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.

GRADUATE STUDENTS

Isabel Leiva
Ph.D. Student

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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 among social decision-making, emotion regulation, and memory, and in how these processes contribute to prediction errors. When she isn’t in the lab, she is either exploring the PA wilderness, reading, or drinking copious amounts of tea.

Shenghan Wang
Ph.D. Student

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Shenghan is a first-year graduate student in the Cognition and Neuroscience area at Temple’s 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.

Lina Hu
Ph.D. Student

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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

Avi Dachs

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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.

Andrew Cardona

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Andrew is a Senior in Temple University’s Honors Program majoring in Psychology with a minor in Cognitive Neuroscience. He joined the CABLAB in the summer of 2025 as a MiNDS Scholar. After graduation, Andrew plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in Neuroscience. Outside of academics and research, Andrew is an active member of Temple’s Climbing Club and enjoys playing guitar, experimenting with new recipes, and contemplating his next tattoo.

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANTS

Abby Kennedy

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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.

Maia Singh

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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.

Sophia Monroy

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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.

Ameya Nerella

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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

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Aashna is pursuing a psychology major and a legal studies minor. She hopes 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

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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.

Emily Brendlinger

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Emily is a sophomore majoring in psychology and minoring in cognitive neuroscience. She is interested in studying how digital spaces influence human behavior, and how social media and other online platforms will impact an individual’s decision making and attention span. At Temple, she is also the Treasurer of Temple’s Climbing Club and the Sophomore Coordinator for Honors Ambassadors to Temple. Outside of school and the lab, she loves to rock climb and play the guitar.

Anushka Phen

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Anushka is a sophomore psychology major who is interested in working with memory and trauma. Outside of academics, she enjoys playing video games, drawing, and watching bad Christmas movies.

Kiara Dunn

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Kiara is a sophomore majoring in Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management and minoring in Cognitive Neuroscience at Temple University. She is a new undergraduate research assistant starting out on Project LITe. She is interested in how cognitive processes underlying decision-making can inform how strategic management approaches organizational management. Outside of academics, she loves reading fantasy and sci-fi novels, writing short essays, creating Pinterest boards, listening to music, and drawing (humble) sketches.

Alicia Hoffmann

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Alicia is a freshman neuroscience and psychology major in Temple University’s Honors Program. She is particularly interested in studying memory and traumatic brain injuries. In her free time, she enjoys reading, playing the piano, spending time with friends, and drawing.

Aidan Ross

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Aidan Ross is an undergraduate Computer Science and Behavioral Neuroscience major at Temple University who joined CABLab as a volunteer RA in the spring of 2026. After graduation, he plans on pursuing a doctoral program in Computational Neuroscience or Neuroengineering, with the goal of working on improved and less invasive prosthetic devices for individuals with disabilities. Outside of academics, he enjoys reading, hiking, and making coffee.

Cody Nelson

Cody Nelson is a senior Psychology major with a minor in Cognitive Neuroscience. They’re very interested in the science behind addiction, creativity, and improvisation. They plan to assist with the CABLAB during a gap year before pursuing a graduate degree. In their free time, they enjoying going to the gym, making elaborate home dinners, and touring the world with their band Grocer.

Natalie Mason

Natalie is a rising senior majoring in Psychology, and became apart of the CABLAB as a BRiDGE scholar. Her interest include, examining neuroplasticity in the brain and researching how sleep and screen-time affects adolescents mood and decision-making. Outside of lab Natalie is on the temple wrestling club team. She also likes to run, read, and experiment with watercolor.

Layla Shelton

Layla is a junior psychology major that is interested in pediatric to adolescent development. Layla became apart of CABLAB in summer 2026 as a volunteer. Outside of lab Layla enjoys gaming, fashion and volleyball.