Current Research Assistants
Stephanie Doering
I am a 4th year double major in Cognitive Neuroscience and Health Informatics. I’m interested in a wide range of neuroscience topics including neurodegenerative diseases and episodic memory. I am currently researching pattern separation/completion, trying my hand at hierarchical Bayesian cognitive modeling of behavioral data, and assisting in MRI studies. On campus, I am also a RA for the Memory and Decision Making Lab (MADLAB) and President of Nu Rho Psi @ UCI. On the off chance that I am not in lab, you may find me playing soccer/basketball, reading, or coding.
Saum Naderi
I am a third year Psychology (Cognitive Sciences) major and Biological Sciences Minor. My research interests include using neuroimaging techniques to better understand the neural mechanisms at play in different neurological disorders. I am also interested in studying the multiple sensory systems that give rise to our sense of perception of the world around us. I enjoy spending my free time outside with friends, usually playing sports or spending the day at the beach. I love traveling to new places and trying new things. I’m also a big soccer fan and Real Madrid is my favorite team!
Nazek Queder
I’m a first year transfer student at UCI majoring in psychology. I’m specifically interested in the brain anatomy, memory, and how the neurons activities are being translated to senses and daily behaviors. My goal is to get my PHD in neuroscience. Besides research, I love photography, and I enjoy drawing and painting. A fun fact about me: I believe that we’re not the only ones in the universe.
Lea Stith
My name is Lea and I am a 1st year Cognitive Psychology major and Biological Sciences minor. On campus, I am involved in the American Medical Student Association and am a member of the figure skating team. When I’m not in class, at the lab, or on the ice, I enjoy reading books about neuroscience, psychology, anatomy, (pretty much anything science-y, dappled with some good fiction), writing, yoga, traveling, and learning about new cultures and languages. I am trilingual, and in addition to English, I speak Croatian and French!
Rachon Sweiss
My name is Rachon, I am a third year majoring in Biology and Psychology. When I’m not in class or attempting to uncover conspiracy theories, you can find me reading up on the biological processes behind what makes humans so weird. I also run a literacy awareness and creative writing outreach program that brings together experienced writers and new writers from a variety of backgrounds and upbringings, in an attempt to tackle the persistent issue of illiteracy in a fun yet meaningful way.
Martina Hollearn
I recently began to volunteer in Dr. Michael Yassa’s Translational Neurobiology laboratory at University of California, Irvine, where I found my passion and primary future focus of my research. Dr. Yassa’s laboratory stands the closest to the projects and methods I wish to primarily pursue as a graduate student in collaboration with animal models.
My long-term career goals as a researcher are to map out precise memory functions using brain imaging techniques and neural oscillatory computations on humans; secondarily, applying biochemical and physical manipulations on animal models. In the future, I am interested in examining the declination of neurogenesis in the hippocampal areas and reverse cognitive decline that arise with aging. As a future career objective, I would be interested in hypothesizing and initiating the reversal effects of hippocampal cellular loss with various methodologies.
A Fun fact- Born and raised in Budapest, Hungary (I love my city!) and moved to the U.S. 6 years ago. My website: http://web.csulb.edu/~015028167/Hollearn.html
Ryan Hite
My name is Ryan and I’m a third year transfer student at UC Irvine majoring in Psychology. I previously worked as a Behavioral Therapist for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and other developmental disabilities. This experience sparked my curiosity about the neurobiology behind different disorders and pushed me to volunteer in research. My current research interests include exploring the neural mechanisms associated with the symptoms of different disorders and conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorders, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory. Outside of the lab you can likely find me tinkering with my computer, catching up on TV shows, movies, and sports, or hanging out with friends and family (which include my pets).
Edge Yu
My name is Edge Yu. I am a 4th year student major in Psychology and Social Behavior, as well as a minor in Italian. I am very interested in studying memory, neuroimaging, epigenetics, and their application to future medicine. When I am not studying, I love cooking and drawing cartoons on the whiteboards in lab.
Rebecca Wilder– pic and bio coming soon!
Kierstin Livermore– pic and bio coming soon!
Bethany Houalla– pic and bio coming soon!
Undergraduate Alumni
Andi Seun
Amanda Chun
Pouyan Pouresfandiari
Huy Ho
Mariam Giurgius
Jennifer Ocin
Michelle Doan
Matt Tsai
Liam Cambell
Nikki Hatamain
Blake Miranda
Ali Ozgur
Hung Tran
Vishali Kapoor
Will Cabanela
Navid Gaffari