Juliet Davidow, PhD

Dr. Juliet Davidow joined the Psychology Department as an Assistant Professor at Northeastern University in 2020, and established the Learning and Brain Development Lab. She earned her BA in Psychology from New York University and PhD in Psychology from Columbia University. She trained as a postdoc at Harvard University, and has also conducted research at UCLA and Weill-Cornell Medical College. The research at the Learning and Brain Development Lab bridges classic areas in Psychology, Neuroscience, and Computer Science.

CV| Google Scholar| OSF

Alina Quach
PhD Student
Alina graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a B.S. in Psychology. As an undergraduate, she worked in the Laboratory of Neurocognitive Development with Dr. Beatriz Luna and studied the development of inhibitory control in youth at risk for substance use. After graduating, she spent two years as a Postbaccalaureate Research Fellow at the National Institute of Mental Health. There, she worked in the Laboratory of Brain and Cognition with Alex Martin to study remote autobiographical memory retrieval. Currently, Alina is interested in studying how different memory and learning processes interact to guide novel decision-making across development. Outside of the lab, Alina likes to drink too much coffee, embroider, and nap with her cat.

CV| Google Scholar

Haley Hegefeld
Research Coordinator
Haley graduated from Yale University in 2020 with a BS in Psychology. As an undergraduate, she worked in the Clinical Affective Neuroscience & Development Lab with Dr. Dylan Gee, where she completed her thesis on the use of acceptance to reduce anxiety in daily life. She also worked in the Social Cognitive Development Lab with Dr. Yarrow Dunham studying how children think about the social groups around them. She plans to pursue graduate studies in development and psychopathology. Outside of the lab, Haley enjoys dancing, cooking new recipes, and watching lots of movies at local theaters.

Kai Doran
Co-op Research Assistant
Kai Doran (they/them) is an undergraduate student at Northeastern University majoring in Behavioral Neuroscience and minoring in Philosophy. They hope to apply research in adolescent neurodevelopment to improve the education system and child mental health services. Kai was awarded the AJC Merit Research Scholarship for Spring 2023, and intends to pursue an MD-PhD or MD-MPH degree following graduation. In their free time, Kai enjoys reading, writing, hiking, and creating art.

Oreoluwa Afolabi
Undergraduate Volunteer
Oreoluwa is an undergraduate student majoring in Behavioral Neuroscience. She is specifically interested in behavioral changes as they relate to neurodevelopment and neurodegeneration. Oreoluwa was awarded a Paul and Grace Ward Martinez (’48) Research Fellowship to support her work in the lab. In her free time, she enjoys reading, exploring the city, and creating art pieces.

Aanchalika Chauhan
Undergraduate Volunteer
Aanchalika is an undergraduate student majoring in Behavioral Neuroscience with a minor in Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies. She has previously worked on a research project with her district’s health board on the effects of acute stress on adolescent brain development. She is interested in learning how experiences during adolescent brain development influence behavior and health throughout adulthood. After graduating, Aanchalika plans to apply to medical school and pursue a career in either pediatrics or gynecology. In her free time, she enjoys crocheting and visiting art museums.

Owen Cordes
Undergraduate Volunteer
Owen is an undergraduate student majoring in Computer Science and Cognitive Psychology. He is interested in areas at the intersection between cognitive science and artificial intelligence, such as modeling learning processes in humans using reinforcement learning. Most of his free time outside of school and the lab is spent playing ultimate frisbee on the Northeastern club team.

Juliette Cornelis
Undergraduate Volunteer
Juliette is an undergraduate student majoring in Computer Science and Cognitive Psychology with a minor in Health Psychology. She is deeply interested in how computer science, artificial intelligence and machine learning can be used to improve our understanding of human development and be used in diagnosing and developing treatment for psychological disorders. After graduation she plans on pursuing graduate school for Psychology. In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with her dogs, cooking, and exploring new parts of Boston.

Maddy Hammell
Undergraduate Volunteer
Maddy is an undergraduate student at Northeastern majoring in behavioral neuroscience and minoring in art. Currently, she is helping to conduct research surrounding development and memory. Maddy was awarded a Project-Based Exploration for the Advancement of Knowledge (PEAK) Award to support her work in the lab. After graduation, she is hoping to attend medical school and pursue a career in pediatric psychology, while continuing to focus on the neurological processes that contribute to learning. In her free time, Maddy spends a lot of time in bookstores and coffee shops, and she loves to paint and draw!

Anika Kopczynski
Undergraduate Volunteer
Anika is an undergraduate student majoring in Behavioral Neuroscience with a keen interest in clinical neuroscience and research, especially focusing on helping individuals with mental health disorders. She plans on pursuing a Ph.D. in counseling psychology after graduation. In her free time, Anika likes to engage in pottery, running, and spending time outdoors.

Rishi Kudaravalli
Undergraduate Volunteer
Rishi is an undergraduate student at Northeastern University majoring in Behavioral Neuroscience with a minor in Art. Previously, she worked at York College with Dr. Lesley Emtage studying the aggregation of the Huntingtin protein in yeast cells. She is a certified EMT and enjoys the hands-on experience it provides. She plans on continuing this work in Boston and applying to medical school after graduation. In her free time, Rishi loves to paint, dance, and try all the best taco places in Boston.

Carlie Orr
Undergraduate Volunteer
Carlie is an undergraduate student majoring in Behavioral Neuroscience with a minor in Spanish. She is specifically interested in pediatric neuroscience with a focus in brain development. After graduation, she is planning on attending medical school to pursue a career in pediatric neuroscience. In her free time, she enjoys running, watching her favorite tv shows, and spending time with family and friends.

Ian O’Shea