Gabriela Rosenblau
Principal Investigator
Gabriela Rosenblau is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at George Washington University (GWU). She is also affiliated with the Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute at GWU. Her research combines computational and neuroscientific methods to understand the neurobiological mechanisms underlying learning in neurotypical and clinical populations, especially Autism Spectrum Disorder. She is currently funded by the Simons Foundation for Autism Research (SFARI) and by the NIMH.
Email me: grosenblau@gwu.edu
Wenda Liu
Graduate Student
Wenda received a B.A. in Biology at Shandong University and a M.S. in Cognitive Psychology at Beijing Normal University. His general interest focused on assessing the behavioral and neural mechanisms of social development. His recent project uses computational modeling and brain imaging (fMRI/fNIRS) to investigate the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying cooperation – across typical and aberrant developmental trajectories, with particular focus on pre-adolescence as a sensitive period. He loves video games, basketball and going to the gym.
Email me: wenda_liu@gwmail.gwu.edu
Shannon Cahalan
Graduate Student
Shannon received a BS in Brain and Cognitive Sciences and a BA in Psychology at the University of Rochester in 2019. Following her undergraduate degree, Shannon spent two years working as a lab coordinator for the Mathematics, Reasoning and Learning Lab and the Language, Behavior and Brain Imaging Lab at Rutgers University – Newark. Additionally, she spent several months working as a research assistant with the Kessler Foundation. She is interested in using neuroimaging and computational modeling approaches to understand social learning in autism and particularly sex and gender differences in social learning. Outside the lab, Shannon enjoys swimming, running, listening to podcasts, and exploring DC with friends.
Email me: scahalan@gwmail.gwu.edu
Sair Lazzaro
Lab Manager
Sair graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2018 with a Bachelor of Philosophy in Neuroscience and Psychology. Afterward, they worked as a research specialist with the BAM lab at UPMC running real-time neurofeedback fMRI scans. Their research interests include art therapy interventions, metacognition, and augmenting human cognition and treating psychopathology with emergent technologies. Prior research experiences include work with EEG, fMRI, and tDCS in cognition across the human lifespan, from number sense in infants to executive control development in adolescence to attenuation of cognitive decline in older adults. They are currently pursuing a MA in Art Therapy at GWU and interning as an art psychotherapist in addition to coordinating the DSN Lab’s studies.
Email me: slazzaro@gwu.edu
Isabella Mark
Senior Research Assistant
Isabella graduated summa cum laude from the George Washington University in 2023 with a degree in Cognitive Neuroscience, and minor in philosophy. As an undergraduate, she spent two years as a research assistant at the DSN lab. Isabella is involved in most of the processes in the lab, and greatly enjoys getting to participate in every step of the research process. She specializes in administering clinical assessments to participants, and in the education and training of new lab members. Isabella intends to pursue a doctorate in clinical psychology, with the intention of becoming a pediatric neuropsychologist. In addition to her work in the lab, she is an avid movie goer, analogue photographer, and friend to the local birds.
Email me: imark2019@gwu.edu
Andrea Jara
Master’s Student
Andrea is set to graduate with a BS in Neuroscience and Psychology in 2023 and with an MS in Biology in 2024. She is currently working on an eye tracking project to understand how typically developing individuals and individuals with autism process multi-sensory information. During her free time, she loves to make pottery and paintings as well as going to the beach whenever she is back home.
Email me: acjara@gwu.edu
Sara Hiller
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Sara is a junior at the George Washington University majoring in Neuroscience with a minor in Psychological and Brain Sciences. She is interested in brain development and neuropsychiatric disorders. Sara plans to pursue a career in neuropsychology after graduating. When not working, she enjoys watching tv, doing crafts, and walking around DC.
Email me: sarahiller@gwu.edu
Ella Chapman
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Ella is a senior at the George Washington University. She is majoring in public health and minoring in psychology as well as in human services and social justice. She has a strong interest in healthcare, neuroscience and social cognition. In her free time, Ella loves cooking, exercising, and exploring D.C. with her friends.
Email me: ellachapman@gwu.edu
Amika Yamada
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Amika is a sophomore at the George Washington University, majoring in Neuroscience and minoring in Biology and Computer Science. She is particularly interested in how multi-sensory information, especially visual and auditory information, is encoded in the brain and in artificial intelligence. In her free time, she enjoys going to museums, drawing, and walking around in D.C.
Email me: ayamada45@gwu.edu
Developmental Social Neuroscience Lab 