Lab Members
Susan M. Rivera, PhD (University of California, Berkeley), Professor, Psychology
tel: 530-747-3802 office: 202 Cousteau Pl., Suite 250, Room 245
email: srivera@ucdavis.edu
Dr. Rivera uses classic behavioral as well as neuroimaging (fMRI) techniques to investigate such things as the development of dorsal vs. ventral visual processing, object representation, numerical cognition and affective processing. As a member of the UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute, she also conducts research contrasting typical development with that of children with neurodevelopmental disorders including Autism and fragile X Syndrome. One of her main research goals is to build a framework for integrating the previously disparate methodological and theoretical orientations of cognitive developmental and neuroscience research. By employing a variety of converging research techniques, she strives to elucidate the complex brain-behavior relationships that underlie cognitive development.
Curriculum Vitae
Jun Yi Wang, PhD (University of Texas at Dallas), Project Scientist
tel: 530-747-3808 office: 202 Cousteau Pl., Suite 250, Room 248
Jun Yi is a project scientist working with Susan Rivera, Randi Hagerman and Paul Hagerman. Her long-term research goal is to bridge the gap between neuroimaging and molecular biology, particularly for treating neurodegenerative diseases. Currently, she conducts neuroimaging studies to detect structural abnormalities associated with Fragile X premutation and performs biochemistry studies to uncover molecular mechanisms underlying the neuroimaging findings,
tel: 530-747-3808 office: 202 Cousteau Pl., Suite 250, Room 248
Jun Yi is a project scientist working with Susan Rivera, Randi Hagerman and Paul Hagerman. Her long-term research goal is to bridge the gap between neuroimaging and molecular biology, particularly for treating neurodegenerative diseases. Currently, she conducts neuroimaging studies to detect structural abnormalities associated with Fragile X premutation and performs biochemistry studies to uncover molecular mechanisms underlying the neuroimaging findings,
Mariya Chernenok, BA (The Pennsylvania State University), Graduate Student
tel: 530-747-3808 office: 202 Cousteau Pl., Suite 250, Room 249
Mariya is a graduate student in the Human Development department. She is interested in investigating how low-level visual perception and attention influence affective processes across typical development and in individuals with autism spectrum disorder. She plans to use ERPs and eye-tracking to explore these themes.
Mariya Chernenok, BA (The Pennsylvania State University), Graduate Student
tel: 530-747-3808 office: 202 Cousteau Pl., Suite 250, Room 249
Mariya is a graduate student in the Human Development department. She is interested in investigating how low-level visual perception and attention influence affective processes across typical development and in individuals with autism spectrum disorder. She plans to use ERPs and eye-tracking to explore these themes.
Emily Fourie, BA (Princeton University), Graduate Student
tel: 530-747-3808 office: 202 Cousteau Pl., Suite 250, Room 249
Emily is a psychology graduate student and a member of the Neurocognitive Development Lab. She is interested in studying facial and affective processing in both typically- and atypically-developing children, especially individuals with autism. She plans to use eye-tracking and imaging techniques to draw comparisons between populations.
tel: 530-747-3808 office: 202 Cousteau Pl., Suite 250, Room 249
Emily is a psychology graduate student and a member of the Neurocognitive Development Lab. She is interested in studying facial and affective processing in both typically- and atypically-developing children, especially individuals with autism. She plans to use eye-tracking and imaging techniques to draw comparisons between populations.
Patrick Dwyer, BA (University of Victoria), Graduate Student
tel: 530-747-3808 office: 202 Cousteau Pl., Suite 250, Room 249
Patrick is a graduate student in the psychology department with a broad interest in helping to ensure that autistic and neurodivergent people can lead fulfilling lives. He plans to use eye-tracking and electrophysiology to explore the heterogeneity of the autism spectrum and different phenotypes of autism, and is particularly interested in studying sensory processing and sensory sensitivities in autism.
tel: 530-747-3808 office: 202 Cousteau Pl., Suite 250, Room 249
Patrick is a graduate student in the psychology department with a broad interest in helping to ensure that autistic and neurodivergent people can lead fulfilling lives. He plans to use eye-tracking and electrophysiology to explore the heterogeneity of the autism spectrum and different phenotypes of autism, and is particularly interested in studying sensory processing and sensory sensitivities in autism.
Tawny Bussey, BA (University of California, Davis), Junior Specialist
tel: 530-747-3808 office: 202 Cousteau Pl., Suite 250, Room 249
Tawny Bussey is the Junior Specialist and manager for the Neurocognitive Development Lab. She graduated magna cum laude from the University of California, Davis in 2017 with a BA in Psychology and minor in Education. She has extensive experience working with both autistic and neurotypical children. In the future, Tawny would like to continue her education working toward a graduate degree in School Psychology.
tel: 530-747-3808 office: 202 Cousteau Pl., Suite 250, Room 249
Tawny Bussey is the Junior Specialist and manager for the Neurocognitive Development Lab. She graduated magna cum laude from the University of California, Davis in 2017 with a BA in Psychology and minor in Education. She has extensive experience working with both autistic and neurotypical children. In the future, Tawny would like to continue her education working toward a graduate degree in School Psychology.
Lauren Frizzi, BA (University of California, Davis), Junior Specialist
tel: 530-747-3808 office: 202 Cousteau Pl., Suite 250, Room 249
Lauren Frizzi is a Junior Specialist coordinating the ERP and eye tracking visits for BRAIN. She received her B.A. in Cognitive Science with a minor in Psychology from the University of California, Davis. As an undergraduate, she worked as a research assistant for the Autism Phenome Project and in Dr. Susan Rivera’s Neurocognitive Development lab. She has experience working with special needs and typical kids as a Registered Behavioral Technician, Special Education Instructional Aide, and an E-Soccer coach.
tel: 530-747-3808 office: 202 Cousteau Pl., Suite 250, Room 249
Lauren Frizzi is a Junior Specialist coordinating the ERP and eye tracking visits for BRAIN. She received her B.A. in Cognitive Science with a minor in Psychology from the University of California, Davis. As an undergraduate, she worked as a research assistant for the Autism Phenome Project and in Dr. Susan Rivera’s Neurocognitive Development lab. She has experience working with special needs and typical kids as a Registered Behavioral Technician, Special Education Instructional Aide, and an E-Soccer coach.
Undergraduate Research Assistants
Naira Demirchian
Shireen Haghshenas
Nadia Hyder
Sethmi Kachchakaduge
Bella Kim
Rama Khoury
Bryan Ortega
Cyrus Soleymanzadeh
Yiming Xia
Naira Demirchian
Shireen Haghshenas
Nadia Hyder
Sethmi Kachchakaduge
Bella Kim
Rama Khoury
Bryan Ortega
Cyrus Soleymanzadeh
Yiming Xia
Alumni
Eleanor Palsner, MSc (Durham University, UK), Visiting Graduate Student
Annie Shelton, PhD (Monash University, Australia), Former Postdoctoral Scholar
Kathryn Yoo, PhD (University of Maryland), Former Postdoctoral Scholar
Jessica Burris, BS (UC Davis), PhD (UC Davis), Former Graduate Student
Emily Halket, BS (MIT), PhD (UC Davis), Former Graduate Student
Kim Gaul, BS (UC Davis), Former Junior Specialist
Ryan Barry, PhD (UC Davis), Former Graduate Student
Emily Owen, BA (UC Berkeley), BSN (Johns Hopkins), PhD (UC Davis), Former Graduate Student
Pam Gallego, Former Junior Specialist
So-Yeon Kim, PhD (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), Former Postdoctoral Scholar
Alireza K. Javan, BS (UC Berkeley), Former Graduate Student
Jennifer Pokorny, PhD (Emory University), Former Postdoctoral Scholar
Lena Rothstein, BS (UC Davis), Former Junior Specialist
Dolores Garcia Arocena, PhD (UC Davis), Former Postdoctoral Scholar
Eric Charles, PhD (UC Davis), Former Graduate Student
Ryu-Ichiro Hashimoto, PhD (University of Tokyo), Former Postdoctoral Scholar
Faraz Farzin, PhD (UC Davis), Former Graduate Student
John Wang, BS (University of Michigan), Former Junior Specialist
Frederick Bassal, BA (UC Davis), Former Junior Specialist
Kristi Hendrickson, BA (UC Davis), Former Junior Specialist
Emily Katon, Former Junior Specialist
Kami Koldewyn, BA (Pomona College), PhD (UC Davis), Former Graduate Student
Lyndsey Marie Marcelino, Former Junior Specialist
Diana Selmeczy, Former Junior Specialist
Eleanor Palsner, MSc (Durham University, UK), Visiting Graduate Student
Annie Shelton, PhD (Monash University, Australia), Former Postdoctoral Scholar
Kathryn Yoo, PhD (University of Maryland), Former Postdoctoral Scholar
Jessica Burris, BS (UC Davis), PhD (UC Davis), Former Graduate Student
Emily Halket, BS (MIT), PhD (UC Davis), Former Graduate Student
Kim Gaul, BS (UC Davis), Former Junior Specialist
Ryan Barry, PhD (UC Davis), Former Graduate Student
Emily Owen, BA (UC Berkeley), BSN (Johns Hopkins), PhD (UC Davis), Former Graduate Student
Pam Gallego, Former Junior Specialist
So-Yeon Kim, PhD (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), Former Postdoctoral Scholar
Alireza K. Javan, BS (UC Berkeley), Former Graduate Student
Jennifer Pokorny, PhD (Emory University), Former Postdoctoral Scholar
Lena Rothstein, BS (UC Davis), Former Junior Specialist
Dolores Garcia Arocena, PhD (UC Davis), Former Postdoctoral Scholar
Eric Charles, PhD (UC Davis), Former Graduate Student
Ryu-Ichiro Hashimoto, PhD (University of Tokyo), Former Postdoctoral Scholar
Faraz Farzin, PhD (UC Davis), Former Graduate Student
John Wang, BS (University of Michigan), Former Junior Specialist
Frederick Bassal, BA (UC Davis), Former Junior Specialist
Kristi Hendrickson, BA (UC Davis), Former Junior Specialist
Emily Katon, Former Junior Specialist
Kami Koldewyn, BA (Pomona College), PhD (UC Davis), Former Graduate Student
Lyndsey Marie Marcelino, Former Junior Specialist
Diana Selmeczy, Former Junior Specialist