Our team – Control and Adaptive Behavior Laboratory

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Jason M. Chein, Ph.D.

Dr. Chein is the Principal Investigator of the Control & Behavior Laboratory (CAB Lab) at Temple University and the director of the Temple University Brain Research & Imaging Center (TUBRIC). He is a Professor of Psychology in the department’s Cognition and Neuroscience area. For more about his background (including courses that he teaches), please see his faculty page and his current curriculum vitae.

jason.chein@temple.edu

GRADUATE STUDENTS

Steven Martinez
Ph.D. Student

Steven is a second-year graduate student in the Cognition and Neuroscience area of the department, co-mentored by Drs. Jason Chein and Deepu Murty. He is interested in studying interactions across learning, memory, and decision-making. In his free time, Steven is most likely playing soccer or exploring Philly!

Steven.Martinez@temple.edu

Isabel Leiva
Ph.D. Student

Isabel is a graduate student in the Social Psychology track, co-mentored by Drs. Jason Chein and Chelsea Helion. Her research interests lie in the interactions between social decision making, emotion regulation, memory, and how these processes contribute to prediction errors. When she isn’t in lab, she is either exploring the PA wilderness, reading, or drinking copious amounts of tea.

isabel.leiva@temple.edu

Shenghan Wang
Ph.D. Student

Shenghan is a first-year graduate student in the Cognition and Neuroscience area at Temple psychology department, co-mentored by Dr. Jason Chein and Dr. David Smith. They are interested in how top-down regulatory processes influence decision making and reward processing. Outside of research, they love staying physically active (city running, yes!), meditating, and learning new singing styles.

shenghan.wang@temple.edu

Lina Hu
Ph.D. Student

Lina is a first-year PhD student in the Cognition and Neuroscience area of the department. Her research focused on the interaction between perception and social concepts processing. Currently, she is interested in exploring the relationship between digital media use and individual cognitive development. In her free time, she enjoys yoga, swimming, and playing badminton.

RESEARCH COORDINATORS

Daniel Zweben

Danny is a post-baccalaureate researcher and research coordinator at CAB Lab. His research has focused on executive functioning and ADHD, cognitive dynamics in romantic relationships, and interventions for youth psychopathology. His current research involves working as the project coordinator of Project LITe, one of the ongoing studies in the lab, as well as investigating the relationship between time perception and social media use. He is interested in exploring the impact of social media use on ADHD symptoms, and the cognitive mechanisms associated with effective clinical interventions.

Daniel.zweben@temple.edu

Avi Dachs

Avi is a research associate who is responsible for streamlining recruitment and data collection processes at the lab. He uses excel, REDCap, python and R. Avi has been working in the Temple Neuroscience department at the Neuroeconomics Lab since 2022 and the CAB lab since 2023. He is currently getting his masters in business research at Temple University. Avi enjoys skiing, drawing, and coding in his free time.

abraham.dachs@temple.edu

Megan Vince

Megan serves as a Research Coordinator with a strong interest in both psychology and criminal justice studies. She oversees the training of research assistants in fMRI and data collection protocols, while managing participant databases and facilitating participant communications. Megan is interested in studying the mechanisms by which human behavior is influenced by their context and surroundings. When not in the lab, she volunteers at Temple’s Cherry Pantry, works as Peer Mentor for both Honors and CLA, and is a member of both Alpha Phi Omega and Psychology Majors Association! In her free time, Megan likes playing video games and listening to all kinds of music!

Harry Green

Harry is a Research Coordinator specializing in data management and the preprocessing and analysis of fMRI data. He has worked on research projects such as “Does the Brain’s Sensitivity to Social Feedback Predict Social Memory?” under the mentorship of Dr. Jason Chein and has contributed to MRI data collection in Project LITe. Harry is particularly interested in studying the interactions among cognition, learning, and memory. In his free time, he enjoys reading, cooking, and coaching wrestling.

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANTS

Brooke Shulski

Brooke joined the lab in the summer of 2023 as a MiNDS scholar. She predominantly works on Project LITe as an undergraduate research assistant. Brooke has also done research on the correlates of delinquent behavior across development. She is a psychology major and criminal justice minor and her research interests are in behavioral, social, and forensic psychology with a special interest in risk-taking behavior. In her free time, she enjoys trying new foods, binge-watching TV, and cuddling with her cat!

Yuliana Fartachuk

Yuliana is a psychology major with a minor in cognitive neuroscience. She joined the lab in the spring of 2022 to help with research on awake targeted memory reactivation. She is interested in learning more about neuroimaging, memory, and the effects of technology on the brain. Yuliana also works in the Alloy Mood and Cognition Lab, is on the PMA board, and runs the Ukrainian society on campus. In her free time, she enjoys spending time in nature, reading, and doing yoga. In the future, she wants to explore the link between memories, traumatic events, and neuropsychology to help with treatments for those affected by war and other traumatic experiences.

Jamie-Nicole Luistro

Jamie is a psychology major who joined the lab in January 2023. She is also a 4+1 master’s student in the Neuroeconomics Laboratory, mentored by Dr. David Smith. Her current research interests include neuroimaging, reward processing, and social media influences on the brain. Outside of the lab, she loves crocheting, painting, and trying new food places.

Jay Brooks-Justice

Jumira, a Honors Psychology major with a minor in LGBT+ studies, joined the lab in the summer of 2023 to explore the effects of emerging technology and gain proficiency in neuroimaging. In addition to her academic pursuits, she serves as a Behavioral Health Technician, offering therapy to children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Post-graduation, Jumira plans to attend graduate school, focusing on clinical psychology with the ultimate goal of becoming a clinical psychologist.

Ashley Hawk

Ashley is a undergraduate research assistant in the Control and Adaptive Behavior laboratory. Additionally, she serves as an undergraduate research assistant in the Adaptive Memory Lab and the Neuroeconomics Lab. Ashley is interested in diffusion imaging and investigating white matter structure. In her free time, she enjoys knitting, crocheting, and watching Formula 1.

Abby Kennedy

Abby is a neuroscience major and a new research assistant in the lab. She is particularly interested in contributing to MRI and longitudinal research on technology and development through her work on Project LITe. Outside of the lab, she enjoys running, playing pickleball, and staying active at the gym.

Binh Hoang

Binh is a Psychology major and joined the lab as an undergraduate RA working under project LITe. She is interested in the dynamic between physical and mental well-being. Outside of the lab, she enjoys reading, cooking, playing video games, and basketball. She also likes having opinions on everything (as a hobby).

Kirsten Lee

Kirsten is an undergraduate Biology major with a minor in cognitive neuroscience. She joined the Cognitive and Adaptive Behavioral Lab in 2024. She has a strong interest in healthcare, functional neuroanatomy and the influence of technology on brain development. In the lab, she works in training new research assistants, data collection and facilitating subject communications. Out of lab and academics, she works part time in a North Philly primary care practice, volunteers with dementia patients, and serves as a Honors peer mentor. In her free time, Kirsten enjoys crocheting, traveling, snowboarding and doing nails. In the future, she plans to serve in the healthcare field and pursue neurology and orthopedics.

Titiksha Pawar

Titiksha is a a senior neuroscience major and joined Project LITe in August 2024. She is hoping to purse a career in neuropsychology and in interested in Cognitive and Behavioral neuroscience. Outside of the lab she enjoys crocheting, the gym, and trying new food!

Maia Singh

Maia is a sophomore in Temple’s Honors Psychology program. They plan on pursuing the Masters of Science in Psychological Research program after attaining a bachelor’s degree. They joined Project LITE to explore their interest in the biological mechanisms underlying mental disorders and gain hands-on experience in psychological research. Currently, Maia works with Neurabilities, where they provide evidenced-based behavioral therapy to children on the autism spectrum. Their work focuses on addressing each child’s unique developmental and social needs. Beyond their academic and professional pursuits, Maia enjoys making music in various forms. They produce original tracks using FL Studio, play the guitar, and DJ. Through their music, Maia hopes to inspire resilience and bring comfort to others.

Ife Adeoye

Ife is a psychology major who joined the lab in January 2024. She is also an undergraduate research assistant at the Child and Adolescent Anxiety Disorders Clinic. She is interested in how different types of media interact with perceptions of mental health as well as psychopathology. After graduating, Ife plans to pursue a doctorate in clinical psychology.

Sophia Monroy

Sophie is a freshman with a neuroscience major and criminal justice minor. she is interested in doing research in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, more specifically in decision- making and social cognition.

Camilla Pheulpin

Camilla is a Psychology and Spanish Literature double major. She joined the lab in Spring 2024, and has had the pleasure to work on project LITe as a research assistant. After graduating, she plans to pursue a masters degree in counseling psychology and work in the private sector. She is interested in studying personality and mood disorders in young adults. While not in school, Camilla works at Trader Joe’s and enjoys hot yoga, salsa dancing, and leather restoration.

Ameya Nerella

Ameya, a psychology major with a minor in statistical science and data analytics, is a new undergraduate research assistant, primarily focused on data management in Project LITe. She is particularly interested in behavior and learning in the context of developmental psychology. In her time off, she enjoys listening to music, crocheting, and spontaneously exploring the city.

Aashna Mony

Aashna is pursuing a psychology major and a legal studies minor. She hope to be a forensic psychologist one day. One of her research interests is how cognition and behavior play in the justice system. She joined the CAB Lab to explore research in decision making, working memory, and so forth, and its impacts as it is prominent in a criminal setting. She is also a new member assistant in Alpha Epsilon Phi and holds a position as a supervisor in the Temple Recreation Facilities. Some of her hobbies/interests include the gym, gaming, nature hikes, photography and content creation!

Rae Yu

Rae joined CAB Lab in March 2025 as a research assistant. She graduated from NYU in 2024 with a degree in Applied Psychology and currently works full-time as a research study coordinator at Fox Chase Cancer Center. Her research interests lie in developmental and cognitive psychology, particularly how social media influences long-term cognitive development. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, going to the gym, and walking around the city.