UCLA CART Honors Chloe Ritika as the 2023 UCLA CART Sigman Scholar in Its 6th Consecutive Year

Fall 2023

In its 6th consecutive year, UCLA CART has named Chloe Retika the 2023 UCLA CART Sigman Scholar. The UCLA CART Sigman Scholars Research Program recognizes highly promising UCLA undergraduate students interested in completing a short-term, in-depth research project under the mentorship of a UCLA CART faculty member. This program continues to be a central component of UCLA CART’s mission, exposing students to scientific research. It encourages and engages students considering careers in science, medicine, and public health focused on autism spectrum disorder.

This summer, Ms. Retika worked under the mentorship of Dr. Amanda Gulsrud, Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science in the Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA and Clinical Director of the UCLA Child and Adult Neurodevelopmental (CAN) Clinic. Working with the Simons Foundation’s SPARK database, Ms. Retika investigated the unique relationships between autistic females and their parents in relation to individual characteristics such as adaptive functioning and behavior problems. She also explored parental health outcomes, including caregiver strain, anxiety, and depression.

“This is unique information as there are few datasets as large or which measure these outcomes across both biological parents. I am excited to have Chloe interested in this particular set of questions,” says Gulsrud.

“We were incredibly impressed by Chloe’s application, her dedication to autism research, and her enthusiasm for this project in particular,” says UCLA CART Director, Dr. Daniel Geschwind.

The Sigman Scholars Research Program is supported by the Sigman Scholars Fund at UCLA CART. It is through the generosity of donors and philanthropy that UCLA CART can continue to offer this important opportunity to exceptional undergraduate students. For more information on how you can support the UCLA CART Sigman Scholars Research Program, please contact Chris Carbado, Senior Director of Development for UCLA Health Sciences, at 310-562-6488 or ccarbado@mednet.ucla.edu.