zoe Thomas

Zoe is an undergraduate student at the University of Washington, intending to study neuroscience and bioethics. She joined the FFCL as a research assistant in March 2023. Her research interests include developing treatments for neurodegenerative disorders utilizing gene therapy and stem cells, and investigating the brain mechanisms that contribute to cognitive processes such as memory and perception. In the future, she hopes to pursue an MD/PhD, which will give her the opportunity to better understand and incorporate patient needs into her research.

Rachel Bloom

Rachel Bloom is a fifth-year doctoral student in Fordham University's Applied Developmental Psychology program and works as a research associate in the FFCL. Her research focuses on how families navigate medical decision-making and institutions, with projects centering on advance care planning engagement, and enhancing well-being for people with dementia and their families. Rachel earned her MS in Bioethics from Columbia University in 2016 and her ScB from Brown University in 2013.

Lab Mascots

Lilibet

Lilibet is the FFCL’s resident lab mascot and chief taste-tester of all research treats. A Cavapoochon originally from Salt Lake City, Utah, she decided to make the move to the Big Apple to pursue research. When Lili isn't busy napping or playing fetch, you can find her conducting studies on canine behavior and treat preferences. Her primary research interests include: 1) Evaluating the optimal belly rub duration for maximum relaxation; 2) Investigating the correlation between treat size and excitement levels; 3) Conducting field studies on the most effective methods of begging for food.

Shiloh

Shiloh is the FFCL’s second resident mascot and a German Shepherd mix. Shiloh is an expert researcher in how to make puppy dog eyes. Originally from Mexico, Shiloh has conducted her studies in both New York and Los Angeles – a bi-costal researcher! Shiloh’s primary research focus is determining where is the most comfortable spot for a nap. Outside of her nap related studies, she can be found playing with one of her many, many Lamby stuffed animals or watching Bluey on TV.