I-LABS Faculty & Staff

Meet the scientists, students and staff at I-LABS

Headline:

Meet the scientists, students and staff at I-LABS

Drs. Kuhl and Meltzoff currently work with a team of renowned scientists, Postdoctoral Fellows and graduate students from around the world. The interdisciplinary team draws from numerous fields of study at the University of Washington including the Department of Psychology, the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences and the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.

Faculty from many University of Washington departments, and from institutions around the world, collaborate on specific research projects in conjunction with Institute scientists.

Institute Faculty

The Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences houses an interdisciplinary group of faculty from several University of Washington departments, schools and colleges. Faculty collaborations across departments give rise to exciting research synergies. In addition, I-LABS’ faculty affiliates collaborate on specific research projects in conjunction with Institute scientists. Read More »

Postdoctoral Fellows and Students

The Institute draws top recent Ph.D.s and promising graduate students from around the world. These next generation scientists help make the Institute the nexus for research on the science of early learning. Read More »

Research and Institute Staff

Staff members play key roles in conducting all aspects of I-LABS’ research and in providing support for the infrastructure of the Institute. Read More »

Alumni Scientists

We are proud that these people have all spent time at I-LABS and have now moved to take important positions in the field elsewhere. Read More »

Postdoctoral Fellows

Alexis Bosseler, Ph.D.

Ms. Bosseler is a Posdoctoral Fellow in Dr. Patricia K. Kuhl’s lab. Dr. Bosseler earned her Ph.D. from the University of Washington and her bachelor’s degree in Psychology at the University of California, Santa... Read more

Dario Cvencek, Ph.D.

Dr. Cvencek is a postdoctoral fellow working with Dr. Andrew Meltzoff. Before coming to the Institute, he earned a Ph.D. in cognitive psychology at the University of Washington, working with Tony Greenwald. Dr. Cvencek... Read more

Adrian Garcia-Sierra, Ph.D.

Dr. Garcia-Sierra is a postdoctoral fellow working on studies of early language acquisition in bilingual infants. Before coming to the Institute he earned a Ph.D. in Speech and Hearing Sciences at the University of Texas... Read more

Eric Larson, Ph.D.

Dr. Larson is a postdoctoral fellow working with Dr. Adrian KC Lee on studies of auditory attention. Before coming to the Institute, he earned a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering at Boston University with Dr. Kamal Sen. Dr.... Read more

Jeff Loucks, Ph.D.

Dr. Jeff Loucks is an NRSA postdoctoral fellow working with Dr. Jessica Sommerville. Before coming to the Institute, he earned a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology at the University of Oregon, working with Dr. Dare Baldwin... Read more

Ross Maddox, Ph.D.

Dr. Maddox is a postdoctoral fellow studying crossmodal auditory and visual attention with Dr. Adrian KC Lee. Prior to his arrival at I-LABS, he earned his Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering at Boston University with Drs.... Read more

Allison Master, Ph.D.

Dr. Master is a postdoctoral fellow working with Dr. Andrew Meltzoff and Dr. Sapna Cheryan. Before coming to the Institute, she earned a Ph.D. in developmental psychology at Stanford University, working with Dr. Carol... Read more

Cherie Percaccio, Ph.D.

Dr. Percaccio studies language acquisition in children with autism. Together, they are investigating the phonetic discrimination abilities of at-risk infants to determine if there are early physiological markers of autism... Read more

Nairan Ramirez-Esparza, Ph.D.

Dr. Ramírez-Esparza is a postdoctoral fellow working with Dr. Patricia K. Kuhl. Before coming to the Institute she earned a Ph.D. in Social Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. Nairán's... Read more

Sarah Roseberry, Ph.D.

Dr. Roseberry is working on studies of early language acquisition. Before coming to the Institute, she earned a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology at Temple University, where she worked with Dr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek. Sarah... Read more

Anna Waismeyer, Ph.D.

Dr. Waismeyer is a postdoctoral fellow working with Dr. Andrew Meltzoff. Before coming to the Institute, she earned a Ph.D. in comparative and developmental psychology at the University of California at Berkeley with Dr.... Read more

Elizabeth Zack, Ph.D.

Dr. Zack is a postdoctoral fellow working with Dr. Andrew Meltzoff. Before coming to the Institute, she earned a Ph.D. in developmental psychology at Georgetown University, working with Rachel Barr. Dr. Zack’s... Read more

Graduate Students

Berit Olsen

Berit Olsen is a graduate student supervised by Professor Betty Repacholi in the Social and Emotional Development Lab. Berit received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Religion from Pacific Lutheran University... Read more

Tamara Spiewak Toub

Tamara Spiewak Toub is a graduate student working with Dr. Repacholi in the Social and Emotional Development Lab. Currently, Tamara's research focuses on infants' understanding of other people's emotions and... Read more

Christina Zhao

Christina (Tian) Zhao is a graduate student in Dr. Patricia Kuhl's lab. She graduated from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology, with minors in Biology and Music... Read more

Undergraduate Students

Linda Chau

Linda Chau is pursuing a major in psychology with a minor in chemistry. She is considering the possibility of attending medical school upon graduating. Outside of school, Linda enjoys running, arts and crafts, sewing, and... Read more

Nicole Cho

Nicole Cho is double majoring in Social Welfare and Psychology. She graduates on June 11, 2011. After graduating she hopes to find a job that allows her to work with youth for a couple years before pursuing graduate... Read more

Katie Dennis

Katie Dennis is a senior majoring in Speech and Hearing Sciences. Upon graduating, she plans to pursue graduate studies in speech pathology. Katie is a Girl Scout leader and enjoys photography and astronomy. Read more

Bedii Duru Altug

Bedii Duru Altug is pursuing degrees in Linguistics and Near Eastern Languages and Civilization along with a minor in International Studies – Comparative Islamic Studies. In the fall he will be working on his Master... Read more

Linden Hale

Linden Hale is a junior studying psychology. She currently works in Rechele Brooks’ lab. Eventually, she would like to go to grad school to study nonverbal communication. Linden is also a dancer and plans to continue... Read more

Anne Harvey

Anne Harvey is a junior majoring in Speech & Hearing Sciences. After graduation, she hopes to be accepted into the AuD program at the University of Washington and eventually become certified as a clinical Audiologist.... Read more

Marissa Herzog

Marissa Herzog is a sophomore double majoring in Psychology and Sociology. After graduating, she hopes to be a counselor or therapist in a children’s hospital. She first fell in love with psychology when she took an... Read more

Megan Kao

Megan Kao is a sophomore majoring in psychology. Upon graduating, she plans to pursue graduate studies in clinical psychology, and hopefully open her own practice in the future. Outside of school, Megan enjoys playing... Read more

Ka Young Lee

Ka Young Lee is a junior double majoring in biochemistry and speech and hearing sciences. She hopes to enter med school upon graduating. Ka Young enjoys watching Japanese animation, reading the newspaper, and browsing the... Read more

Rodion Natalenko

Rodion Natalenko, a Moskovsky native, is an undergraduate honors student at the University of Washington, working toward a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. As a strong advocate of Leo Tolstoy’s philosophy, he... Read more

Jessica Wenke

Jessica Wenke is a junior majoring in speech and hearing sciences. Upon graduating, she plans to attend graduate school to pursue a Master’s degree in speech pathology with an emphasis on voice disorders. Jessica... Read more

Nicole Wilberding

Nicole Wilberding is a junior pursuing a B.S. degree in psychology. She wants to go to graduate school and then pursue a PhD in clinical psychology. She hopes to work with children and adolescents in a clinical setting.... Read more

Brianna Yamasaki

Brianna Yamasaki, an enthusiastic undergraduate honors student at the University of Washington, is working toward a Bachelors of Science in Psychology. She is most fascinated with the ever complex brain and its ability to... Read more

Interns

Ellie Henningsgaard

Ellie Henningsgaard spent spring term of her senior year (Interlake High School in Bellevue, WA) as an intern at I-LABS. She worked in Dr. Patricia Kuhl’s Speech Research Laboratory. Ellie was a tremendous asset,... Read more

Loan Nguyen

Loan Nguyen was a Gates Millennium Scholar pursuing a degree in Medical Technology when she completed an internship at I-LABS that was sponsored by Casey Family Programs. She is currently attending graduate school in... Read more

William Poole

William Poole was a student at Eastside Preparatory School in Kirkland, WA when he spent 6 months at I-LABS completing an internship to learn more about brain imaging tools. With a passion for biology and physics, William... Read more

Faculty & Staff

The Developing Mind Project is a multi-year research initiative that marries cutting-edge brain-imaging technology with the vision and expertise of a world-class research team.

Primary links

I-LABS Faculty & Staff

Meet the scientists, students and staff at I-LABS

Faculty & Staff

Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences

Connect with I-LABS