Meet the Lab

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.

Research Assistants

  • 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 plans to pursue a master’s degree in Gerontology after graduation. She hopes to work directly with individuals experiencing neurodegenerative conditions and those that care for them, while also exploring opportunities in policy to advocate and bring meaningful change to the field.

  • Elizabeth Rojas

    Elizabeth Rojas, a two-time graduate of the University of Southern California, is currently a first-year PhD student in the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology. As a Research Assistant in the Falzarano Family Caregiving Lab, Elizabeth is interested in understanding caregiving for patients affected by cognitive decline and its implications on an expert level. A gerontologist by training, Elizabeth’s ultimate ambition is to help older adults and their families alleviate their most acute stressors.

  • Marguerite Larson

    Marguerite is an undergraduate student at the University of Southern California who joined the FFCL team in May 2024. She is majoring in Human Development and Aging on the social science track and is minoring in dance. She hopes to make an impact on the well-being of older adults by focusing on enhancing their lives through research and advocacy.

  • 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 plans to pursue a PhD in neuroscience focusing on neurodegenerative disease.

  • 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.

  • 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 like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer's using gene therapy and stem cells. In the future, she aims to lead clinical trials aligned with these interests and practice as a neurologist, making a lasting impact while collaborating with patients and their families.

  • Karen Li

    Karen is an undergraduate student at the University of Southern California who joined the FFCL team in January 2025. With a strong passion for the medical humanities, community engagement, and advocacy work in health and social justice, she hopes to pursue a Master’s degree in Narrative Medicine before attending medical school. In the future, she aims to integrate her background in gerontology with her interests in Narrative Medicine and trauma-informed care to support patients and their caregivers as a physician.