People

Elizabeth Chua is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Brooklyn College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. She completed her graduate training (Ph.D. in Psychology) at Harvard University and a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California, Davis. Her main research interests center on how our memory works and our knowledge about how our own memory works. She has used neuroimaging, brain stimulation, eye tracking, and psychophysiological techniques to answer these questions. When not working, she enjoys rock climbing and sampling the great food New York has to offer.

Kelly Cotton is a PhD candidate in the Cognitive and Comparative Psychology program at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. Her research interests include working memory, consolidation into long-term memory, and how these functions differ in various populations. She's particularly interested in using neuroimaging and eye-tracking to inform our knowledge of human cognition. Outside of research, she enjoys traveling, baking, and hanging out with her cat, Freddie.

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Casey Imperio is a PhD candidate in the Psychology: Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience Program at CUNY The Graduate Center. She earned both her undergraduate and master’s degrees in Psychology at James Madison University, where her research focus was on false memory formation in older and younger adults. She also spent time in an animal research lab working with ADHD models of rats. Her current research focuses on the neural basis of metamemory processes in episodic and semantic tasks. Specifically, she uses a form of non-invasive brain stimulation, called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), in attempts to elucidate the role of the prefrontal cortex in metamemory and memory processes. Her hope is that this research will lay the foundation for treatments using tDCS in people with metamemory and memory issues. Casey loves mentoring undergraduate and master’s students and teaching them how to become researchers in the fields of cognitive psychology and neuroscience. In her free time, Casey is an avid cook and likes to play video games with her husband and hang out with her two dachshunds, Roscoe and Cooper.

Michael is a second-year graduate student working towards obtaining his M.S. in Cognitive Neuroscience at the Graduate Center, City University of New York (CUNY). Currently, he is interested in utilizing various methodological strategies to shed empirical light on differing mental states – specifically, those that are subjective. His current research attempts to use HD-tDCS to dissociate the mechanisms underlying objective and subjective memory (meta-memory, i.e., how we judge and/or feel about our memories). Aside from the time he spends in the lab thinking about memory, Michael also enjoys reading about consciousness from a hard science perspective as well as ideas from the philosophy of mind. At the end of the day when his brain is burnt out from studies, Michael usually watches Adventure Time or Rick and Morty.

Tiffanie Li is pursuing her Master’s in Cognitive Neuroscience at the Graduate Center (CUNY). She has always been interested in the human potential and is excited to work with HD-tDCS; a relatively new research method in Neuroscience. She is particularly interested in the effects HD-tDCS on memory and cognition performance. After graduating, Tiffanie plans on working in the the Neuromarketing and/or Neurotechnology fields to gain insight into the current uses of brain stimulation techniques throughout the community. On her free time, she enjoys being in nature, reading, and learning new skills.

Ali Haydar Ozgun is an Experimental Psychology Master's student at Brooklyn College of the City University of New York; He is also working on his master's degree in Cognitive Science at the University of Osnabrück, Germany. Ali Haydar got his bachelor's degree in Psychology from Istanbul Gelişim University, Turkey. He is mainly interested in memory; his research focuses on autobiographical memory. He is currently looking at the effect of photo editing for social media on autobiographical memory. Outside of work, he enjoys playing volleyball and hiking.

Kaitlyn is a sophomore in the Brooklyn College Coordinated BA/MD Program who aspires to pursue a career in cognitive neuroscience. She is fascinated by the intricate psychological mechanisms underlying cognition and hopes that by working and conducting research with Dr. Chua, she will be able to learn more about the therapeutic potential of brain stimulation on metamemory deficits - a trademark of many neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer’s. Kaitlyn is also very passionate about combating anti-Asian hate and advocating for greater Asian-American representation in politics and media. By participating in rallies and volunteering with organizations such as Main Street Patrol, she hopes to take action against the recent rise in anti-Asian hate incidents. In her free time, Kaitlyn enjoys solving jigsaw puzzles, watching reruns of Gilmore Girls and The Office, trying new recipes, and reading psychological thriller novels.

Liz is an undergraduate student at Brooklyn College as part of NIH's Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC), majoring in Biology. She is interested about human cognition and how external factors such as stress affect memory. As a biologist, Liz is looking to understand how external factors and lifestyle could affect cognition and memory during the aging process. Outside of the lab, she enjoys watching movies, going out to concerts, and working out.

Joel Rejouis is a second bachelors student pursuing a degree in Psychology. He is very interested in the field of neuroscience; his research interests include the study of the brain, especially in the area of memory. He is thrilled to be working in Dr. Elizabeth Chua’s lab, and to be helping to conduct research on metamemory and different cognitive processes. He hopes to make a difference in his community, to inspire them to be the best that they can be. Outside of lab he enjoys, playing video games, hanging out with friends, indulging in his faith or practicing with his guitar.

Eylem Yildirim is a second-degree student majoring in psychology with a minor in neuroscience at Brooklyn College of the City University of New York. They worked with Dr. Chua as an online learning assistant in experimental psychology for two semesters. After working closely with Dr. Chua, they joined the lab as a Research Experience for Undergraduate Students (REU) and worked with HD-tDCS. Eylem is intrigued by how certain mental health disorders, such as major depressive disorder, affect metamemory. Currently, they are working on a project with social media and autobiographical memory. After graduation, they aim to pursue a career in psychiatric nurse practitioner/Ph.D. In their free time, Eylem likes to work on mobility and flexibility and is obsessed with the bio-mechanic of the spine. They are also an avid world traveler, and visited 50+ countries.