Our Team

Abigail Helm, PhD
Lab Director

Dr. Helm is an Assistant Professor and Director of the Pain & Cognition Research Lab at UMass Chan Medical School in the Division of Health Systems Science and the Department of Medicine. Dr. Helm earned her doctorate in Psychology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and began research at UMass Chan in October 2020. Dr. Helm is also a scholar in the HEAL National K12 Clinical Pain Career Development Award (HEAL K12) program. Dr. Helm’s research interests include chronic pain, cognitive neuroscience, developmental psychopathology, and mobile health technologies. Outside of the lab, she enjoys hanging out with her family, running, reading, and watching Godzilla movies.

Eleni Kachadoorian, BA
Clinical Research Coordinator

Eleni is a Clinical Research Coordinator in the Pain & Cognition Research Lab at UMass Chan Medical School in the Division of Health Systems Science and the Department of Medicine. Eleni earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and criminology at Hofstra University, joining the lab in July 2024. Eleni is currently a student in the Clinical Counseling Psychology MA graduate program at Assumption University. In the lab, Eleni manages key research projects, serves as a data analyst, and supports grant submissions and publications. Eleni’s research interests include mental health, psychiatric disorders, sensation and perception, cognitive psychology, and personality. When she’s not in the lab, Eleni likes to play video games, crochet, listen to musicals, and spend time with friends and family.