Meet the Team
Principal Investigator
Expertise: Cognitive neuroscience, executive function, neuromodulator systems (dopamine, acetylcholine), aging.
Education: Postdoctoral Fellowship, Neuroscience, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, UC Berkeley; Ph.D., Neuroscience, University of Michigan; B.A., Neuroscience, Oberlin College.
Program Managers
Megan joined the lab in September 2023 as the research program manager. She is the primary point of contact for study participants, manages the administrative aspects of the research, and is spearheading new initiatives for diverse community engagement. Her previous research involved the biospychosocial aspects of chronic pain and muscle physiology.
Education: Postdoctoral Fellowship, Biomechanics, Biodesign Lab, Harvard University; Ph.D., Psychology/Exercise Physiology, Ohio University; M.S. Exercise Physiology, Ohio University; B.S. Exercise Science, St. Ambrose University.
Alex is interested in applying project management tools and methods, such as Agile and Scrum methodologies, communication strategies, and resource planning to streamline processes, optimize operational efficiency, and enhance overall collaboration. He previously worked as a Clinical Research Coordinator in the lab from September 2022-April 2024 where he focused primarily on data collection and coordination for the neuroimaging studies.
Education: Pursuing an M.S. in Project Management, Boston University; B.S., Psychology, University of Miami
Research Assistants
Research Interests: Johanna's research interests include the neuro-biological basis of mental illness and structural/functional brain changes in aging.
Education: B.S., Neuroscience, University of Rochester
Research Interests: Mariah is interested in the psychological effects that adoption and institutionalization have on mental health outcomes in children and adolescents. Her previous research experiences include working for the All of Us Research Program through Massachusetts General Hospital, being a research assistant for the Chaplaincy Innovation Lab through Brandeis University, and working on multiple published studies about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on frontline staff at MGH.
Education: B.A., Psychology, Sociology, Brandeis University
Emma is interested in the uses of PET/MR imaging in advancing the research and treatment of neurodegenerative disease and psychiatric conditions. Her previous research explored memory and cognition of older adults, particularly regarding the influence of age-related hearing loss on the recall of rapid narrative speech.
Education: B.S., Neuroscience, Brandeis University
Postdoctoral Fellows
Research Interests: Hsiang-Yu used a multimodal approach including pupillometry assessment, MRI, and modeling during her Ph.D. to investigate decision-making and reward learning in aging. Her current research interests include PET and pupillometry study to understand how age-related decline in the catecholaminergic functioning such as dopamine or norepinephrine may affect decision-making in old age and how it may be related to brain network activity or tau pathology.
Education: Ph.D., Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden
Research Interests: Tom studies how catecholamine synthesis modulates age-related changes in cognition and functional brain network architecture. His work combines multimodal neuroimaging with analysis methods from network science. During his Ph.D., Tom used fMRI to study how brain networks interact over time during rule-learning and abstract reasoning tasks.
Education: Ph.D., Computational Neuroscience, Boston University
Research Interests: Jenny’s research centers on the behavioral and neurobiological mechanisms underlying motivation and decision-making across the adult life span. To study this, she uses a variety of techniques, including behavioral, neuroimaging (fMRI, PET), and translational (EMA, passive sensing) methods.
Education: Ph.D., Psychological & Brain Sciences, Washington University
Graduate Students
Research Interests: Claire’s current interests involve studying how the dopamine and norepinephrine systems are related to mechanisms of resilience and reserve in aging, and how these mechanisms impact structural and functional brain changes in healthy older adults. Before starting a Ph.D. at Brandeis, Claire worked as the lab manager in the Neurochemistry and Cognition Lab.
Education: B.A., Psychology, Rice University.
Research Interests: Teodora's research interests include neuroimaging and neuromodulation, specifically looking at how the serotonin system works to compensate for changes related to normal and pathological aging. In the past, she has worked on understanding the evolutionary purpose of chronic pain using mouse models, as well as on characterizing the proteome of RNA granules.
Education: M.S., Neuroscience, Brandeis University; B.S., Psychology, McGill University
Research Interests: In the past, Rachel has worked in psychological assessment and imaging techniques such as fNIRS, MRI, and PET. Her current research interests use fMRI and PET imaging techniques to understand sex differences of catecholaminergic functioning in age-related cognitive decline and what roles these difference may play in brain network activity or tau pathology.
Education: B.A., Psychology, Brandeis University
Research Interests: Daisy's research interests are centered within the domains of Aging, Cognition & Perception, and Memory changes associated with aging and underlying mechanisms of neurodegenerative illnesses. e.g Alzheimer's disease.
Education: B.S., Psychology, University of Massachusetts Lowell; A.S., Public Administration and Social Service Professions, North Shore Community College
Research Interests: Adam's research interests currently use structural MRI and PET imaging techniques and is focused on the dopaminergic system's impact on aging pathologies and cognitive processes. Adam’s previous research experience investigated healthy aging, emotional regulation, and well-being.
Education: B.S., Neuroscience, University of New Hampshire
Undergraduate Research Assistants
Research Interests: Isaac runs neuropsychological testing sessions for the Brandeis Aging Brain Study and the Aging, Memory, and Emotional Salience studies. After college, Isaac plans to pursue a Ph.D. in neuroscience with the ultimate goal of running his own lab studying complex cognitive function.
Education: Pursuing a B.S. in Neuroscience with minors in Computer Science and Linguistics
Research Interests: McKenna is assisting with the Memory and Eye Tracking in Aging (META) study, as well as the neuropsychological battery. After college, McKenna plans to pursue a Ph.D. in neuroscience with the ultimate goal of researching pharmaceutical development.
Education: Pursuing a B.S. in Neuroscience and Biology with a minor in Anthropology
Research Interests: Katherine is assisting with Brandeis aging Brain Study (BABS) neuropsych grading, and is interested in exploring the role of neuromodulator systems in aging. After college, Katherine plans to pursue a M.D with an ultimate goal of working in neuropathology.
Education: Pursuing a B.S in HSSP with a minor in Studio Art
Research Interests: Shaian is assisting with analysis of Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) data acquired as part of the LC study. After undergraduate studies, Shaian plans to pursue a Ph.D. in neurochemistry to run his own lab studying neuropathological disorders.
Education: Pursuing a B.S. in Chemistry & Psychology
Research Interests: Chiamaka is assisting with the Brandeis Aging Brain Study (BABS) neuropsych assessment grading, and is interested in researching the neurobiological roots of mental illnesses and dopamine’s influence on cognitive processes. Chiamaka plans to pursue a M.D. with the goal of working as a neuropsychiatrist.
Education: Pursuing B.S. in Neuroscience
Alumni
Education: Psychology, B.A. Point Loma Nazarene University; Former Research Assistant
Jourdan graduated from the Brandeis University in 2024 with her Ph.D. in Psychology. She is now a Post-doctoral Fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital investigating network dynamics that underly cognitive symptoms of long-COVID and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome using multimodal neuroimaging.
Education: Ph.D., Psychology, Brandeis University; M.A., Psychology, Brandeis University; B.A., Neuroscience, Boston University.
Education: M.P.H., University of Massachusetts Amherst; B.S., Biology, Stonehill College; Former Research Associate
Education: B.S., Biology, Kansas State University; Former Rotating Neuroscience PhD Student
Education: B.S. in Neuroscience; Former Undergraduate Research Assistant
Education: Pursuing a B.S. in Neuroscience and Psychology; Former Undergraduate Research Assistant
B.A., Psychology, University of Colorado, Boulder; Former Research Assistant
