SCoNeLab

Damian A. Stanley is an associate professor of Psychology at Adelphi University and a visiting professor at the California Institute of Technology. After completing his Ph.D. investigating the neural mechanisms of mid-level vision at New York University in 2005, he turned his focus toward developing a computational account of the neurocognitive processes through which we learn about and represent other people and social groups. To accomplish this he uses computational models of behavior and model-based brain-imaging to characterize typical and atypical (e.g. in autism spectrum disorder) social learning and decision-making. In his spare (haha) time he enjoys making fresh pasta, cooking, hiking, camping, good food, live music, and general socializing.

Theo Andre B.S. (Psychology and Political Science; University of Houston). Theo's research interests center on understanding how individuals think, feel, and act in groups—how group identity shapes interpersonal interaction and, more broadly, fuels political behavior, intergroup conflict, and collective violence. Theo is especially interested in the psychological and neural mechanisms underlying how we represent other people, and how our opinions of others are modulated by appearance, social context, and identity. Theo is currently working on designing tasks that target trait inference and theory-of-mind reasoning to dissect the cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying how people learn about others. His long term goals are to pursue a Ph.D. and research as a career. Theo enjoys mechanical reasoning and carpentry, and is making a documentary about pidgeons.

Ken Anderson, MS, CCC-SLP (Master's Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders). Ken is interested in how sex-specific cognitive and behavioral differences shape the experience of autism, particularly in individuals with Level 1 ASD. His research focuses on how these differences, especially among females, affect identification, diagnosis, and access to appropriate therapeutic supports. He is conducting a dissertation study on sex-based differences in executive functioning, Theory of Mind, socialization patterns, and mental health in adults with and without Level 1 autism. His future goals include pursuing a career in academia and research, with a focus on autism advocacy and advancing understanding of underrepresented autistic populations. He loves Star Wars, iced-coffee, and hiking.

Rebecca Barnes (she/her/hers; BA Spanish, MS Elementary Education, MEd Educational Administration, MST Special Education, MA Psychology). Rebecca is interested in how the relationship between social learning and decision making and mental health can inform treatment, particularly in individuals with borderline personality disorder and/or autism. Additionally, she is interested in social learning and decision making and EEG, as well as the relationship between mind wandering and psychopathy. Rebecca is studying to become a Clinical Psychologist and aspires to do a combination of clinical work, research, and teaching in the future. In her free time she enjoys reading and tending to an indoor jungle that quickly took over her apartment during the pandemic.

Mingwei Zhou (she/her/hers; MS, M.Ed). Mingwei is broadly interested in how much free will the brain actually has-or, put another way, how much of our behavior is truly under conscious control. She is especially curious about the brain as a “prediction machine” and how experiences, particularly trauma, might shape or disrupt its ability to make predictions about the world. She enjoys exploring these questions at the intersection of neuroscience and lived experience. She is still exploring her future goals, but is excited about both pursuing research that bridges basic neuroscience and clinical significance, and working to promote systemic change in mental health through policy or advocacy. She can eat tomato and egg noodles everyday for a month without getting tired of it.

Lindsey Wolfram (she/her; BA, MA, PhD in progress). Her research interest is in mind wandering, specifically the qualities and content of spontaneous thought and its relationship to psychopathology and personality. She is currently working on her dissertation, which investigates the relationship between mind wandering content, psychopathology, and personality using ecological momentary assessment.

Ariyanna Simmons, MA (she/her; B.A. in Psychology, M.A. in Clinical Psychology). Her research explores how storytelling can be leveraged to reduce racial bias and promote prosocial behavior. Her current project investigates the role of empathic storytelling in reducing racial bias and increasing critical consciousness. Her goal is to become a School Psychologist and use the knowledge gained in the lab to create safer and more equitable schools. She has visited over 150 coffee shops around the world!

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Hannah Homer (Bachelors in Psychology). She is interested in how personality differences/mental health influences the perception and impression formation of others. Additionally, she is interested in how cultural factors influence social categorization and stereotyping.