Team
Suzy Scherf
Short Biography
Principal Investigator, Laboratory of Developmental Neuroscience
Associate Professor of Psychology,
Penn State University
814-867-2921
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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Post-Doctoral Researcher
Chaia Flegenheimer
Short Biography
I got my undergraduate degree in Neuroscience at Vassar College and went on to get my PhD in Neuroscience at the University of Massachusetts Amherst under Dr. Jennifer McDermott. I am interested in the development of social processing in typically-developing and special populations.
Post Doctoral Research Assistant
PhD, University of Massachusetts
Amherst
Graduate Students
Junqiang (Jacob) Dai
Short Biography
I am focusing on using multi-level neuroimaging methods to explore how puberty influences the development of the neural mechanisms underlying face processing in adolescence, and how this newly emerging neural profile might potentially predict current or later social development. I am also interested in applying this theoretical approach to studying the neural manifestation of social processing in atypical populations, such as those with autism.
PhD Student, Developmental Psychology
M.A., Penn State University
Jason Griffin
Short Biography
My master’s thesis examined how autistic traits influence social motivation and attention during neuropsychological assessment. Currently, I am working on a project in Suzy’s lab that aims to improve face processing (as measured with eye-tracking technology) in adolescents diagnosed with autism by implementing a computer-based intervention. Finally, I am interested in utilizing neuroimaging methods to study brain-behavior relationships in typically-developing individuals and children with autism.
PhD Student, Cognitive Psychology
M.A., University of Colorado
Brittany Woodruff
Short Biography
Masters Student,
Neuroscience
BS, University of Richmond
Myles Arrington
Short Biography
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.
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
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
Brittany Woodruff
Short Biography
Masters Student,
Neuroscience
BS, University of Richmond
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
Full-Time Staff Members
Maggie Benda
DASH
Project Coordinator
BA, George Washington University
814-863-5626
Short Biography
I graduated from the George Washington University with a B.A. in Psychology and English in May 2018. I work as the Project Coordinator for the DASH Project and have been at LDN since June 2018. My research interests lie in evidence-based interventions in autism and pediatric OCD.
I intend on pursing a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, with the goal of becoming a child clinical psychologist.
Gordon Bill
SAGA
Project Coordinator
MA, New York University
Short Biography
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.
Sarah Laskowitz
DASH, SAGA
Research Associate
BA, University of Richmond
814-863-5626
Short Biography
I graduated from the University of Richmond in 2018 with majors in Psychology and Cognitive Sciences, and a minor in Religious Studies. I work on the DASH and SAGA projects collecting and processing data, and designing novel task paradigms and recruitment materials . My future research interests lie in investigating neural correlates of moral development, religious/spiritual belief systems, and contemplative practices such as mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. I plan to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology.
Short Biography
I graduated from the University of Delaware with a BA in psychology and a BS in Cognitive Science in May 2019. My primary responsibilities as a member of the DASH team are collecting data and recruiting participants. My research interests consist mainly of how children interact with their peers, and the short and long term correlates of peer rejection in adolescence. I intend to pursue a PhD in developmental psychology.
Daniel Contreras
SAGA
Game Programmer
814-863-7389
Short Biography
From the warm city of Hermosillo in México, I completed my bachelor's in computer science while working as an automation engineer and teaching video game programming at the University of Sonora. While comfortable, I was not satisfied and quit everything to pursue a career in video game design by getting a Diploma in Game Design from the Vancouver Film School in Canada. In the lab, I'm the main programmer and game designer for Teenage Pet Detective, a video game that develops the user's social skills based on scientific research.