Team
Suzy Scherf
Biography
Principal Investigator, Laboratory of Developmental Neuroscience
Associate Professor of Psychology,
Penn State University
814-867-2921
suzyscherf@psu.edu
I got my undergraduate degree in Cognitive Science and Masters Degree in psychology at Occidental College and went on to get my PhD in Psychology at the University of Pittsburgh under Dr. Charles Perfetti. I did my postdoctoral training under Dr. Beatriz Luna at the University of Pittsburgh and under Dr. Marlene Behrmann at Carnegie Mellon University.
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Graduate Students
Jason Griffin
My primary program of research is concerned with identifying and understanding how people on the autism spectrum process and interpret social signals (e.g., faces). I am particularly focused on elucidating biologically-based mechanisms underlying social behaviors like face recognition as well as social communication skills more broadly. To carry out this research, I use a mixture of psychophysical (i.e., eye-tracking), evidence synthesis (i.e., meta-analysis), and intervention approaches to understand these processes (and their change over time) across multiple levels of analysis. Infused throughout my work is a strong focus on statistically rigorous methodology, including multilevel modeling, hidden Markov modeling, and Bayesian inference.
Myles Arrington
Before coming to Penn State, I earned a Bachelor's degree in Psychology with a minor in Neuroscience. I was drawn to the lab due to my interests in understanding facial processing systems and individual differences in recognition proficiency. In particular, I plan to study how processing systems change over development and interact with the environment and context children are in to produce individual differences. I am currently working on a project looking at facial recognition in young adults.
Brittany Woodruff
I am a Neuroscience graduate student in the lab currently working on the FREA project, as well as my own thesis. Prior to coming to Penn State, I completed a B.S. in Biology with a minor in Psychology and a concentration in Neuroscience at the University of Richmond. After graduation, I worked at the Faison Center for Autism as a Teaching Assistant and decided to continue my education and pursue research in this field. Currently, I am focusing on sex differences in complex and basic emotion recognition in typically developing young adults with varying degrees of autism-like traits
Hunter Mattern
Masters Student,
Developmental Psychology
M.A Experimental Psychology, Saint Joseph's University
B.A Neuroscience, University of Mount Union
hmm5712@psu.edu
I graduated from the University of Mount Union with a bachelor’s in neuroscience in 2019. My research was primarily focused on behavioral differences in individuals with autism spectrum disorder, with a specific focus on sex differences. I recently graduated from Saint Joseph’s University with a master’s in Experimental Psychology. There, I researched sex differences in social and emotional insight in adolescents, with a focus on individuals with autism spectrum disorder. My interest in continuing my research in autism with a focus on biological components such as eye tracking and fMRI drew me to the Scherf Lab. I am currently working on a project looking at differences in face processing in adolescents with and without autism using fMRI, and I also assist with the SAGA project. I am honored to be a part of the LDN and excited for what the next five years hold!
Full-Time Staff Members
Gordon Bill
Prior to joining the Scherf Lab, I earned my Psychology MA from New York University. My past experience with eye-tracking software and inpatient work with autistic adolescents led me to discover the SAGA study. I now serve as the project’s primary coordinator. When this study is complete, I plan on using the skills I’m acquiring to pursue a PhD in neuroscience focusing on perceptual development.
Lark Caboy
DASH
Project Coordinator
BS, Virginia Commonwealth University
larkcaboy@psu.edu
I recently graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a BS in Biology. During my undergraduate career, I was part of the Bridges to the Baccalaureate program — an NIH-funded biomedical research internship for underrepresented and disabled students. I was drawn to the LDN because I have been interested in exploring the psychological side of scientific research, and I hope to use the knowledge that I gain here to peruse a PhD in Human Genetics with an MS in Genetic Counseling, with an ultimate goal of becoming a genetic counselor.
Sara Silber
DASH
Research Associate
BS, Franklin and Marshall College
sarapsilber@psu.edu
I am a recent graduate from Franklin & Marshall College with a major in Psychology and minor in Environmental Studies. I am from the DC area and have previous research experience at Children's Hospital in DC with Neuropsychologist Dr. Karin Walsh. Much of my undergrad research was focused on children on the Autism spectrum, and how contact with nature could be therapeutic for them. I intend to apply for PhD programs in clinical or developmental psychology in the next couple of years to further explore my interests in social health, particularly in kids and kids with developmental disorders. I am looking forward to working in the LDN with our amazing participants and team!
