Lab Members

Professor of Behavioral and Brain Sciences

Center for Vital Longevity

Jessica received her Ph.D. in Neuroscience in May 2023 from the University of Florida in the lab of Dr. Adam Woods. Her dissertation work focused on the effects of a mild form of brain stimulation, called transcranial direct current stimulation, combined with cognitive training on improving cognition in older adults. Prior to that, she received her Master’s degree at Penn State in August 2016, and was the neuropsychological testing coordinator at Hershey Medical Center. Her neuropsychometrist position involved administering neuropsychological batteries to assess for frontotemporal dementia. In her free time, Jessica enjoys sleeping, trying out new restaurants, doing jiu-jitsu and playing with other people’s dogs.

Marci graduated with a BA in Psychology from Texas A&M in 2010 working under Dr. Kittredge Stephenson and Dr. David Rosen. In 2013, she completed her MS in Psychological Science from UT Dallas working under Dr. Denise Park focusing on the relationship between beta-amyloid deposition and memory in middle aged adults. Currently, Marci is interested in Subjective Memory Complaints, or self-assessment of memory impairments, and how they relates to both behavioral and structural differences in adults across the lifespan.

Chen graduated from California State University at Northridge with a BA in psychology. During her undergraduate education, she worked under Dr. Alyssa Arentoft’s studying cognitive outcomes in individuals with HIV+. Currently, she is interested in the effect of vascular health factors (e.g., hypertension, type 2 diabetes) on the structural and behavioral changes observed in healthy aging.

Ekarin earned his BA in Psychology at California State University, Northridge in 2012 working under Dr. Jose P. Abara where he learned the fundamentals of EEG/ERP of attention and neurofeedback. He then earned his MA in Psychology at San Diego State University in 2016 working under Dr. Claire Murphy where he studied the relationship between functional connectivity during taste and eating disinhibition in individuals with Metabolic Syndrome. Currently, Ekarin is focusing on the relationship between structural and functional connectivity and performance across the adult lifespan.

Before joining the lab in the Fall of 2020, Vincent earned his bachelor’s degree in Experimental Psychology at The University of South Carolina and his master’s degree in the same major at Georgia Southern University. He is interested in cognitive aging, and the impact of beta amyloid deposition on aging. He hopes to study neuro-degenerative diseases in the future (specifically Alzheimer’s Disease). His hope is to produce research that works towards the goal of preventing the onset of neuro-degenerative disease, and making the lives of those suffering from these diseases better. In his free time, Vincent likes to listen to and play music with friends.

Leziga graduated with a BS in Behavior and Health from Boston University. During her undergraduate studies, she worked on various research projects from public health to molecular scientific research. Her journey began as a research assistant for a social-behavioral study focused on identifying social supports for autistic individuals. She then interned at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, conducting molecular scientific research to discover alternative treatments for triple-negative breast cancer. Later, she delved into the impact of nutrition on aging at Harvard School of Public Health. Leziga hopes to gain valuable experience working alongside Dr. Rodrigue, aiming to pursue a future career in research or medicine.

Hanna graduated from San Diego State University with a B.A. in Psychology. Her undergraduate honors thesis examined the relationship between BrainAGE, cognitive performance, and apolipoprotein genotypes in individuals with bipolar disorder under the supervision of Dr. Lisa Eyler at UCSD. Hanna is interested in vascular predictors of cognitive aging and neurodegeneration.

Colleen graduated with a BA in Psychology from Trinity University in 2018. In 2020, she completed her MS in Clinical Psychology from The University of Texas at Tyler working under the supervision of Dr. Michael Barnett in the Memory Assessment and Research Center (MARC). At the MARC, she assisted in studies which focused on creating the next generation of neuropsychological assessments. Colleen’s research interests include examining cognitive impairment among older adults. Colleen hopes to gain experience working with Dr. Rodrigue and plans to pursue a PhD program in Psychology in the future.

Dr. Foster graduated from Western Carolina University with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Biology in 2007. He entered graduate school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2011. There, he was a graduate student in Dr. Kelly Giovanello’s lab where his research focused on the effects of healthy and unhealthy aging on relational memory processes. Since starting in the labs of Dr. Rodrigue and Dr. Kennedy, Chris has been focusing on incorporating new methods into his research, including the impact of, genetics, amyloid, and structure on aging, brain function, and cognition. In his free time, Chris enjoys hiking, camping, and cooking.

Dr. Webb graduated from The Pennsylvania State University in 2013 with a BS in Psychology. She also completed her graduate work at Penn State as a part of Dr. Nancy Dennis’ lab, focusing on the cognitive neuroscience of long-term memory in both younger adults and healthy aging. Currently, Christina is interested in investigating structure-function relationships across the lifespan, and identifying factors that influence age-related decline in cognitive function.

Alyssa is a graduate from The University of Texas at Dallas with a major in psychology and minor in neuroscience and is currently working on a Master’s degree in Applied Cognition and Neuroscience. She joined the lab in 2017 and hopes to gain valuable experience and continue on with her education in pursuit of a Ph.D in Cognitive Neuroscience after graduation. She has a background in Fine Arts, is a graduate from Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and worked for the mural company Eyecon in Dallas, TX.

Nathalie graduated with her BA in Psychology and Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Houston. During her undergraduate studies, she worked under Dr. Steven P. Woods studying the neuropsychological correlates of online health search behaviors. She later developed an interest in neuroimaging while working under Dr. Sarah Prinsloo at MD Anderson investigating chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) and neuromodulation. Her current research interests include the use of neuroimaging tools to detect structural and functional changes in early stages of Alzheimer’s Disease, including Mild Cognitive Impairment, and the cognitive changes associated. She hopes to later pursue her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, with a specialization in neuropsychology. Outside of her studies, Nathalie enjoys running, tennis, and sketching.