Aging, Culture and Cognition Laboratory

Angela Gutchess is a professor of psychology at Brandeis University with appointments in neuroscience and the Volen Center for Complex Systems. Her research interests include studying the influences of age and culture on memory and social cognition using behavioral and cognitive neuroscience (fMRI; EEG) methods. The courses she teach at Brandeis include Learning & Memory, Social Neuroscience and Culture, and Cognitive Neuroscience of Aging. When not working, she enjoys traveling, going to Soul Cycle and chilling at home (ideally with her cat nearby).

• Current CV 

Ashley Gilliam is a fifth-year PhD candidate. She holds a BS degree in psychological sciences (neuroscience minor), BA in cultural anthropology, and MA in psychology. Her research interests center around culture and cognition, especially studying within-culture variation (e.g., acculturation, SES, rural/urban differences). This research involves a mix of behavioral and cognitive neuroscience (EEG/ERP) techniques. Currently, she is investigating the impact of acculturation on cognitive strategies longitudinally and piloting a culturally-specific training paradigm for memory. Outside of research, Ashley enjoys making art, rock climbing and playing with her dog.

Nicolette Barber is a second-year PhD student at the ACC lab. She also received her master’s degree from Brandeis University in 2022, while conducting research in the ACC lab. She graduated from the University of New Hampshire with her BS in neuropsychology where she had worked on research projects involving Parkinson’s disease and microbiology. 

In her free time, she likes to read, go to the beach and spend time with her Great Dane.

Sagarika completed her B.S. in Psychology and Certificate in Spanish at Georgia State University, after which they worked at Emory University as a Research Specialist studying how emotion and memory influence learning and development. She is interested in how culture interacts with memory and cognition broadly, and is passionate about promoting equity, justice, and accessibility in science. They love reading, listening to music, visiting museums, and collecting trinkets.

James Qian is a first-year PhD student. He earned a B.A. in Psychology from Westmont College and an M.A. in Experimental Psychology from the University of Chicago, where he studied the relationship between video gaming and cognitive function. Before joining Brandeis, he worked on large-scale longitudinal studies of Alzheimer’s disease in underrepresented populations at the Memory and Aging Center at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). His research interests center on cognitive aging in a cultural and sociodemographic context, including the impact of culture and aging on memory and social cognition.

In his free time, James enjoys traveling, playing basketball and video games.

Chun-Yi Lee is a PhD visiting scholar from National Taiwan University. He had an M.Sc. from the Graduate Institute of Brain and Mind Sciences and bachelor’s degrees in Forestry and Resource Conservation at the National Taiwan University. He was interested in differential neural processing of value during decision-making in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and healthy controls during his master’s degree. Also, he was involved in the cross-culture project called “Culture-related differences in the neural processing of probability during mixed lottery value-based decision-making.” Currently, he is collaborating with the forestry team on the neural mechanism of Nature-Based Interventions with environmental information about forests. Outside of research, he enjoys going to forest bathing and mountain climbing.

Hailey Fuchs is a second-year M.A. student in the Aging, Culture, and Cognition Lab. She earned a B.S. in Psychology from Plymouth State University in 2023. She is interested in research that combines aspects of developmental, social, and cognitive psychology. In her free time, she enjoys thrifting, playing games with friends, and watching documentaries.

Iva is the current lab manager for the ACC lab. She earned her B.A. in Psychology from Brandeis University, where she completed a senior honors thesis on the effects of self and other-referencing on associative memory for social information across age and culture. Her research interests include social cognition, self-referential thinking, and memory across the lifespan. She plans to pursue a doctoral degree in social psychology. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, cooking and visiting museums with her friends.

Qihao is a senior majoring in neuroscience and psychology from Beijing, China. His research interests fall into social & cognitive neuroscience using behavioral measures and EEG technique. Specifically, he explored the effect of acculturation on self and other-enhancement through measures of memory, N400, and late positive potential. He is passionate about pursuing a PhD in cognitive neuroscience. Outside academics, Qihao enjoys collecting Marvel figurines, listening to Taylor Swift, and traveling.

Mona Houjazy is a junior attending Brandeis University, majoring in neuroscience and psychology, with a minor in chemistry. Her interest in research lies within cognitive neuropsychology and the cultural influences on problem-solving capabilities. After graduation, Mona hopes to continue in neuropsychology research, exploring the furthering of her education to medical school or pursuing a doctoral degree. Outside of academics, Mona enjoys expressing her creativity through henna and makeup, being outdoors, and exploring the world through food.

Cédric is a freshman at Brandeis University, intending to major in neuroscience. He is interested in how culture and language differences influence cognitive processes, specifically comparing monolingual and bilingual individuals. His other interests include the neuroscience of gender, attraction, and evolutionary psychology. In his free time, Cédric enjoys playing guitar, archery, and traveling.