People

Catherine Hartley Professor of Psychology and Neural Science ([email protected])
Cate received her B.S. in Symbolic Systems from Stanford University and her PhD in Psychology from New York University. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology at Weill Cornell Medical College, joining their faculty from 2014-2016 as an Assistant Professor before returning to NYU in July 2016. When not doing science, Cate spends most of her time chasing boys.

Nikita Sossounov Lab Manager ([email protected])
Nikita received his B.S. in Cognitive Science from UC Davis and his M.S. in Cognitive Neuroscience of Language from the Basque Centre on Cognition, Brain, and Language, Spain, where he worked on extending the feature and phoneme inventories of the TRACE model with Jim Magnuson. Before coming to NYU, he completed a predoctoral fellowship at the Proaction Lab in the University of Coimbra, Portugal, where he worked with high-level vision. He is interested in understanding the neural basis of perception and memory, how these processes interact and affect each other, how these interactions modulate our decisions, and how can we use this knowledge to build more human-like machines. Besides science, he enjoys drawing, playing guitar, hiking, and chatting with his vocal cat about how bored he was while Nikita was at work.

Caroline Ray Lab Manager ([email protected])
Caroline received her B.A. in Psychology from Ohio State University, M.Ed. in Secondary Education from Xavier University, and M.A in Psychology from NYU. She is interested in how adolescents learn to navigate uncertainty, develop flexible and imaginative responses to changing environments, and how these processes relate to mental health and adaptive development. Outside the lab, she enjoys listening to live music and taking her dog on adventures.

Wangjing Yu Postdoctoral Fellow ([email protected])
Wangjing received her B.S. in Psychology and Neuroscience from the University of Toronto and her Ph.D. in Psychology from Columbia University. She is broadly interested in human learning and memory. Her work examines how related experiences are represented in memory and how the brain reactivates memories to support consolidation, retrieval, and new learning. Outside the lab, Wangjing likes exploring new restaurants and taking pictures of random flowers.

Alana Jaskir Postdoctoral Fellow ([email protected])
Alana Jaskir received her B.A. in Computer Science from Princeton University and her Ph.D. in Cognitive Science from Brown University. Her research broadly examines computational models of biological reward learning (i.e. reinforcement learning) and how representations in the brain – both neural and cognitive – support flexible and adaptive learning. With the Hartley lab, she is investigating how memory consolidation processes affect learning across development. Outside of the lab, Alana is an avid biker, enjoys museums and watching plays, and is slowly perfecting her varenyky recipe.

Susan Benear Postdoctoral Fellow (slb671@nyu.edu)
Susan earned her double B.A. in Psychology and Public Relations from Penn State and her Ph.D. in Psychology & Neuroscience from Temple University, where she studied memory development in early childhood. Her dissertation work focused on neural and behavioral event cognition and memory in children using naturalistic stimuli. Outside the lab, she likes cooking, running, playing piano, hanging out with her cat, and rating all the food and drinks around the city on a 10-point scale with her partner.

Nora Harhen Postdoctoral Fellow ([email protected])
Nora received her B.A. in Cognitive Science from UC Berkeley and her Ph.D. in Cognitive Science from UC Irvine where she worked with Aaron Bornstein. With the Hartley lab, she is exploring how dimensions of early-life experience shape learning, memory and decision making. She is also interested in understanding how early-life experiences impose vulnerability or confer resilience to mental illness. Outside of the lab, Nora enjoys knitting, cooking, and watching bad reality tv.

Michael Granovetter Child Neurology Resident ([email protected])
Michael received his B.A. in Psychology and Neuroscience from Princeton University, his Ph.D. in Cognitive Neuroscience from Carnegie Mellon University, and his M.D. from the University of Pittsburgh. He uses psychophysical, neuropsychological, and neuroimaging data to study mechanisms of plasticity in pediatric clinical populations, with the goal of improving prediction models for cognitive outcomes. With the Hartley lab - in collaboration with the Liu Lab - he is studying how pediatric epilepsy and epilepsy surgery affect statistical learning and memory function. Outside of the lab, he plays piano, tennis, boardgames, and takes advantage of the music/arts scene in New York.

Camilla van Geen Visiting Postdoctoral Fellow ([email protected])
Camilla received a double B.A. in Neuroscience and Philosophy from Columbia University and a Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. She is currently a post-doc in the Niv lab at the Princeton Neuroscience Institute, and working collaboratively with the Hartley Lab. Camilla is interested in how anxiety influences the way we learn about and represent our environment, how this process evolves with age, and how it might serve as an early marker for vulnerability to psychopathology.

Ryan Fayyazi Graduate Student ([email protected])
Ryan is broadly interested in modeling the cognitive algorithms underlying open-ended, autotelic decision-making in animals, and building similarly capable artificial agents. Before joining NYU, Ryan studied computer science (MSc) and integrated science (BSc) at The University of British Columbia. He also worked on computational models of decision-making at Cold Spring Harbor Lab.

Sahithyan Sivakumaran Graduate Student ([email protected])
Sahithyan received his B.Tech in Computer Science & Engineering from SRM institute of Science technology, Chennai and his Master’s in Cognitive science from Centre for behavioural and cognitive science, University of Allahabad, India. Before coming to NYU, he worked with Dr. Srikanth Padmala at the Centre for Neuroscience, IISc, studying the interaction between reward and emotion. Outside the lab, he loves listening to music and watching movies.

Rheza Budiono Graduate Student ([email protected])
Rheza is a fifth year graduate student in psychology, co-advised with Todd Gureckis. He is interested in explanations. How do we explain what happens? How do our explanations influence how we learn from, remember, and feel about what happens?

Jeevesh Attri Research Assistant ([email protected])
Jeevesh is pursuing his M.S. in Data Science at NYU after completing his B.S. in Mathematics at Drexel University. He is interested in decision-making, memory, and complex systems, and he enjoys exploring how statistical and computational models can capture patterns in human learning and behavior. Outside the lab, he spends a lot of time reading about different cultural and mythological beliefs, listening to podcasts on long walks, and hunting down the best Indian food in New York.

Aleshka Pardo Research Assistant ([email protected])
Aleshka is pursuing a double major in Applied Psychology and Philosophy. She's interested in how cognitive development and decision-making processes interact, with a particular focus on memory, learning, and developmental neuroscience. Outside of the lab, Aleshka enjoys traveling and exploring independent films.

Ava Grabar Research Assistant ([email protected])
Ava is a junior at NYU majoring in Interactive Media Arts with a Psychology minor. She is fascinated by how early childhood experiences influence thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and coping mechanisms in adolescence. I am passionate about helping others by exploring the neural basis of decision-making and understanding the factors that drive human behavior to identify effective solutions. Outside the lab, she enjoys painting, playing music, and watching horror movies.

Olive Duan Research Assistant ([email protected])
Olive is a senior Psychology major with minors in Game Design and Computer Science. They're interested in learning about the neural mechanisms of decision-making in order to understand how playing video games can affect the development of these mechanisms, especially in children. Outside of academics they like playing and developing video games.

Shirley Luo Research Assistant ([email protected])
Shirley Luo is a Junior psychology major at Carnegie Mellon University hoping to pursue medical school after graduation. She has a keen interest in learning about metacognition's impact on people's behaviors and decision making. She is also passionate about the cardiovascular system, particularly the causes and impact of heart disease. Outside of academics, she loves to spend her time with digital art, traveling and playing volleyball.

Anushree Anandani Research Assistant ([email protected])
Anushree is a junior majoring in Psychology and Data Science. She is interested in learning about the neural basis of decision-making and how it relates to our environment and relationships with others. With a passion for understanding the complexities of human nature, she seeks to make a meaningful impact in the lives of others. Outside of the lab, you can find her reading, cooking or cafe-hopping.

Avery McKay Research Assistant ([email protected])
Avery is a sophomore studying Psychology with a minor in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Studies. She is interested in child development, psychopathologies, and the benefits of art in mental health. In her free time, she enjoys dancing, reading, and watching horror movies and rom-coms.

Wendi Zong Research Assistant ([email protected])
Wendi is studying Applied Psychology with a concentration in quantitative analysis/data science. She is most interested in the neuro-behavioral link of human development across all age groups. Her curiosity spans from neurocognitive development to understanding the dynamics of behavioral and decision-making processes. In her spare time, Wendi loves to cuddle with her cat and clean her room to release endorphins!

Sarah Al Riyami Research Assistant ([email protected])
Sarah is a junior majoring in Global Public Health/Applied Psychology with a specialization in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Studies. Her interests lie in understanding the impact of trauma and resilience factors during development and its overall impact on memory. In her spare time, she enjoys trying new food spots and volunteering at the Samaritans, advocating for mental health needs among diverse communities.

Soyini Alexander Research Assistant ([email protected])
Soyini is entering her third year at NYU Abu Dhabi, majoring in Psychology with a focus on Brain and Cognitive Science. She is double minoring in Engineering and Legal Studies. This summer, she is a Research Assistant in Hartley Lab working on a developmental learning and memory project with Dr. Susan Benear and assisting with neuroimaging projects involving MEG and MRI. In her spare time, she enjoys painting, drawing, and watching movies.

Amaan Mansuri Masters Research Assistant ([email protected])
Amaan received his B.Tech in Computer Science & Engineering from Nirma University and is currently pursuing his M.S. in Data Science at New York University. His interests lie at the intersection of machine learning, optimization, and natural language processing. He has worked on projects involving humor detection and portfolio optimization, exploring efficient computational techniques for real-world applications. Outside of academics, Amaan enjoys playing table tennis, soccer, and swimming, as well as singing at social gatherings. He is also an avid traveler, always looking for new places to explore.

Yvette Ma Research Assistant ([email protected])
Yvette received her B.A in Psychology from New York University, with minors in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Studies and Web Programming and Applications. She is grateful to remain involved with the Hartley Lab as a volunteer Research Assistant while completing her undergraduate thesis on how early-life adversity influences decision making and mental health. In her free time, she enjoys cycling, reading and cooking.

Sophia Nielsen Undergraduate Research Assistant ([email protected])
Sophia is pursuing a dual degree in biology and dance. She’s interested in how the brain responds to crises and the relationship between mental health and decision-making processes. Outside of the lab, Sophia enjoys dancing with friends, bird watching, and binge-watching romantic comedies.

Alumni

Postdoctoral Researchers

Alexandra Cohen  Former Postdoctoral Researcher, Emory University, Assistant Professor
Noam Goldway  Former Postdoctoral Researcher, King's College London, Assistant Professor
Julie Lee  Former Postdoctoral Researcher, ACLU of Massachusetts, Technologist
Rebecca Martin  Former Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Pennsylvania, Research Director
Gail Rosenbaum  Former Postdoctoral Researcher, Geisinger Health Behavioral Insights Team, Staff Scientist

Ph.D. Students

Michael Evans  Former Ph.D. Student, First Place for Youth, Data Scientist
J. Hugo Decker  Former M.D./Ph.D. Student, Stanford Medicine, Resident
Perri Katzman Former Ph.D. Student
Hanxiao Lu  Former Ph.D. Student
Kate Nussenbaum  Former Ph.D. Student, Boston University, Assistant Professor
Hillary Raab  Former Ph.D. Student, Exos, Data Scientist

Lab Managers

Greer Bizzell-Hatcher  Former Lab Manager, mpathic.ai, Clinical AI Research Associate
Naiti Bhatt  Former Lab Manager, University of Edinburgh, Graduate Student
Nessa Bryce  Former Lab Manager, Harvard University, Ph.D. Student
María Alejandra Martínez Former Lab Manager,  Stanford University, Ph.D. Student
Camille Phaneuf  Former Lab Manager, Harvard University, Ph.D. Student
Natalie Saragosa-Harris  Former Lab Manager, UCLA, Ph.D. Student
Maximilian Scheuplein Former Lab Manager, Leiden University, Ph.D. Student
Tracey Shi  Former Lab Manager, Columbia University, M.D./Ph.D. Student
Alice Zhang  Former Lab Manager, University of Oxford, Ph.D. Student

Masters Students

Morgan Glover  Former Masters Student, Wayne State University, Ph.D. Student
Nick Matese  Former Masters Student
Sean Maulhardt  Former Masters Student, University of Maryland, Ph.D. Student
Kelsey McDonald  Former Masters Student, Duke University, Ph.D. Student
Daphne Valencia  Former Masters Student, Mt. Sinai Hospital, Research Coordinator
Yi (Jen) Yang  Former Masters Student, Temple University, Ph.D. Student

Visiting Graduate Students

Jennifer Fielder   Former Visiting Graduate Student, UCL, Ph.D. Student
Linda Kerbl  Former Visiting Graduate Student, Free University Berlin, Masters Student
Laura Meine  Former Visiting Graduate Student, University of Zurich, Postdoctoral Researcher
Madeleine Moses-Payne   Former Visiting Graduate Student, UCL, Ph.D. Student
Erxiao Wang Former Visiting Research Assistant, Stanford University, Lab Manager

Research Assistants

Anjola Adesina Former Research Assistant
Soad Albahar  Former Research Assistant
Kristen Avallone  Former Undergraduate Honors Student
Annabelle Booker Former Research Assistant
Rosaura Cuevas Former Research Assistant
Anastasia Filimontseva  Former Research Assistant
Careen Foord  Former Undergraduate Honors Student, Weill Cornell, Ph.D. Student
Hannah Grassie  Former Undergraduate Honors Student, University of Miami, Ph.D. Student
Jamie Greer  Former Research Assistant, Harvard University, Ph.D. Student
Hannah Hamling Former Undergraduate Honors Student, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, Research Assistant
Shivani Hiralall  Former Research Assistant
Lindsay Hunter  Former Research Assistant, Princeton University, Ph.D. Student
Maria Kakurina  Former Research Assistant
Zach Karas  Former Research Assistant
Nora Keathley  Former Research Assistant, Imagen, Clinical Research Coordinator
Ali Libertella  Former Research Assistant
Michael Liu  Former Research Assistant, Weill Cornell, M.D. Student
Faya Movchan  Former Research Assistant
Shraddha Nair  Former Research Assistant
Allie Neeson  Former Undergraduate Honors Student, Tufts University, M.D. Student
Daryl Ocampo  Former Research Assistant, NYU, Assistant to the Chair of Psychology
Michael Parola  Former Research Assistant
Euan Prentis  Former Undergraduate Honors Student, University of Chicago, Ph.D. Student
Isha Ray Former Research Assistant
Haniyyah Sardar  Former Research Assistant
Meral Abdel Shafy  Former Research Assistant
Xinxu (Karen) Shen  Former Graduate Research Assistant, Temple University, Ph.D. Student
Rachel Stollar Former Research Assistant
Juan Velez Former Research Assistant
Hannah Walker  Former Graduate Research Assistant
Lia Washington  Former Research Assistant, MIT Research Scholars Program
Leticia Wood Former Research Assistant, Duolingo, UX Researcher
Jimmy Wyngaarden Former Research Assistant, Temple University, Ph.D. Student
Qingqing Yang Former Graduate Research Assistant, Ohio State University, Ph.D. Student
Julia Yi  Former Research Assistant
Cara Zampino  Former Research Assistant
Haoze Zhu Former Research Assistant, Donders Institute, Masters Student