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.
POST-GRADUATES
Lena Skalaban, Ph.D.
Lena is a post-doc in the Control and Adaptive Behavior laboratory, co-advised by Dr. Jason Chein and Dr. Vishnu Murty. Lena received her B.A. from New York University and Ph.D. from Yale University. Her dissertation research with Dr. BJ Casey focused on how working memory and long-term memory interact and change across the lifespan, and how the type of information remembered or forgotten at different ages might be adaptive for a particular developmental period. Currently, Lena is interested in understanding how related forms of learning and memory, like semantic memory or working memory, might bolster and/or interfere with episodic memory performance across development. In her spare time, Lena likes to run and play soccer so that she can cook and eat food with reckless abandon.
GRADUATE STUDENTS
Büşra Tanriverdi
Ph.D. Candidate
Büşra is a graduate student in the Cognition and Neuroscience area of the department, co-mentored by Drs. Jason Chein and Ingrid Olson. Her research broadly focuses on understanding how social and affective processes interact with learning and memory. In one line of her work, she investigates post-encoding replay processes that contribute to memory retrieval, with a particular interest in aversive information. In her second line of work, she studies how sensitivity to social feedback interacts with social/person memory. She uses a combination of behavioral and neuroimaging (fMRI) methods in her studies. With a deep interest in emotional and traumatic memories, she continues to collaborate with Dr. Vishnu “Deepu” Murty and co-leads an interdisciplinary Trauma Reading Group in the program. In her free time, she enjoys watercolor painting, socializing with her friends, and exploring Philly.
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
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.
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANTS
Ashley Murray
Ashley is a senior undergraduate research assistant predominately working on Project LITe. She is a psychology major and cognitive neuroscience minor, within the honors college. Her research interests are currently focused on the effects of digital media and technology use on executive functioning amongst kids, teens, and young adults. She also has an interest in studying the development of prosocial behaviors in kids and teens. In her free time she enjoys cooking, running, and painting.
Alex Barone
Alex senior undergraduate RA for CabLab. He is a psychology major with a statistics and data science minor. Alex received the LAURA scholarship, for which he is investigating the interactions between humans and AI. He is interested in cognitive control, along with other aspects of cognition. Outside of the lab, Alex likes to walk his dog around campus, spend time with friends, and discover new music!
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!
Megan Vince
Megan is a third-year student studying both Psychology and Criminal Justice. She is currently on the track to get her Master’s in Criminal Justice. 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 an Honors Peer Mentor, 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 an undergraduate student at Temple University, majoring in Psychology with a minor in Neuroscience. He is a LAURA scholar for the spring 2024 semester, working on a research project titled “Does the Brain’s Sensitivity to Social Feedback Predict Social Memory?” with Dr. Jason Chein. His current research involves utilizing MRI for data collection in Project LITe. Harry is interested in studying interactions across cognition, learning, and memory. In his free time, he enjoys reading, cooking, and coaching wrestling.
Jay Brooks-Justice
Nolan Lortz
Neil Chaturvedi
Neil is a senior at Temple with a major in psychology and a minor in cognitive neuroscience. He is an active member of the Temple family, working in the Tuttleman Counseling Center, Resnick Center, CABLAB, and running a couple of different clubs and organizations here on campus. His research interests include bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety. Neil is currently conducting his honors thesis on the association between digital media use, reward processing, and depression. He plans to further his education by obtaining a doctoral degree in clinical psychology and aspires to work in clinical neuropsychology one day. In his free time, Neil loves to work on cars and play basketball!
Katie Floyd
Katie Floyd, majoring in Psychology with a minor in Neuroscience at Temple University, assists with neuroimaging research under Büsra Tanriverdi. Originally from Chester Springs, PA, Katie is passionate about contributing to the field of Psychology with the ultimate goal of helping others. She plans to pursue graduate school to advance her career. In her leisure time, she enjoys streaming movies and socializing with friends.
Kenzie Brandon
Kenzie joined the lab in the fall of 2023 as a rising senior. While she works on Project LITe as a research assistant, she also engages in research on bullying and aggression in school classrooms at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. As a criminal justice major and psychology minor, her primary research interests include interpersonal emotion regulation, impulsive behaviors, and the influence of mass media on delinquent behavior. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, snowboarding, and exploring the city!
Ashley Hawk
Ashley is a junior 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.
This page is under construction…
This page is under construction…
Graduate Students
Undergraduate Research Assistants
Control and Adaptive Behavior Laboratory
Temple University Brain Research & Imaging Center
1701 N 13th St, Philadelphia, PA 19122