Below you will find a copy of my CV. If you have further questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me by email: smerilan1@gsu.edu. For your convenience, there is a PDF copy at the bottom of the page.

Contents

Syrina Merilan

Urban Life 736 140 Decatur Street SE | Atlanta, GA 30303 | smerilan1@gsu.edu|

EDUCATION

PhD in Developmental Psychology, Expected Graduation 2025

Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA

Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Graduated Spring 2019

Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA

AWARDS/HONORS

Language and Literacy Graduate Fellowship | 2020

Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA

Diversity Award | 2019

Psychology Undergraduate Research Conference,

Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA

Outstanding Academic Performance in a Biology Course| 2017

Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA

POSTER PRESENTATIONS

Merilan, S.J., Sevick, R., Romski, M. (2021). How does Augmentative and Alternative Communication and Conversational Turn-Taking Impact Vocabulary Size and Word Learning? Poster to be presented at Language & Literacy Day Conference, Atlanta, GA.

Merilan, S.J., Gonzalez-Ortiz, I., Galvez, E., Brooks, R.N., Limia, V.D., & Özçalişkan, Ş. (2019). The Effect of Gender on Spatial Language Use in Latino Preschoolers and Their Parents. Poster presented at Georgia State University Psychology Undergraduate Research Conference, Atlanta, GA.

Gonzalez-Ortiz, I., Merilan, S.J, Galvez, E., Brooks, R.N., Ramos, Y., Limia, V.D., & Ozcliskan, S. (2019). Talking To Your Boys Vs Girls About Math: Does Ethnicity Matter? Poster presented at Georgia State University Psychology Undergraduate Research Conference, Atlanta, GA.

Carter L. & Merilan, S.J (2018). Georgia State University’s Student Journey Map. Poster presented at the Georgia State Undergraduate Research Conference, Atlanta, GA.

Carter L. & Merilan, S.J (2018). Georgia State University’s Student Journey Map. Poster presented at the Georgia State University STEM Research Conference, Atlanta, GA.

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

Center for Research on Atypical Development | 2020-Present

Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA

Doctoral Student, Advisor: Dr. Rose Sevcik

The Toddler Project studies the effect of an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) intervention on children with developmental disabilities.

Run appropriate analyses of longitudinal data in SPSS and Excel
Code speech transcriptions for parent and child spatial language
Count spatial language in for parent and child speech

Language and Gesture Lab | 2019-2020

Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA

The Language and Gesture Lab is a project that studies the relationship between parent’s and children’s spatial language and gesture in monolingual and bilingual individuals.

Transcribe child and parent speech using Computerized Language Analysis (CLAN) software
Score child responses on 2-D and 3-D expressive and receptive takes
Code speech transcriptions for parent and child spatial language
Count spatial language and math talk in for parent and child speech

Nia Project | 2019

Grady Hospital, Atlanta, GA

The Nia Project studies the effect of cultural-informed intervention for African-American women who are victims of intimate partner violence and have suicidal ideation.

Assist in weekly support groups for victims of domestic violence
Track patient attendance
Assist in literary review for researcher papers
Manage patient medical records
Compile and record satisfaction data from patients

Student Journey Mapping Research | 2017-2018

Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA

Student Journey Mapping is a project that assessed Georgia State’s impact on its students and how they can improve their experience, while attending.

Design flyers, brochures, social media and developed marketing strategies
Manage 200 surveys and 4 interviews related to their student journey
Resolve inconsistencies in interviewees’ responses by means of appropriate questioning and/or explanation
Analyze qualitative data with SPSS
Met with project stakeholders to discuss progress

INTERNSHIP/WORK EXPERIENCE

Registered Behavior Technician | 2019-2020

Autism Learning Partners, Atlanta, GA

Administer ABA therapy 20 hours a week for children with autism
Consistently recording child behavioral data during each session
Assess client’s behavioral changes over the course of treatment
Evaluate client’s behavioral plans with Supervising Clinical Directors
Train incoming behavior technicians in data collection and ABA therapy

Grant Writing, Stewardship, & Development Intern | 2018-2019

Open Hand Atlanta, Atlanta, GA

Scout possible grants to fund the non-profits initiatives and draft grant proposals
Review and adding research articles and summaries to a research depository
Organize research designs for research based grants and funding

Project Manager Intern | 2018

Instructional Innovation and Technology, Atlanta, GA

Assist project manager with the completion of planning, pre-development, scope, requirements, cost, schedule, and closing assignments
Communicate project requirements
Create status reports; drafting internal correspondence
Perform general duties as assigned related to the projects supported

TEACHING EXPERIENCES

Guest Lecturer | 2021

Careers in Psychology

Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA

Undergraduate Teaching Assistant | 2019

Introduction to Psychology

Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA

Provide in-class support to 124 Introduction to Psychology students
Create custom worksheets for biweekly study sessions outside of the classroom
Record weekly attendance

Undergraduate Teaching Assistant | 2018

Psychology Research Methods & Statistic

Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA

Provide in-class support for 25 Advance Research Method Students
Create worksheets and hosting statistics study sessions
Edit student’s research papers in APA format

Statistics Tutor | 2018

Psychology Research Methods Statistic

Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA

Tutor students weekly from multiple classes on psychology research methods and statistics
Led group learning sessions and facilitated group discussions
Edit research papers in APA format

LEADERSHIP/ACTIVITIES

Programing Chair | 2021

Graduate Association for Student Psychologists

Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA

Organize events each semester that provide social, educational, and cultural skills

Resident Assistant | 2018-2019

University Housing

Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA

Oversee 150 freshman residents
Hold check-in with each resident
Organize 5 events per semester that provide social, educational, and cultural skills
Report student issues, incidents, and violations of Housing and University policies
Provide emergency support and notify on-call professionals when necessary

Vice President | 2018-2019

Golden Key Honor Society

Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA

Oversee 300 members
Coordinate with the President to plan 20 events throughout the academic year
Oversee executive board to promote awareness of Golden Key on campus
Ensure the chapter met minimum Chapter Standards

Advisory Member | 2016-2019

Student Library Advisory Council

Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA

Offer student opinions on library services, resources, facilities, and policies
Suggested library proposals for Student Technology Fee’s fund of $124,295 annually

News Editor | 2016-2017

Signal Newspaper

Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA

Organize weekly team meetings and oversaw a minimum of 20 reporters
Delegate covering, assigning, editing and publishing news stories weekly
Ranked 6th among 33 students in the SEJC “Best News writer” contest

SKILLS

Computer Skills:

CLAN System Software

SPSS

R Program

Excel

Microsoft Office Suite

Certifications:

Research Data Services @ Georgia State University (RDS@GSU) Data Certification: Completed workshops on data analysis tools (SPSS, 2 hours; R, 3 hours)

Registered Behavior Technician

Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI)

Microsoft Teams Essential

Training Project Management Foundations: Communication

Project Management Foundations: Stakeholders

Project Management Foundations: Change

Project Management Foundations: Ethics

Project Management Foundations Project Management Foundations: Teams

References available upon request.