People

I graduated from The Catholic University of America with my PhD in 2004 and did my postdoc at Duke University. My research focuses on elucidating the cognitive and neural mechanisms that support learning and memory in young and older adults. I employ both behavioral and neuroimaging methods, including functional MRI (fMRI) to explore the interaction of cognitive and neural processes involved in episodic memory. My research investigates the neural correlates of episodic memory during both encoding and retrieval, focusing on the neural processes associated with relational memory and false memory. Other areas of research in my lab focus on implicit learning and cognitive control of memories. With respect to cognitive aging, my research concentrates on the examination of age-related neural markers of cognitive decline, as well as mechanisms for neural compensation.

Download CV

I completed my undergraduate education at George Mason University in 2016 (B.S. in Psychology) and my graduate training at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill in 2023 (Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology). While at UNC, I conducted various behavioral experiments related to human memory with my graduate mentor Neil Mulligan. While in graduate school, I investigated a variety of topics including the role of emotions in memory, the effect of practice on metacognitive judgments about memory performance, and the impacts of various factors on eyewitness memory performance. Currently, I am investigating the neural correlates of true and false memories in younger and older adults, as well as whether age-related memory deficits can be mitigated through cognitive interventions. In my free time, I enjoy cooking, reading, and playing video games.

Download CV

I graduated from The Pennsylvania State University at University Park with a B.S. in Psychology (Neuroscience Option). I received a Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill under the guidance of Dr. Kelly S. Giovanello. At UNC, I studied various aspects of episodic memory including multifeatural encoding, mnemonic discrimination, and the effect of mnemonic prediction errors on memory updating, using both behavioral and neuroimaging (fMRI) methods. Currently at the CANLAB, I am investigating the neural mechanisms of unitization In younger and older adults. In my free time, I like to watch YouTube, play tennis, practice golf, and read One Piece.

Download CV

I graduated from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in the spring of 2021 with a B.S. in Psychology with a concentration in Cognitive Science and minor in Biomechanics. I received my Master’s of Science from Penn State in the fall of 2024. My research interests lie under the umbrella of episodic memory, namely how people use it, how it fails, and how those failures change how people subsequently use, and depend on, their memory in the future. In my free time, I enjoy reading, rock climbing, and treating my dog to the great outdoors.

Download CV

I graduated from Rutgers University-New Brunswick in May 2022 with a B.A. in Psychology and Cognitive Science. I received my Master’s of Science from Penn State in the fall of 2024. I am interested in cognitive aging, specifically as it affects associative memory and memory errors in older adults. My undergraduate honors thesis investigated the effects of recency on immediate visual recognition. In my free time, I like to read, go for walks, and play sudoku.

Download CV

I graduated from Purdue University in 2023 with a B.S. in Brain and Behavioral Sciences. My previous research focuses heavily on neuroimaging using EEG and fMRI, specifically with cognitive and clinical studies. I strive to immerse myself in fMRI analysis and pursue my research passions of memory, cognitive aging, and neuroimaging. My hobbies include listening to music, hiking, reading, and playing video games.

Download CV

I graduated from National Taiwan University (NTU) in May 2023 with an M.S. in Brain and Mind Sciences. I also hold a B.S. (Hons.) degree in Molecular Biotechnology from the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), which I received in May 2019. Before joining the CAN Lab, I worked as a full-time research assistant at National Taiwan University. I am interested in how associative memory interacts with cognitive aging, using fMRI and behavioral methods. My previous master’s thesis focused on how culture influences resting-state brain functional connectivity between Americans and Taiwanese, utilizing higher-resolution fMRI. I also worked on healthy aging projects related to cognitive training and resilience during my RA work. In my free time, I enjoy music (attending indie rock gigs, classical concerts, and music festivals), solo traveling, watching sci-fi series, and exploring exotic cuisines through cooking.

I graduated from Salisbury University in May 2025 with a B.A. in Psychology and double minors in Gerontology and Cognitive Science. During my undergraduate studies, I utilized EEG technology to investigate the effects of memory training on age-related differences in associative versus item memory. I also contributed to a project examining cognitive function in athletes from collision and contact sports, as well as in individuals with no team sport background. In my free time, I enjoy reading, crocheting, and keeping up with capybara memes.

Download CV

I graduated from Denison University in May 2025 with a B.A. in Psychology with a concentration in Neuroscience. My previous research focused on the effects of acute stress on hippocampal activity and the effect of healthy aging on alcohol-related stimulus generalization. I am interested in cognitive aging, particularly changes in the brain in “healthy” aging compared to those observed in individuals or dementia, and how these changes relate to cognitive ability. I hope to improve methods of measuring cognition to enable earlier detection of decline and promote more timely, effective interventions that support brain health and quality of life. In my free time, I like to read, go on walks, and discover new music.

Download CV

I graduated from Nankai University in 2019 with a B.S. in Applied Psychology. I received my M.S. in Developmental and Educational Psychology from Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2022. I am currently a predoctoral fellow in the Pathways T32 training program under the mentorship of Dr. Lynn Martire and Dr. Nancy Dennis. I am interested in how social relationships (such as loneliness, relationship closeness, and relationship quality) relate to physical and cognitive health in middle-aged and older adults, and the potential psychological, behavioral, and neural mechanisms underlying these associations. In my free time, I like playing tennis, swimming, walking in the nature, and taking pictures.

Download CV

Websites:
https://www.shaarp.org/

Hi, I am a current fourth-year, first-generation student here at Penn State! This is my first lab experience, so I am super grateful and excited to be a part of the CAN study. In my free time, I enjoy working out and spending time with friends.

I am a fourth-year undergraduate honors student majoring in biobehavioral health and minoring in neuroscience. My hobbies include listening to music, playing the piano and ukulele, watching rom-coms, and traveling. In prior courses, I enjoyed learning about the information processing model and how brain structure affects function. Through communicating with our research team and participants, I hope to gain a memorable learning experience in how aging influences the brain’s memory processes.

I am a third-year undergraduate student studying psychology and criminology. I enjoy learning about how the brain processes information and studying memory. In my free time, I like to go to the gym, read, and spend time with my friends. I am very excited to gain new experiences working in this lab and to learn valuable information about conducting research.

I am a third-year undergraduate student majoring in Psychology. This is my first lab experience, and I am excited to hopefully gain research skills and build connections. In my free time, I enjoy being outdoors, playing the drums, and spending time with my friends and family.