Graduate Students
Madeline O'Brien, B.A.
Ph.D. candidate
B.A. in Psychology and Theatre, Northwestern University
I am interested in exploring the functional neural markers of evolutionarily preserved antisocial behaviors. I use human imaging and computational modeling to elucidate the hidden neurocomputational mechanisms of anger and aggression in psychiatrically healthy individuals, so that they might be more readily understood in the context of psychiatric disorders that feature aggressive behavior as a prominent symptom.
Kaustubh Kulkarni, B.A.
M.D./Ph.D. candidate (co-mentored by Dr. Daniela Schiller)
B.A. in Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University
Broadly, I am interested in understanding the dynamics of brain architecture in psychiatric disorders by studying the underlying cognitive, emotional and social processes. I aim to utilize computational and statistical modeling to uncover and characterize the hidden variables responsible for maladaptive states in these disorders.
Sarah Banker, B.A.
Ph.D. candidate (co-mentored by Dr. Jennifer Foss-Feig and Dr. Daniela Schiller)
B.A. in Neuroscience and Behavior, Wesleyan University
I am interested in understanding the neural mechanisms of aberrant social behavior and decision-making in psychiatric disease. Specifically, my research aims to combine computational modeling, human neuroimaging, and clinical assessment to examine impairments in social interaction in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Misophonia.
Arianna Neal, B.S.
M.D./Ph.D. candidate
B.S. in Psychology and Neuroscience, Yale University
I've always been fascinated by how neurochemical and molecular interactions in the brain can give rise to the mind that creates such complex higher-order cognitive states -- such as mood, emotion, and learning -- as well as how computational models can be used to elucidate and interrogate the mechanisms underlying these cognitive processes. I am specifically curious about the neurocomputational and neurochemical signatures of happiness and how invasive voltammetric methods can be used to probe the neurochemistry of happiness as it varies along naturalistic variables.
Caroline McLaughlin, B.S.
M.S. student
B.S in Neuroscience Behavioral Biology, Emory University
I am interested in examining the neural correlates of social behavior, mainly through the lens of decision-making in psychiatric disorders. My research aims to explore computational models of the valuation system along with its associated neural markers. I am curious to understand how brain activity and valuation of fairness is altered among impulsive individuals.