People
Principal Investigators
Dr. Jessica R. Cohen (she/her) is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at UNC Chapel Hill. She is a member of the Cognitive Psychology program and the Human Neuroimaging Group. She is also affiliated with the Biomedical Research Imaging Center, the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, the Neurobiology Curriculum, and the Center for Developmental Science. Dr. Cohen received her A.B. in Psychology from Harvard University, her Ph.D. in Psychology from UCLA, and postdoctoral training in Neuroscience at both UC Berkeley and Kennedy Krieger Institute/Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
Email: jrcohen@unc.edu
Dr. Nicholas Fogleman (he/him) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at UNC School of Medicine and Director of the UNC ADHD Program. He is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience and has an appointment at the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities. Dr. Fogleman completed his B.S. in Psychology at Loyola University Chicago, Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at University of Louisville, Clinical Psychology Internship at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, and Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities.
Email: nicholas.fogleman@med.unc.edu 
Postdoctoral Fellows
Dr. Hope Peterson-Sockwell (she/her) completed her B.A. in Psychology, M.S. in Biomedical Sciences, and Ph.D. in Neuroscience at Wake Forest University. She is a recipient of the Diversity Specialized Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Advancement in Neuroscience (D-SPAN) Award, an F99/K00 NIH grant. Hope’s graduate and postdoctoral research explores the role of the Default Mode Network in cognitive processes in typical and disordered populations using networks and dynamic connectivity analyses.
Email: hps@unc.edu
Dr. David Garnica (he/him) earned a B.S. in Psychology and an M.S. in Neuroscience from the National University of Colombia. Supported by a German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) scholarship, he completed a Ph.D. in Systems Neuroscience at the University of Göttingen, Germany. His research uses neuroimaging to investigate the development of functional and structural connectivity patterns in youth with anxiety, ADHD, and epilepsy. He is currently working on Prof. Aysenil Belger’s PASS study (https://nirl.web.unc.edu/nirl-projects/pass/) and Prof. Jessica R. Cohen’s BrainMAP study.
Email: dga@email.unc.edu
Graduate Students
Monica Lyons (she/her) is a graduate student in the Developmental Psychology PhD Program in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience and MD/PhD candidate in the MD/PhD Program. She graduated from Tufts University with a B.S. in Cognitive and Brain Sciences and Biology, with a minor in Computer Science. After graduation, she worked as a research assistant in the Psychiatry Neuroimaging Lab at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Monica is interested in how applications of neuroimaging methods like graph theory can help us better understand psychopathology, particularly in pediatric populations. She enjoys running, biking, and playing with her cat Kiki.
Email: monica_lyons@med.unc.edu
Yuyao Zhao (she/her) is a graduate student in the Cognitive Psychology PhD program in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience. She graduated from Beijing Normal University with BS and MS degrees in Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience. Yuyao is interested in the functional organization and network interplay underlying cognitive control in different contexts and their typical and atypical neurodevelopment from infancy to adulthood. Outside of her studies, Yuyao enjoys drawing, hiking, and biking.
Email: yuyzhao@unc.edu
Katie Garrisi (she/her) is a graduate student in the Developmental Psychology PhD Program in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience. She graduated with a B.A. in Psychology and Minor in Creative Writing from Cornell University in 2019. After graduation, she worked as a Clinical Research Assistant at the Gaab Lab at Boston Children’s Hospital and the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and then as the Data Analyst in Dr. Margaret Sheridan’s Child Imaging Research on Cognition and Life Experiences Lab at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Katie is interested in understanding how brain network development throughout childhood and adolescence relates to the emergence of psychopathology in clinical populations, and how this could inform future interventions.
Email: kathryn.garrisi@unc.edu
Gretchen Wulfekuhle (she/her) is a graduate student in the Cognitive and Social Psychology PhD Programs in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience. She graduated with a B.S. in Psychological Science and Minors in Biology and Economic Policy from the University of Nevada, Reno in 2022. After graduation, she worked as a Research Coordinator for the Gratton Lab at Florida State University. Gretchen is interested in how changes in the brain across the lifespan affect individual variation and emotional processing. She also enjoys hiking, reading, and running.
Email: gwulfe@unc.edu
Research Staff
Ellie Birdsong (she/her) is the lab manager for the Cohen Lab, lead project coordinator for the BrainMAP study, and a member of the CogMAP study team. She graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a B.S. in Neuroscience and completed her undergraduate honors thesis on biological variation within neural progenitor cell populations. Ellie is interested in the neural processes underlying cognition and is passionate about improving the undergraduate research experience.
Email: elliehf@email.unc.edu
Gracie Tharin (she/her) is a research assistant and project coordinator for the Cohen Lab BrainMAP study. She graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a B.A. in Psychology and a B.A.Ed. in Human Development and Family Science. She completed her undergraduate honors thesis on neural mechanisms underlying irritability in children with and without ADHD and their correlations with impairment. Gracie is interested in the intersections of emotion, cognition, and well-being in youth.
Email: gtharin@ad.unc.edu
Undergraduate Students
Pavitra Madala (she/her) is majoring in neuroscience on the pre-med track. She is interested in understanding the effects of childhood experiences and genetic factors on childhood-onset neurological diseases. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies and spending time with family and friends.
Catherine Bulanadi (she/her) recently completed her B.S. Degree in Biology and minors in Chemistry and Philosophy, but she is continuing her undergraduate academic journey at UNC in the B.S. Radiologic Science program. She has long harbored an interest in neuroimaging and its insight into diverse pathogeneses. Outside of the lab, she enjoys being with family and wrestling philosophical thought experiments.
Maggie Meyers (she/her) is double majoring in Psychology and Neuroscience with a minor in Philosophy on a pre-med track. She is interested in investigating the development of the prefrontal cortex for its insight into the etiology of mental health conditions. In her free time, she loves reading, writing, and trying new food.
Yuthika Sathyanarayanan (she/her) is majoring in Psychology and Biology and minoring in Social and Economic Justice. She is interested in studying the development and treatment of psychiatric disorders. Outside the lab, she likes reading and spending time with friends.
Nithyasree Mamalayan is a rising junior majoring in Neuroscience. She has worked on the CogMAP study for the past 3 semesters as an RA. Her research interests primarily lie in identifying and understanding biomarkers involved in neurological development.
Juezihan (Lucy) Wang (she/her) is double majoring in Psychology and HDFS with a minor in Statistics. She is interested in investigating various factors leading to the positive development of adolescents. In her free time, she loves playing music, reading, and hanging out with friends.
Amelia Cho (she/her) is majoring in Psychology with a minor in Chemistry. She is interested in the biological mechanisms that link psychological stress to illness and recovery, as well as evidence-based interventions that can mitigate these effects. Outside of the lab, she enjoys cafe hopping, working out at the gym, and going out with friends.
Samantha Breen (she/her) is majoring in Nutrition and Research Sciences with minors in Chemistry and Neuroscience. She hopes to pursue a research career and is interested in the intersection of nutrition, neurodevelopment, and the brain, particularly in the context of ADHD and other conditions. Outside of the lab, she enjoys music, playing tennis, and spending time with friends.
Mia Cupoli (she/her) is majoring in Neuroscience with a minor in Studio Art on the pre-med track. She is interested in understanding the relationship between catecholaminergic activity and synaptic plasticity, particularly how impaired interaction impacts health and neurorehabilitation. In her free time, she enjoys music, reading, and spending time with friends.
Lab Alumni
Former Postdoctoral Fellows and Graduate Students
Teague R. Henry, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, School of Data Science & Department of Psychology, University of Virginia
Shana A. Hall, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Associate, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine
Marc Rudolph, Ph.D., Postdoc, Wake Forest Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center
Dr. Tehila Nugiel, Ph.D, Assistant Professor, Florida State University
Dr. Mac Woodburn, Ph.D, Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Pennsylvania
Dr. Arianna Cascone, Ph.D, Data Solutions Engineer at Atorus Research
Dr. Mackenzie Mitchell, Ph.D Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Dr. Sikoya M. Ashburn, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Christopher Newport University
Research Staff
Sophie Bittner, Research Assistant, Department of Allied Health Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Alexa D. Monachino, Research Associate, Department of Psychology, Northeastern University
Cheyenne L. Bricken, Medical Student, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Cleanthis Michael, Ph.D. Student in Clinical Science, Department of Psychology, University of Michigan
Kelly A. Duffy, Ph.D. Student in Quantitative/Psychometric Methods, Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota
Kelly H. Eom, J.D./Ph.D Student, Department of Psychology, Drexel University
Tehya Drummond, Ph.D Student in Social Psychology, University of Virginia
Undergraduate Research Assistants
Andrea Myer, Neuroscience, University of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2025
Grace Mallo, Neuroscience, University of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2025
Shriya Pokala, Neuroscience and Psychology, University of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2025
Samuel Hendrix, Neuroscience and Psychology, University of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2025
Foluwa Agbebi, Neuroscience, University of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2025
Mariana Chavez, Psychology and Human Development and Family Science, University of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2025
Brenna Curtis, Psychology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2024
Dana Chau, Biology and Psychology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2024
Haiden Berton, Chemistry and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2025
Katelyn Bradshaw, Psychology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2024
Trey Thurman, Psychology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2024
Charlotte Seymour, Neuroscience and Economics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2023
Ananyaa Sundar, Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2023
Jennifer Martinez-Mejia, Psychology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2022
Jeremy Chen, Neuroscience and Computer Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2024
Shreya Ramineni, Psychology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2023
Sammie Kim, Psychology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2022
Kattia Mata, B.S. in Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2022
Aparna Sudhakar, B.S. in Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2022
Erica Fager, B.A. in Psychology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2022
Maya Arora, B.S. in Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2024
Katie Holt, B.S. in Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2021
Jordan Roberts, B.S. in Psychology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2023
Anna Covington, B.S. in Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2021
Caroline Hoch, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2020
Deepak Melwani, B.S. in Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2020
Kaeley Jenkins, B.A. in Psychology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2020
Chunni (Zoe) Ji, B.S. in Psychology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2020
Darius Johnson, B.S.P.H. in Health Policy and Management, B.S. in Psychology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2020
Mauli Saini, B.S. in Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2017
Mikaela Bauer, B.S. in Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2022
Niveditha Jagadesh, B.S. in Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2018
Rachel Slover, B.A. in Mathematics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2021
Safiyyah Nawaz, B.A. in Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2018
Shruti Gopalswamy, B.S. in Statistics and Computer Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2021
