Core Faculty
Dr. Firat Soylu - Assistant Professor, Educational Psychology
Email: fsoylu@ua.edu - Office: Barnes 1038 - Research Lab: ELDEN Lab, Barnes 1051
Research Interests: Educational & cognitive neuroscience, mathematical cognition, STEM learning, embodied cognition, EEG/ERP, fMRI
Education/Professional Background:
Postdoctoral Fellow, Learning Sciences, Northwestern University, 2011-2014
Ph.D., Cognitive Science & Instructional Systems Technology, Indiana University, Bloomington, 2011
Email: fsoylu@ua.edu - Office: Barnes 1038 - Research Lab: ELDEN Lab, Barnes 1051
Research Interests: Educational & cognitive neuroscience, mathematical cognition, STEM learning, embodied cognition, EEG/ERP, fMRI
Education/Professional Background:
Postdoctoral Fellow, Learning Sciences, Northwestern University, 2011-2014
Ph.D., Cognitive Science & Instructional Systems Technology, Indiana University, Bloomington, 2011
Dr. Hyemin Han - Assistant Professor, Educational Psychology
Email: hyemin.han@ua.edu - Office: Capital Hall 1615 - Research Lab: SEED Lab, Barnes 1020
Research Interests: Educational neuroscience, social neuroscience, social development, positive psychology, computational simulations, educational interventions
Education/Professional Background:
Ph.D., Developmental and Psychological Sciences, Stanford University, 2016
Email: hyemin.han@ua.edu - Office: Capital Hall 1615 - Research Lab: SEED Lab, Barnes 1020
Research Interests: Educational neuroscience, social neuroscience, social development, positive psychology, computational simulations, educational interventions
Education/Professional Background:
Ph.D., Developmental and Psychological Sciences, Stanford University, 2016
Dr. Laura Morett - Assistant Professor, Educational Psychology
Email: lmorett@ua.edu - Office: Capital Hall 1617 - Research Lab: NERD Lab, Capital Hall 1630
Research Interests: Educational neuroscience and psychology, learning sciences, cognitive development, autism spectrum disorder, bilingualism, embodied cognition
Education/Professional Background:
Postdoctoral Associate, Child Study Center, Yale University, 2016 - 2017
Postdoctoral Fellow, Learning Research and Development Center, University of Pittsburgh, 2013-2016
Ph.D., Cognitive Psychology, University of California, Santa Cruz, 2012
Email: lmorett@ua.edu - Office: Capital Hall 1617 - Research Lab: NERD Lab, Capital Hall 1630
Research Interests: Educational neuroscience and psychology, learning sciences, cognitive development, autism spectrum disorder, bilingualism, embodied cognition
Education/Professional Background:
Postdoctoral Associate, Child Study Center, Yale University, 2016 - 2017
Postdoctoral Fellow, Learning Research and Development Center, University of Pittsburgh, 2013-2016
Ph.D., Cognitive Psychology, University of California, Santa Cruz, 2012
Dr. Macarena Suarez Pellicioni - Assistant Professor, Educational Psychology
Email: mspellicioni@ua.edu - Office: Capital Hall 1618
Research Interests: Educational neuroscience, mathematical cognition, child development, learning, fMRI, ERPs
Education/Professional Background:
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Brain Development Lab, Vanderbilt University, 2017 - 2020
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Brain Development Lab, University of Texas at Austin, 2015 - 2017
Ph.D., Psychology, University of Barcelona, Spain, 2014
Email: mspellicioni@ua.edu - Office: Capital Hall 1618
Research Interests: Educational neuroscience, mathematical cognition, child development, learning, fMRI, ERPs
Education/Professional Background:
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Brain Development Lab, Vanderbilt University, 2017 - 2020
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Brain Development Lab, University of Texas at Austin, 2015 - 2017
Ph.D., Psychology, University of Barcelona, Spain, 2014
Affliated Faculty
Dr. David Walker - Associate Professor, Educational Psychology
Email: diwalker@ua.edu
Research Interests: Moral/character development, interdisciplinary research, military/ex-military populations
Education/Professional Background:
Postdoctoral Fellow, Purdue University
Ph.D., Durham University, UK
Email: diwalker@ua.edu
Research Interests: Moral/character development, interdisciplinary research, military/ex-military populations
Education/Professional Background:
Postdoctoral Fellow, Purdue University
Ph.D., Durham University, UK
Dr. Jason Scofield - Associate Professor, Human Development & Family Studies
Email: scofield@ua.edu - Office: 209 Child Development Research Center - Research Lab: 233 Child Development Research Center
Research Interests: Child development, cognitive development, language development
Education/Professional Background:
Ph.D., University of Arkansas, 2003, Psychology
Email: scofield@ua.edu - Office: 209 Child Development Research Center - Research Lab: 233 Child Development Research Center
Research Interests: Child development, cognitive development, language development
Education/Professional Background:
Ph.D., University of Arkansas, 2003, Psychology
Dr. Rick A. Houser - Professor Emeritus, Counselor Education
Email: rhouser@ua.edu
Research Interests: Ethical decision making, use of virtual reality in education, neuropsychological processes in learning situations
Education/Professional Background:
Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh, 1987, Rehabilitation Counseling with a minor in Educational Research
Email: rhouser@ua.edu
Research Interests: Ethical decision making, use of virtual reality in education, neuropsychological processes in learning situations
Education/Professional Background:
Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh, 1987, Rehabilitation Counseling with a minor in Educational Research
Dr. Stephen Thoma - Professor Emeritus, Educational Psychology
Email: sthoma@ua.edu
Research Interests: Moral judgement development, personality and social development, neuropsychology of moral reasoning and decision making
Education/Professional Background:
Ph.D., University of Minnesota, Personality and Social development/Measurement and Statistics—Educational Psychology, 1986
Email: sthoma@ua.edu
Research Interests: Moral judgement development, personality and social development, neuropsychology of moral reasoning and decision making
Education/Professional Background:
Ph.D., University of Minnesota, Personality and Social development/Measurement and Statistics—Educational Psychology, 1986
PhD Students
Paria Yaghoubi Jami
Cohort Year: 2014
Advisors: Dr. Steve Thoma & Dr. David Walker
Email: pyaghoubijami@crimson.ua.edu
Research Interests: Social Neuroscience, Emotional Pain, Developmental path of Empathy, Cultural Differences in Empathic Behavior
Online Profile: ResearchGate
Cohort Year: 2014
Advisors: Dr. Steve Thoma & Dr. David Walker
Email: pyaghoubijami@crimson.ua.edu
Research Interests: Social Neuroscience, Emotional Pain, Developmental path of Empathy, Cultural Differences in Empathic Behavior
Online Profile: ResearchGate
Catanya Stager
Cohort Year: 2015
Advisor: Dr. Jason Scofield
Lab: ABCD Lab
Email: cgstager@crimson.ua.edu
Research Interests: Child Development, Language, Medical Education, Educational Technology, Psychometrics, Research Methods
Online Profile: Google Scholar ResearchGate
Cohort Year: 2015
Advisor: Dr. Jason Scofield
Lab: ABCD Lab
Email: cgstager@crimson.ua.edu
Research Interests: Child Development, Language, Medical Education, Educational Technology, Psychometrics, Research Methods
Online Profile: Google Scholar ResearchGate
Nathaniel Shannon
Cohort Year: 2016
Advisor: Dr. Firat Soylu
Email: nhshannoniv@crimson.ua.edu
Research Interests: Numerical cognition, EEG, fMIRS
Cohort Year: 2016
Advisor: Dr. Firat Soylu
Email: nhshannoniv@crimson.ua.edu
Research Interests: Numerical cognition, EEG, fMIRS
Brian Rivera
Cohort Year: 2016
Advisor: Dr. Firat Soylu
Lab: ELDEN Lab
Email: brivera@crimson.ua.edu
Research Interests: Numerical cognition, fraction processing, computational thinking, EEG, BCI, fMRI
Online Profile: https://brivera.people.ua.edu/
Cohort Year: 2016
Advisor: Dr. Firat Soylu
Lab: ELDEN Lab
Email: brivera@crimson.ua.edu
Research Interests: Numerical cognition, fraction processing, computational thinking, EEG, BCI, fMRI
Online Profile: https://brivera.people.ua.edu/
Kelsie Dawson
Cohort Year: 2016
Advisor: Dr. Hyemin Han
Lab: SEED Lab
Email: kjdawson1@crimson.ua.edu
Research Interests: Moral development
Online Profile: ResearchGate
Cohort Year: 2016
Advisor: Dr. Hyemin Han
Lab: SEED Lab
Email: kjdawson1@crimson.ua.edu
Research Interests: Moral development
Online Profile: ResearchGate
Corinne Ku
Cohort Year: 2017
Advisor: Drs. Spyridoula Cheimariou & Randall E. Schumacker
Lab: NeuLanD Lab
Email: yku1@crimson.ua.edu
Research Interests: Psycholinguistics of Bilingualism, Eye-tracking techniques, ERPs
Online Profile: ResearchGate
Cohort Year: 2017
Advisor: Drs. Spyridoula Cheimariou & Randall E. Schumacker
Lab: NeuLanD Lab
Email: yku1@crimson.ua.edu
Research Interests: Psycholinguistics of Bilingualism, Eye-tracking techniques, ERPs
Online Profile: ResearchGate
Mona Anchan
Cohort Year: 2017
Advisor: Dr. Firat Soylu
Lab: ELDEN Lab
Email: dmanchan@crimson.ua.edu
Research Interests: Bilingualism, Math Cognition, Ed Neuro interventions, EEG
Online Profile: ResearchGate
Cohort Year: 2017
Advisor: Dr. Firat Soylu
Lab: ELDEN Lab
Email: dmanchan@crimson.ua.edu
Research Interests: Bilingualism, Math Cognition, Ed Neuro interventions, EEG
Online Profile: ResearchGate
Kaitlyn May
Cohort Year: 2017
Advisor: Dr. Jason Scofield
Lab: ABCD Lab
Email: kmay3@crimson.ua.edu
Research Interests: Executive Function, Language Development, Ed Neuro Interventions, fMRI
Online Profile: ResearchGate
Cohort Year: 2017
Advisor: Dr. Jason Scofield
Lab: ABCD Lab
Email: kmay3@crimson.ua.edu
Research Interests: Executive Function, Language Development, Ed Neuro Interventions, fMRI
Online Profile: ResearchGate
Yi Chen
Cohort Year: 2017
Advisor: Dr. Han Hyemin
Email: ychen195@crimson.ua.edu
Research Interests:
Cohort Year: 2017
Advisor: Dr. Han Hyemin
Email: ychen195@crimson.ua.edu
Research Interests:
Jake Feiler
Cohort Year: 2018
Advisor: Dr. Laura Morett
Lab: NERD Lab
Email: jfeiler@crimson.ua.edu
Research Interests: STEM learning, fNIRS, EEG
Online Profile: http://jfeiler.people.ua.edu/
Cohort Year: 2018
Advisor: Dr. Laura Morett
Lab: NERD Lab
Email: jfeiler@crimson.ua.edu
Research Interests: STEM learning, fNIRS, EEG
Online Profile: http://jfeiler.people.ua.edu/
Cailee Nelson
Cohort Year: 2018
Advisor: Dr. Laura Morett
Lab: NERD Lab
Email: cmnelson4@crimson.ua.edu
Research Interests: Autism Spectrum Disorder, motivation, fNIRS, EEG, fMRI
Online Profile: ResearchGate
Cohort Year: 2018
Advisor: Dr. Laura Morett
Lab: NERD Lab
Email: cmnelson4@crimson.ua.edu
Research Interests: Autism Spectrum Disorder, motivation, fNIRS, EEG, fMRI
Online Profile: ResearchGate
Sarah Hughes
Cohort Year: 2018
Advisor: Dr. Laura Morett
Lab: NERD Lab
Email: shughesberheim@crimson.ua.edu
Research Interests: Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary Acquisition, EEG, fNIRS, fMRI
Cohort Year: 2018
Advisor: Dr. Laura Morett
Lab: NERD Lab
Email: shughesberheim@crimson.ua.edu
Research Interests: Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary Acquisition, EEG, fNIRS, fMRI
Jongjin Kim
Cohort Year: 2018
Advisor: Dr. Firat Soylu
Lab: ELDEN Lab
Email: jkim205@crimson.ua.edu
Research Interests: Educational neuroscience, numerical cognition, and constructionism
Online Profile: https://jkim.people.ua.edu/me.html
Cohort Year: 2018
Advisor: Dr. Firat Soylu
Lab: ELDEN Lab
Email: jkim205@crimson.ua.edu
Research Interests: Educational neuroscience, numerical cognition, and constructionism
Online Profile: https://jkim.people.ua.edu/me.html
Yeeun (Rachel) Choi
Cohort Year: 2018
Advisor: Dr. Hyemin Han
Lab: SEED Lab
Email: ychoi28@crimson.ua.edu
Research Interests: Moral and character development, meaning in life, and psychological well-being among workers
Cohort Year: 2018
Advisor: Dr. Hyemin Han
Lab: SEED Lab
Email: ychoi28@crimson.ua.edu
Research Interests: Moral and character development, meaning in life, and psychological well-being among workers
