welcome our new Graduate Students
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ALBA TUNINETTI Program: Cognitive Research Interests: I am interested primarily in bilingualism and multilingualism and its underpinnings and representations in the brain. Along with this, I enjoy learning about language acquisition from childhood onwards and more specifically, the development and circumstances surrounding learning on, two or many languages at once. About Me: As an avid soccer fan, I enjoy watching and playing it, as well as rooting for the best team in the world: Argentina (...and possibly a few others). I also enjoy reading for pleasure when time permits, running, eating good food and learning as many languages as possible! |
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ANDREA WEINSTEIN Program: Clinical/ Health Research Interests: My interests are in cognitive aging and cognitive decline. I am interested in determining specific risk factors for cognitive dysfunction, as well as what life factors predict successful cognitive aging. In addition, I am interested in developing techniques that may attenuate cognitive dysfunction in neurologically impaired individuals. About Me: I love everything food-related, including cooking, eating, and discovering new recipes. I also enjoy hiking, doing yoga, and traveling to other countries where I can eat, hike, and meet new people. |
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CATHARINE FAIRBAIRN Program: Clinical/ Health Research Interests: Substance abuse and dependence. Environmental factors and social processes that contribute to substance use or abuse. About Me: I was born in Britain and only recently became a US citizen. Though I, tragically, did not retain my British accent, I do occasionally let slip a Britishism. I planned on becoming an opera singer until my senior year of college, when I finally discovered psychology. Outside of psychology, and singing, I enjoy cooking, gardening, reading, and tango. |
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CHELSEA EDDINGTON Program: Cognitive Research Interests: I am interested in bilingual processing, second language learning and acquisition and lexical ambiguity within and across languages. About Me: I love to paint and draw whenever I get a chance. I also enjoy snowboarding, running and playing with my dog. I love to travel, especially to visit friends in Germany, and I also love science fiction books and movies. |
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LINDSAY HARRIS Program: Cognitive Research Interests: Learning of new words during reading. Word-to-text integration processes. Neural correlates of reading across writing systems. About Me: I like hiking and backpacking... I play the violin in the Pitt Symphony Orchestra... In my previous life, I was a middle school and high school English teacher in Japan and in the South bronx. |
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LIZ RICHEY Program: Cognitive Research Interests: My research explores the implications of cognitive psychology on education practices, with particular emphasis on math and science education. I am interested in conceptual learning and problem-solving skills; analogical reasoning and transfer; learning processes within particular populations; and the relationship between existing knowledge and future learning. About Me: I enjoy running, taking care of my two cats, and visiting sites of historic significance. As a new homeowner, I spend most of my free time wandering the aisles of Home Depot wearing an expression that wavers between confusion and defeat. |
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MELISSA LEVIN Program: Biological and Health Research Interests: I am primarily interested in addiction research, specifically nicotine, and the underlying mechanisms which lead to dependence. I am also interested in pharmacotherapies that aid in discontinuing the use of nicotine. About Me: Aside from being a student, my interests include traveling, field hockey, reading for fun and being able to hang out with my family and friends. I really enjoy being able to try new and exciting things and am very excited to start this chapter of my life. |
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BRANDI HAWK Program: Clinical/ Developmental Research Interests: I am interested in how early adverse experiences affect later outcomes in children. Particularly, I am interested in children who were institutionalized early in life. About Me: I just adopted the cutest dog (Annie) and love playing with her. Also, I enjoy yoga, coffee, reading (especially goof fiction), movies and theatre, and cooking/ eating. |
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PORTIA MILLER Program: Developmental Research Interests: The effects of public policies on academic achievement of low income and minority children; the identification and evaluation of interventions and policies aimed at reducing disparities in school readiness and achievement in low income and minority children. About Me: I enjoy spending time with my son and husband, hiking with my dog and family, attending sporting events, shopping and reading. |
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JOEL CHAN Program: Cognitive Research Interests: Broadly stated, understanding the nature of expertise generally, e.g., how individuals become experts, environmental factors that support expertise acquisition. I am currently developing interest in the area of innovation and analogical reasoning through my work with my advisor on analogy and innovation in design problem-solving. About Me: Music is probably one of my biggest interests outside of academics. I minored in music, and enjoy listening to good music, going to concerts, singing in choirs, playing in bands and ensembles (I play guitar, bass, piano, and drums), and jamming with friends. I also love playing and watching all kinds of sports, especially racquet games like ping pong, tennis and racquetball. |
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MIKE SAYERS Program: Clinical/ Health Research Interests: Broadly interested in addictive behavior. Topics I specifically hope to explore further in the program are craving and how mindfulness based treatments relate to addictive disorders and the subjective experience of craving. About Me: I am a somewhat compulsive exerciser and piano player. I need to be able to do both fairly frequently. |
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MAN YU LI Program: Individualized Research Interests: My interest is in culture and gender, particularly why some people immigrate to other countries, how they acculturate in a new culture, and whether there are any gender differences. I have also done some work on relationships, aggression, and sexual harassment. About Me: I like music and outdoor sports. I play trombone, harmonica and a little bit guitar. I like swimming and hiking (especially when I was in my hometown, Hong Kong, where hiking can be a good way to get away from the busy and crowded life!) I am a 'chocoholic' too - I love dark chocolate! |