Research StaffResearch AssistantsCollaboratorsAlumniLab Fun

Dr. Andy Yonelinas

Professor, Human Memory Lab Director

Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology from McMaster University, Canada, 1995

B.S. in Cognitive Science from University of Toronto, Canada, 1990

Google Scholar

Email : apyonelinas@ucdavis.edu

Research Interests

Dr. Yonelinas is examining the processes underlying human memory. In order to characterize the functional nature of different memory processes, he is currently using implicit and explicit tests as well as several ‘second generation’ procedures such as the process dissociation procedure, the independence remember/know procedure, and ROC modeling procedure. In order to determine the neural substrates of memory encoding and retrieval processes he is i) examining memory impaired patients such as amnesics and Alzheimer’s patients, and ii) examining the physiological correlates of memory processes using neuroimaging techniques such as event related potentials and function magnetic resonance imaging. The goal of this work is to develop and test models of memory that address recent behavioral, neuropsychological and brain imaging data.


Trevor Baer

Staff Research Manager, Human Memory Lab and Dynamic Memory Lab

B.S. in Cognitive Science from University of California, Davis, 2015

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Email : tlbaer@ucdavis.edu

Research Interests

Trevor is the current staff research manager for both the Human Memory Lab and Dynamic Memory Lab, where he heads patient testing and facilitates the many research projects of graduate students and postdocs. Trevor is currently involved in the development of programs that will increase diversity among research staff, as well as programs which aim to prepare undergraduates for a career in research. His research interests span a wide variety of topics, including cognition, consciousness, and the integration of the nervous system with prosthetic devices. Specifically, Trevor is interested in how many current research methodologies can be implemented to give patients an immediate and tangible benefit. Trevor spent his undergraduate career developing and piloting the current Cognitive Science major at UC Davis, where he received his B.S. from in 2015. When not in the lab, Trevor enjoys reading and writing science fiction and fantasy, camping , cycling, and cooking.


Alyssa Borders

Graduate Student

B.S. in Neuroscience from University of Michigan, 2009

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Email : aaborders@ucdavis.edu

Research Interests

Alyssa is a graduate student in the Perception, Cognition, & Cognitive Neuroscience (PCCN) area of psychology. She earned her B.S. in Neuroscience from the University of Michigan in 2009 and then worked as the lab manager for the HML before starting grad school. Using both neuroimaging and neuropsychological methods, the goal of her research is to understand the contributions of the hippocampus to precision and complex representations in both long-term memory and visual working memory.When not working, Alyssa spends most of her free time outdoors. She enjoys hiking to swimming holes, climbing trees and rocks, biking to breweries and food trucks, and napping anywhere a hammock can be strung up.


 Kathryn Bousquet

Graduate Student

B.A. in Psychology with linguistics minor from Saint Michael’s College, 2010

Google Scholar

Email : kgbousquet@ucdavis.edu

Research Interests

Kathryn is a Psychology graduate student at UC Davis, where she works in both the Human Memory Lab, as well as the Cognitive Neuroscience of Language lab with Dr. Swaab. Her unique appointment in both labs allows her to study the interactions of sentence processing and memory. Her research is focused on the various sources of information that are used to generate expectations about how a sentence will unfold. She also examines how these expectations influence online sentence processing, as well as the construction of sentence representations in memory. In her free time, Kathryn enjoys reading, cross stitching, playing piano, and getting outside.


 Robin Goodrich

Graduate Student

B.A. in Psychology from San Francisco State University, 2011

Google Scholar

Email : rigoodrich@ucdavis.edu

Research Interests

Robin is a Ph.D. candidate in the Perception, Cognition, & Cognitive Neuroscience (PCCN) area of psychology. Using behavioral, neuropsychological, and eye-tracking methods, her work is situated at the intersection of perception, visual working memory, and long-term memory. Robin is particularly interested in how the different processes underlying these traditionally separate research domains are related, and especially how they may be supported by overlapping brain regions. Additionally, Robin studies the role of the hippocampus in precise vs. complex visual working memory representations, and the trade-off in performance for these different representational requirements. Aside from research, Robin is a zealous Harry Potter fan and while (still) waiting for her Hogwarts letter, she enjoys binge-watching Netflix, cooking, any and all dogs, and happy hours with her lab family.


Dr. Andrew McCullough

Ph.D. in Psychology from University of California Davis, 2018

M.A.  in Psychology from University of North Carolina Wilmington, 2010

B.A. in Psychology from University of North Carolina Wilmington, 2005

Google Scholar

Email : amccullough@ucdavis.edu

Research Interests

Andrew is a Ph.D. candidate in psychology, interested in wide-ranging topics in cognitive psychology, primarily under the umbrella of learning, memory, and perception.  Andrew’s dissertation work aims to understand the effects of acute stress on processes involved in long-term memory.  He is also interested in applying research-based principles of learning and memory to improve educational efficacy, in and out of the classroom setting.  Andrew received his B.A. in psychology from the University of North Carolina Wilmington in 2005, and his M.A. in cognitive psychology from UNCW in 2010.  When not conducting research or teaching, Andrew is likely enjoying the outdoors in the company of his dog.


Ilse Pastor

Jr. Research Specialist

B.S. in Cognitive Neuroscience and Professional Writing from University of California, Davis, 2018

Google Scholar

Email : impastor@ucdavis.edu

Research Interests

Ilse is the current Jr. Research Specialist for the Human Memory Lab, where she handles both administrative and research tasks that range from training and scheduling Undergraduate Research Assistants, to developing experimental tasks using programming languages such as Python. Her research interests span a wide variety of topics, including visual perception, attention, prospective memory, and the impact of technology on daily cognitive functions. Particularly, Ilse is interested in how intrusive media and technology use may interrupt our ability to pay focused attention, impact academic performance and memory for past and future events. For this purpose, Ilse spent the last two years of her undergraduate career conducting independent research investigating how providing students with technology breaks during class helps their academic performance. Outside of lab, Ilse likes to spend time with her daughter, husband and cat, wake up bright and early to exercise in nature, play the piano anytime there is a chance, and catch up with family and friends.

 


 Michelle Ramey

Graduate Student

B.S. in Psychology from University of California, Berkeley, 2016

Google Scholar

Email : mmramey@ucdavis.edu

Research Interests

Michelle is a PhD student in psychology and is a member of both the Human Memory Lab and the Visual Cognition Lab, where she works with John Henderson to study memory for scenes using eye tracking. She is also interested in the effect of lifestyle factors such as diet on cognition. Particularly, she is interested in how such effects relate to stress, aging, and cognitive decline. Michelle is also a freelance photographer shooting portraits and products for clients, and in her free time she enjoys running and hiking with her dog, cooking, lifting weights, and writing fiction.



 Cameron Riddell

Graduate Student

B.A. in Biology and B.S. Psychology from University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 2016

Google Scholar

Email : criddell@ucdavis.edu

Research Interests

Cameron is a PhD student in Psychology and is a member of both the Human Memory Lab. Cameron’s research interests include looking at the effects that acute stress has on memory and whether that effect depends on the relative timing of the stressor and the context of encoding. Cameron completed his Bachelors at the University of Maryland Baltimore County in 2016, and worked as a post-baccalaureate research trainee for Alex Martin at the National Institutes of Health. Aside from his academic interests, he enjoys playing lacrosse and socializing with friends.


 

 Matt Sazma

Graduate Student

M.A. in Psychology from University of Chicago, 2012

B.A. in Psychology from University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, 2010

Google Scholar

Email : msazma@ucdavis.edu

Research Interests

Matt’s primary research interests include looking at how stress influences memory, and the role that context plays in these effects. In addition to stress, Matt is also interested in how emotional arousal affects memory. Matt completed his Bachelors at the University of Minnesota in 2010, and his Masters from University of Chicago in 2012. He also worked as a lab manager for Marcia Johnson in New Haven. Outside of research, he is an avid baseball fan (go Twins!), and enjoys astronomy and astrophotography.


 Grant Shields

Graduate Student

B.A. in Cross-Cultural Studies/Psychology from Simpson University, 2012

Google Scholar

Email : gsshields@ucdavis.edu

Research Interests

Grant is a Ph.D. candidate in psychology, interested in determining the effects of stress on both executive function and long-term memory, as well as the biological pathways through which those effects occur. Due to the multidisciplinary nature of these interests, Grant also works with Brian C. Trainor in the Behavioral Neuroendocrinology Lab, and Camelia E. Hostinar in the Social Environment and Stress lab at UC Davis. Grant received his B.A. from Simpson University in 2012, and his M.A. from U.C. Davis in 2015. When not busy working, Grant enjoys playing with his dogs, hiking, and snowboarding.

Muna Alhamad

Psychology, 2018
Email : maalhamad@ucdavis.edu

Aditi Bhatnagar

Psychology, 2018
Email : abbhatnagar@ucdavis.edu
Personal Research

Current literature suggests that mindfulness practices may have both positive and negative impacts on memory; they have been shown to increase working memory capacity, but also appear to make one more susceptible to false memories. Aditi is currently working on an honors projects, where she is exploring the interplay between mindfulness and the above-mentioned cognitive processes. Her research has practical implications for those who practice mindfulness, or those who want to become more familiar with the practice. The results of this study may also inform us as to better practices to help increase working memory in individuals who suffer from memory deficits.


Kassandra Campos

Cognitive Science – Neuroscience Emphasis, 2019
Email : kmcampos@ucdavis.edu

Lupe Castro

Psychology, 2018
Email : lpcastro@ucdavis.edu

Julia Druker

Psychology – Biological Emphasis, 2019
Email : jdruker@ucdavis.edu

Jordan Duncan

Cognitive Science – Neuroscience Emphasis, 2018
Email : jamduncan@ucdavis.edu

Tiffany Dunn

Statistics, 2020
Email : tmdunn@ucdavis.edu

Sayra Escobar

Psychology, 2018
Email : slescobar@ucdavis.edu

Daniel Mu-Jen Huang

Cognitive Science, 2018
Email : muhuang@ucdavis.edu

Niti Jaha

Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior; Psychology minor, 2017
Email : njaha@ucdavis.edu
Personal Research

We extract and learn patterns in the world via statistical learning. Much research has focused on establishing that we can learn statistical regularities through various modalities—auditory, visual, and tactile; however, there has been little research to see how memory for the acquired sequences is retained for days after the initial learning. Niti is currently working on an individual research project that investigates whether there are differences in long term memory for sequences of sounds and shapes.


Pierre Llorach

Cognitive Science, 2018
Email : pllorach@ucdavis.edu

Kimberly Maldonado

Environmental Toxicology, 2020
Email : kimaldonado@ucdavis.edu

Julia Moore

Psychology – Biological Emphasis, 2018
Email : jmmoore@ucdavis.edu

Kelsey Neuenswander

Psychology and Communications, 2019
Email : klneuenswander@ucdavis.edu

Savanna Solian

Psychology, 2019
Email : slsolian@ucdavis.edu

Jeanna Totah

Psychology and Communications; writing minor, 2020
Email : jmtotah@ucdavis.edu

Susanna Zheng

Psychology, 2019
Email : suszheng@ucdavis.edu

Arne Ekstrom

Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, UC Davis
Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Brandeis University, 2004
Website : humanspatialcognitionlab.org
Email : adekstrom@ucdavis.edu

Charlie DeCarli

Professor of Neurology, UC Davis
M.D. from George Washington University, 1982
Website : memorygroup.ucdavis.edu
Email : cdecarli@ucdavis.edu

John Henderson

Professor, Department of Psychology,  UC Davis
Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology from University of Massachusetts, 1988
Website : www.jhenderson.org/vclab/Lab
Email : johnhenderson@ucdavis.edu

Robert Knight

Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, UC Berkeley
M.D. from Northwestern
Website : knightlab.berkeley.edu
Email : rtknight@berkeley.edu

Neal Kroll

Professor Emeritus, Departmnet of Psychology, UC Daivs
Ph.D. from University of Wisconsin at Madison, 1967
Website : psc.dss.ucdavis.edu/faculty/Kroll
Email : neakroll@ucdavis.edu

John Olichney

Associate Professor of Neurology, UC Davis School of Medicine
M.D. from UC Irvine, 1988
Website : mindbrain.ucdavis.edu/people/olichney
Email : jmolichney@ucdavis.edu

Dan Ragland

Associate Professor of Psychiatry, UC Davis
Ph.D. from American University, 1991
Website : ucdirc.ucdavis.edu/people/ragland
Email : jdragland@ucdavis.edu

Charan Ranganath

Associate Professor, UC Davis
Ph.D. from Northwestern University, 2000
Website : dml.ucdavis.edu
Email : cranganath@ucdavis.edu

Richard Addante

Assistant Professor, Cal State San Bernadino
Ph.D. from UC Davis, 2011
Website : psychology.csusb.edu/facultystaff/richard_addante
Email : richard.addante@csusb.edu

Mariam Aly

Assistant Professor, Columbia University
Ph.D. from UC Davis, 2013
Website : www.alylab.org
Email : ma3631@columbia.edu

Craig Brozinsky

Scientist, Talas Engineering, Inc.
Ph.D. from UC Davis, 2007
Website :
Email : cjbroz@gmail.com

Rachel Diana

Assistant Professor, Virginia Tech
PPh.D. from Carnegie Mellon University, 2006
Website : www.memlab.psyc.vt.edu
Email : rdiana@vt.edu

Ian Dobbins

Professor, Washington University in St. Louis
Ph.D. from UC Davis
Website : pages.wustl.edu/dobbinslab
Email : idobbins@wustl.edu

Kane Elfman

Senior Software Engineer, if(we) in San Francisco, CA
Ph.D from UC Davis, 2013
Website :
Email :

Iain Harlow

VP of Science, Cerego in San Francisco, CA
Ph.D. from UC Davis, 2013
Website : www.cerego.com/team
Email :

Debbie Hannula

Associate Professor, University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee
Ph.D. from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2005
Website : sites.google.com/site/mindfulofmemorylab/home
Email : hannula@uwm.edu

Joe Hopfinger

Professor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Ph.D. from UC Davis, 1998
Website : www.unc.edu/~joehop
Email : hopfinger@unc.edu

Julie Jorgenson

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Davis, CA
Masters from Western Seminary, 2010
Website : juliejmft.com
Email : julie@juliejmft.com

Mark Kishiyama

Research Scientist at California Department of Public Health
PH.D. from UC Davis, 2004
Website :
Email : mmkishiyama@gmail.com

Justin Knight

Data Science Fellow, Springboard in Atlanta, GA
Ph.D. from University of Georgia, 2012
Website : github.com/SyncingRhythms
Email : knight9.justin@gmail.com

Josh Koen

Postdoc, University of Texas, Dallas
Ph.D. from UC Davis, 2013
Website : vitallongevity.utdallas.edu/fnim/koen
Email : joshua.koen@utdallas.edu

Michele Lazzara

Director of Administrative Operations, University of Illinois
Education
Website :
Email : michelel@uic.edu

Linda Murray

Occupation
Ph.D. from UC Davis, 2008
Website :
Email :

Eric Nolan

Senior Program Development Manager, BrawnyBrains
Ph.D. from UC Davis, 2009
Website :
Email :

Jason Ozubko

Assistant Professor, Geneseo in New York
PhD. from University of Waterloo, 2011
Website : www.geneseo.edu/psychology/ozubko
Email : ozubko@geneseo.edu

Colleen Parks

Associate Professor, University of Nevada at Las Vegas
Ph.D. from Georgia Institute of Technology, 2004
Website : faculty.unlv.edu/cparks
Email : colleen.parks@unlv.edu

Mike Petzold

Masters Student at Sacrament State University
B.S from UC Davis, 2013
Website : mikepetzold.com
Email : mtpetzold@gmail.com

Joel Quamme

Associate Professor, Grand Valley State University
Ph.D. from UC Davis, 2004
Website : www.gvsu.edu/psychology/joel-quamme-164
Email : quammej@gvsu.edu

Maureen Ritchey

Assistant Professor, Boston College
Ph.D. from Duke University, 2011
Website : www.thememolab.org
Email : maureen.ritchey@bc.edu

Tali Sharot

Associate Professor, University College London
Ph.D. from New York University, 2006
Website : affectivebrain.com
Email : t.sharot@ucl.ac.uk

Wei-chun Wang

Postdoc, Duke University
Ph.D. from UC Davis, 2013
Website : cabezalab.org
Email : weichunw@gmail.com

Weiwei Zhang

Assistant Professor, UC Riverside
Ph.D. from University of Iowa, 2007
Website : memory.ucr.edu
Email : weiwei.zhang@ucr.edu

Work Hard, Play Hard!

The Human Memory Lab is a family both in and out of the lab. When not in the lab, you can often find us at a backyard barbecue or exploring the many great locations of northern California. Check out some of our lab adventures below!

2017 Lab Barbeque
2016 Holiday Paella Party
2015 Lab Barbeque
2014 Lab Barbeque
2014 Ski Trip