Lab Members

Faculty Members

Hilary Barth, Ph.D. is a psychological scientist working within the broad area of human cognition and development. Main areas of interest are mathematical cognition; thinking and learning about number, space, time, and probability; social cognition; and decision making. She is director of the Yellow Lab. [Faculty Page; Publications]

Anna Shusterman, Ph.D. studies the relationships between language and conceptual development, primarily representations of space and number. Her lab uses behavioral methods to explore cognitive development and language acquisition in young children. She is also interested in the effects of atypical linguistic experience on conceptual representation. She is director of the Blue Lab. [Faculty Page; Publications]

Research Scientist

Talia Berkowitz, Ph.D. (she/her) is a Senior Research Scientist in the Blue Lab. She completed a BA in Psychology at Barnard College, after which she worked as the Blue Lab Coordinator from 2010-2012. She then completed her PhD in Developmental Psychology at the University of Chicago, working in the Cognitive Development Lab with Susan Levine. Her research focuses on how children’s early math input relates to future math learning and achievement. She is particularly interested in how parents’ and teachers’ attitudes and beliefs relate to variations in their math engagement with their children, and her current work focuses on developing and evaluating interventions to promote adult-child interactions around math.

Lab Coordinators

Research Assistants

Blue Lab

Leigh Allen ‘26 (she/they) is a Psychology major and IDEAS minor from North Florida. They are in the Wesleyan Cardinal Players Pep Band and mentor high-achieving underrepresented students through the Sunrise Scholars Foundation. They’re primarily interested in pursuing child and adolescent clinical psychology. After Wesleyan, they want  to pursue a PsyD degree so they can open their own practice and offer assessments for behavioral and learning disorders to children who don’t get properly diagnosed due to barriers between them and mental health resources. They like to play D&D and other games with friends and create art in their free time.

Priya Devavaram ‘26 (she/her) is a Psychology major from Boston, Massachusetts. Priya is interested in atypical intellectual development, spatial thought skills, and best practices to support children and families through educational settings. She is involved with the National Education Equity Lab teaching fellowship and the Chinese language department. Priya also enjoys music, the outdoors, and spending time with her cat, Fern. 

 

Hannah Joe ‘25 (she/her) is a Psychology and Education studies double major from Los Angeles, California. Hannah is interested in early language development, best practices for teaching children with learning differences, early childhood educator motivations for teaching, and how to bring research-informed, socially and emotionally conscious teaching practices into more classrooms. Outside of the lab, she enjoys anything outdoors, managing the women’s club basketball team, running, watching way too many Netflix limited series thrillers, and volunteering with kids and animals.

Nirvaan Mehta ‘27 (he/him) is a prospective Psychology and Economics double major with a Data Science certificate from Hyderabad, India. Nirvaan is interested in spatial cognition, decision making, and the psychology of gender and sexuality. Outside of the lab, Nirvaan is part of the K-Pop Dance Crew and the International Student Advisory Board.

 

Margaret Rowe ‘27 (she/her) is a Psychology major with a minor in Data Analysis from Cambridge, Massachusetts. She is interested in child cognitive development, moral decision-making, and psychopathology. Outside of the lab, Margaret serves as a board member, dancer, and choreographer for Collection Motion, is a member of the Student Health Advisory Committee, and participates in WesTutors. She also enjoys spending time with friends, listening to good music, and soaking up the sun (when it’s warm) in her free time.

Ruby Seamon ‘25 (she/her) is a Psychology major with a minor in Education Studies. She was born and raised in Austin, Texas. Ruby is passionate about finding ways to increase educational equality and inclusivity, and about studying the impacts of social and emotional support on children’s learning. Outside of the lab, you might find Ruby working at Red and Black Café or directing various musical groups around campus. She enjoys drawing, watching horror movies, and hanging out with animals. 

Zara Skolnik ‘26 (she/her) is a Psychology and English double major with a minor in Education Studies from Concord, Massachusetts. Zara is interested in the social and cultural influences that impact early numeracy education and language acquisition. Outside of the lab, Zara is a Jewish representative on the Wesleyan Interfaith Literacy and Diversity (WILD) Counsel, and an Opinion editor for The Argus. She also enjoys reading on Foss Hill when the weather is warm.

 

Marie-Claire Smith ‘24 (she/her) is a Neuroscience & Behavior and Psychology double major, with a minor in Chemistry. She is from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where she has worked with the foster care system and children for many years. In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors, cooking, biking, and playing games. She is interested in early childhood development, play-based learning, and cognitive diversity. After graduation, Marie-Claire hopes to work in special education classrooms before going back to school to study educational or cognitive psychology.

Yellow Lab

Emma Blakeley ‘25 (she/her) is a psychology major and data analysis minor from Long Island, New York. Emma is interested in child development, social cognition, and the psychology of gender. She initially became interested in cognitive development when working at an overnight camp and tutoring. Outside of the lab, Emma is on the Wesleyan water polo team, a national education opportunity fellow, and works on the Wesleyan media project in the Delta Lab.  

 

Deborah Campos ’27 (she/her) is a Neuroscience & Behavior and Psychology double major from Waterbury, CT. Deborah became interested in early cognitive development while working with children in summer programs in her hometown. Outside of the lab, she is a CA for the Portuguese department, teaches piano to kids, and volunteers at local elementary schools through the Wesleyan Science Outreach program.

 

Mia Dezelic ‘27 is a Government and Psychology double major with an interest in child psychology and development. She is from Hudson, Ohio, where she first discovered her interest while working with kids in an elementary school classroom as a student volunteer. Outside of the lab, Mia is a member of the Women’s Swimming and Diving team, a representative on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), and works as a photographer in the athletics department. She also spent last summer working as an ocean rescue lifeguard in Maine! 

Lucinda Gatsiounis ‘28 is a Psychology major and Civic Engagement minor from Los Angeles, CA. Her interest in developmental psychology and cognitive development was first sparked while teaching tennis to children, which led to her fascination with how kids think, learn, and grow. Outside of class and the lab, Lucinda is a proud member of the Wesleyan Women’s Tennis team. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, exploring new coffee shops and restaurants, spending time outdoors, and traveling whenever possible.

Kimberly Jung ’27 is a Psychology and Education Studies double major and Data Analysis minor from San Jose, California. She became interested in cognitive development from working with children through directing musicals for young actors and tutoring. Outside of the lab, Kimberly is on Wesleyan’s DEI Executive Team for Athletics, the president of the Student Athletes of Color Leadership Committee, and a member of the Women’s Ice Hockey team. She also loves to crochet and cook!

 

Elia Matrician ’26 (she/her) is a Psychology and Art History double major with an interest in infant and child cognitive and social development. She is from Boston, where she has experience in tutoring, childcare, and music mentorship. She also works as a preschool/daycare teacher, working with children of all ages and supporting growth and learning. Outside of lab and classes, Elia enjoys reading, baking, spending time with friends outside, and crafting!

 

Imogene Ostrom ‘27is a Psychology and Hispanic Literatures and Cultures double major with a minor in Education Studies from Seattle. She developed her love of working with children through student teaching and coaching. She is interested in child development and social cognition. Outside of the lab you may find her hiking, baking, napping in the sun, reading, taking orders at Swings or playing rugby or volleyball.

 

Isabella “Issy” Simpson ’27 is a Psychology and Education Studies double major is from Shropshire, England. From years of childcare experience, she became fascinated with developmental psychology, with a particular interest in the rapid development of infants. Outside of lab, Issy loves climbing, cooking, attending concerts, and going on spontaneous adventures.

 

Jamie Sloves ’27 is a Psychology and Computer Science double major and is from San Mateo, CA. She became interested in developmental psychology after working with kids through being a camp counselor as well as volunteering with Friendship Circle, an organization that works with kids with special needs. Outside of class, Jamie loves being a part of Wesleyan’s mock trial team and enjoys participating in Spike Tape productions.

 

Suchita Sridhara ’26 is a Psychology and Economics double major interested in cognitive psychology and child development. Growing up in New York, she found a passion for how children learn in her years as a tutor for young kids. Outside of the lab, Suchita is a leader of both the Wesleyan Ethics Bowl Club and Shakti, the South Asian Student Coalition. She also loves to sing and read!

 

Alumni