Principal Investigator
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Marc N. Coutanche (he/him) is an Associate Professor in Psychology, a Research Scientist in the Learning Research & Development Center, and Member of the Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition (CNBC). He completed his PhD at the University of Pennsylvania, post-doctoral training at Yale University, and received his Bachelor's degree from the University of Oxford. He is the current Chair of the Cognitive Program.
e-mail: marc.coutanche@pitt.edu CV |
Graduate Students
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Griffin E. Koch (he/him) is a Ph.D. student in the Cognitive Psychology Program at the University of Pittsburgh. He graduated with a Bachelor of Philosophy degree in Psychology and German from the University of Pittsburgh, and was previously the LeNS Lab Coordinator. He is interested in studying learning and memory, as well as second-language acquisition. When he is not in the lab, Griff can be found playing or coaching soccer, or taking a nap in his hammock.
e-mail: gek21@pitt.edu |
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Xueying (Caroline) Ren (she/her) is a Ph.D. student in the Cognitive Psychology Program at the University of Pittsburgh. She graduated with a Master of Science degree from City, University of London. She is interested in applying computational and quantitative approaches to study brain patterns. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking and watching movies. Leonardo DiCaprio is her favorite actor.
email: xur1@pitt.edu |
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Rae Buckser (they/them) is a Ph.D. student in the Cognitive Psychology Program at the University of Pittsburgh. They graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Purdue University before spending several years as a Research Associate in neuroimaging labs at Purdue and Pitt. Rae is interested in the neuroscience of learning and memory and the development of novel approaches for acquisition, analysis, and application of functional neuroimaging data. Outside the lab, they enjoy reading weird fiction and spending time with their cats, Mehitabel and Mae Borowski.
email: buckser@pitt.edu |
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Juan Carlos Angel Rojas (he/him) is a Post-Baccalaureate fellow in the Hot Metal Bridge Program. He is originally from Caracas, Venezuela, and he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from Waynesburg University. Juan Carlos is interested in cognitive psychology and the use of mathematics and computer science for its study. In his free time, he enjoys practicing martial arts and playing soccer.
email: jua47@pitt.edu |
Undergraduates
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Amy Padia (she/her) is a senior majoring in Neuroscience with a minor in Chemistry. She is interested in learning about the neural mechanisms associated with learning and memory. Outside of the lab, she enjoys ballroom dancing and making friends. In the future, she plans on attending medical school.
email: amp309@pitt.edu |
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Manasa Chillarige (she/her) is a second-year majoring in neuroscience with a minor in Chemistry and a Certificate in Conceptual Foundations of Medicine. She is interested in cognitive neuroscience and the neural functions underlying learning and memory. She plans to attend medical school in the future. Outside of research, she enjoys cooking and traveling.
email: mac571@pitt.edu |
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Amy Qi (she/her) is a junior double-majoring in Psychology and Anthropology with a minor in Applied Statistics. She is interested in cognitive psychology, and she expects to pursue a career in research. Outside of the lab, she enjoys cooking and watching foreign movies.
Email: xiq26@pitt.edu |
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Paz Quiñones (she/her) is a senior at the University of Pittsburgh. She is majoring in Psychology with minors in Neuroscience and Gender, Sexuality, and Women Studies. On campus, she is involved in Pitt Dance Marathon and Greek life.
email: pjq2@pitt.edu |
Lab Alumni
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Heather Bruett (she/her) was a Ph.D. student in the Cognitive Psychology Program at the University of Pittsburgh. She received her Ph.D. in 2021. Before coming to Pitt, she graduated from The College of New Jersey. When not studying learning and memory, she was often found watching Gilmore Girls reruns and eating M&Ms.
Website: https://www.heatherbruett.com/ e-mail: heb52@pitt.edu Brandon Carlos was a Post-Baccalaureate fellow in the Hot Metal Bridge Program at the University of Pittsburgh. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology at Syracuse University. He is interested in studying learning and memory. In his free time he enjoys long drives and working out. He is currently working with Dr. Benjamin Tamber-Rosenau in the Cognitive Neuroscience Program at the University of Houston.
email: bjc89@pitt.edu |
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John Paulus (he/him) was the lab coordinator for the LeNS Lab, and graduated from the University of Pittsburgh, majoring in Psychology with minors in Neuroscience and French. He is interested in understanding the underlying mechanisms of sleep and the neuroscience behind its effect on memory. In his spare time, John enjoys archery and martial arts.
e-mail: jdp71@pitt.edu |
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Essang Akpan (he/him) was the fMRI Data Analyst in the LeNS Lab, and graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering. He is interested in utilizing brain imaging techniques to better study neuropsychiatry and cognitive science. Outside the lab he enjoys watching basketball, paint drying, and the latest Netflix series.
email: eaa61@pitt.edu |
Undergraduate Alumni
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Toyin Ayayi
Uma Balaji Angeleah Carreras Sharran Chakravorty Zoe Cribbs Jasmine Issa Claire Kolhoff Mariah Mascara |
Adam Naroden
Alex Pang Grace Qian Leslie Rajendran Ashley Revels Meaghan Rodgers Amber Shergill Travis Slopek |
Abigail Swire
Andre Sydnor Swathi Tata Carlo Vignali Dan Volpone Aarya Wadke Grace Waldow Joanna Wang |
Adopted Animal
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Learning studies of the LeNS Lab often involve introducing participants to rarely known animals. The lab's adopted animal is ... the Shoebill! Learn more about the Shoebill here.
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