Research Team
Meet the members of our lab!
Grace Ocular
Current: Doctoral Graduate Student, Developmental Psychology
Graduate: M.A. Education, California State University Long Beach
About: Prior to starting graduate studies at Loyola, Grace earned a master’s degree in Education at California State University, Long Beach and has conducted research in children’s informal learning in aquarium settings. These experiences are what shaped her research interests in children’s science learning in informal settings. At Loyola, Grace contributes to research projects at the Chicago Children’s Museum and the Gulf of Maine Research Institute. For her thesis, Grace is studying how middle school students understand and apply scientific practices (e.g., gathering data, representing and analyzing) about the changing ecosystem of the Gulf of Maine during a field trip experience. She is especially interested in students’ methods of inquiry when exploring different kinds of data representations. In her free time, Grace enjoys biking on the Lakefront Trail, being outdoors, and spending quality time with her cat, Kimchi, & friends.
Riley George
Current: Doctoral Graduate Student, Developmental Psychology
Undergraduate: B.S. Psychology, Loyola University Chicago
About: Prior to starting the graduate program, Riley attended Loyola for her undergraduate degree in Psychology and worked as the Project Coordinator for the Tinkering and Learning Engineering Stories project. She aims to explore how we can design tinkering programs for informal learning spaces such as museums that will foster young children's feelings of STEM belonging and interest. During her free time, Riley loves to read, play with her cat, Toast, and go on long walks on the lakeside trails.
Anele Villaneuva
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Current: Research Associate, Ciencia en Relatos
Graduate: M.A. Non-Clinical Communication Sciences
About: Anele Villanueva is a bilingual (Spanish-English) and bicultural (Chicana) Research Associate at Loyola University Chicago and has a master's degree in Non-Clinical Communication Sciences from Northwestern University. She has extensive experience using quantitative and qualitative methods and integrates a racial and ethnic equity lens when conducting research with families. She also has experience integrating the voices of community members in co-writing and co-designing partnership programs. Currently, she is managing a research project called Ciencia en Relatos, where she continues to use mixed methods to understand how Latine caregivers perceive science and nature and how Latine families with 3-5-year-old children engage in STEM across different activities including oral storytelling. In her free time, she enjoys reading books, dancing, and being outdoors (when the weather permits it!).
Milla Metlicka
Current: Project Coordinator
Undergraduate: B.S. Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, Interdisciplinary Honors Program, Minor in Dance, Summa Cum Laude, Loyola University Chicago
About: Milla became interested in children’s learning and memory as an undergraduate research assistant. She plans to continue developmental research in graduate school. In her free time, Milla enjoys doing jigsaw puzzles and playing with her cats.
Paula Ueki Galarza
Current: Research Assistant, Ciencia en Relatos
Undergraduate: B.A. in Psychology, Temple University
About: Paula is a volunteer research assistant in Dr. Haden's Memory and Learning Lab. She completed her bachelor's degree in Philadelphia, where she developed an interest in STEM engagement and parent-child interactions. Currently, she works for the Ciencia en Relatos project, but she also works as a project coordinator at a different university managing the implementation of evidence-based interventions across Chicago Public Schools. In her free time, Paula likes to read, cook, and play Animal Crossing.
Undergraduate Research Assistants |
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Federica Ciotta
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Current: Undergraduate Research Assistant, Majors in Cognitive & Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychology
About: Federica is a third year undergraduate student studying Cognitive & Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychology in the pre-med track. With her interest in mental health, she would love to follow clinical psychology. In her free time, she loves to read, take many pictures and try new foods. She also loves traveling and experiencing different cultures.
Isabella Clerici
Current: Undergraduate Research Assistant, Majors in Psychology and Cognitive & Behavioral Neuroscience
About: Isabella is a second-year studying Psychology and Cognitive & Behavioral Neuroscience. Her interest in Ciencia en Relatos stems from her work with preschoolers and her love of Early Childhood Education. Isabella loves to read, explore the city, and crochet in her free time.
Aiesha Patel
Current: Undergraduate Research Assistant, Majors in Psychology and Cognitive & Behavioral Neuroscience, Minors in Spanish and Biology
About: Aiesha is a third-year undergraduate student pursuing a double major in Psychology and Cognitive & Behavioral Neuroscience, with additional minors in Spanish and Biology. After graduating, she plans to attend dental school, with a particular interest in specializing in orthodontics, though she is open to exploring other dental specialties. In her free time, Aiesha enjoys playing tennis, traveling, and watching K-dramas.
Lilly Sabolay
Current: Undergraduate Research Assistant, Majors in Cognitive & Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychology
About: Lilly is a junior undergraduate student double-majoring in Cognitive & Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychology. After Loyola, she hopes to continue her education in graduate school, with the goal of eventually earning a PhD in a neuropsychology-related field. She hopes to work in the research side of neuropsychology and wants to study the relationships between brain structures and cognition, specifically in relation to mental illness. At Loyola, Lilly is the student worker for the Community Service and Action office on campus, and a leader of a volunteer group in the club Loyola4Chicago. In her free time, she loves playing with her cat, watching movies with her friends, and reading.
Maya Lim
Current: Undergraduate Research Assistant, Major in Cognitive & Behavioral Neuroscience
About: Maya is a second-year undergraduate student at Loyola University Chicago studying Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience. Maya's interest in developmental psychology stems from her time with an organization providing recreational programs for children with disabilities. In her free time, Maya loves to watch new movies/shows, thrift, listen to music, and explore Chicago with friends.
Adeline Sauer
Current: Undergraduate Research Assistant, Major in Psychology
About: Adeline is a fourth-year undergraduate student studying Psychology, with plans to pursue graduate school on a Developmental Psychology path. She has a passion for supporting and advancing children's development—in terms of learning as well as how they adapt to their unique environments. Adeline has specifically worked with children with learning and developmental disabilities, which has provided her with an understanding perspective on individualized support strategies. Outside her studies, Adeline enjoys reading, running on the Lakeshore path, and crocheting.
Fatima Cervantes-Ceballos
Current: Undergraduate Research Assistant, Major in Public Health, Minor in Biology
About: Fatima is a sophomore who is majoring in Public Health with a minor in Biology on the pre-med track. She is passionate about how children learn and understand science in Spanish and hopes to use this interest to support her community as she grows in her career. Her long-term goal is to become an OB/GYN who helps Latina women and their children by providing care that is both accessible and culturally aware. When she is not in class or the lab, Fatima enjoys reading, hiking, and spending time with her family.
Maggie McKiernan
Current: Undergraduate Research Assistant, Major in Biology
About: Maggie is a second-year undergraduate student studying Biology on the pre-med track. After Loyola, she plans to go to medical school to become a pediatrician. Maggie has a passion for learning how children develop and learn and hopes to inspire more children to become interested in STEM. In her free time, she spends a lot of time in the kitchen, baking and cooking. She also enjoys volunteering, working out, and spending time with her friends.
Millie Diaz
Current: Undergraduate Research Assistant, Majors in Psychology and Bioethics
About: Millie is a senior undergraduate student studying Psychology and Bioethics. After graduation, she plans to attend medical school with an interest in OB/GYN or Psychiatry, though she is open to exploring other specialties. Her interest in developmental psychology comes from her academic career here at Loyola and hands-on experience in a pediatric clinical setting. In her free time, Millie loves to cook, read, spend time at the beach, practice yoga, and spend time with her two dogs!
Aliyah Studt
Current: Undergraduate Research Assistant, Major in Psychology, Minor in Cognitive & Behavioral Neuroscience
About: Aliyah is a fourth-year undergraduate, majoring in Psychology with a minor in Cognitive/Behavioral Neuroscience. After her Bachelor's, she plans to pursue a graduate degree in a Community Psychology-related field. She is passionate about advocating for social change and mental health through psychology research and direct community involvement. She is the Volunteer Coordinator for Loyola's Heart for the Unhoused Chapter, and an Event Coordinator for Loyola Women in Neuroscience. Outside of her studies, Aliyah loves dancing, spending time in nature, and playing with her cat.
Camila Perez Medrano
Current: Undergraduate Research Assistant, Major in Cognitive & Behavioral Neuroscience
About: Camila is a second-year student studying Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience on the pre-med track. She is passionate about exploring how culture, personal background, and bilingualism shape the way people think, learn, and engage with the world, especially within scientific settings. She hopes to attend medical school and eventually become a neonatologist, where she can support the health and development of newborns and their families. Outside of academics and the lab, Camila enjoys volunteering with children, baking, watching movies, and spending time with friends.
Maria Cheng
Current: Undergraduate Research Assistant, Major in Biology
About: Maria is a first-year undergraduate student studying Biology on the pre-med track. Her interest in developmental psychology stems from her past experience helping children with disabilities adapt to different environments. In her free time, Maria loves to read, travel, and watch new movies/shows.
Alyssa Sweis
Current: Undergraduate Research Assistant, Major in Psychology, Minor in Women's Studies and Gender Studies
About: Alyssa is a second-year undergraduate student with a major in Psychology and a minor in Women's and Gender Studies. After graduating from Loyola, she aims to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology and work in both a clinical setting as well as teaching at a university. Aside from academics, Alyssa loves lifting weights, journaling by the beach, and going on road trips to different states!
Meet the members of our lab!
Grace Ocular
Current: Doctoral Graduate Student, Developmental Psychology
Graduate: M.A. Education, California State University Long Beach
About: Prior to starting graduate studies at Loyola, Grace earned a master’s degree in Education at California State University, Long Beach and has conducted research in children’s informal learning in aquarium settings. These experiences are what shaped her research interests in children’s science learning in informal settings. At Loyola, Grace contributes to research projects at the Chicago Children’s Museum and the Gulf of Maine Research Institute. For her thesis, Grace is studying how middle school students understand and apply scientific practices (e.g., gathering data, representing and analyzing) about the changing ecosystem of the Gulf of Maine during a field trip experience. She is especially interested in students’ methods of inquiry when exploring different kinds of data representations. In her free time, Grace enjoys biking on the Lakefront Trail, being outdoors, and spending quality time with her cat, Kimchi, & friends.
Riley George
Current: Doctoral Graduate Student, Developmental Psychology
Undergraduate: B.S. Psychology, Loyola University Chicago
About: Prior to starting the graduate program, Riley attended Loyola for her undergraduate degree in Psychology and worked as the Project Coordinator for the Tinkering and Learning Engineering Stories project. She aims to explore how we can design tinkering programs for informal learning spaces such as museums that will foster young children's feelings of STEM belonging and interest. During her free time, Riley loves to read, play with her cat, Toast, and go on long walks on the lakeside trails.
Anele Villaneuva
Current: Research Associate, Ciencia en Relatos
Graduate: M.A. Non-Clinical Communication Sciences
About: Anele Villanueva is a bilingual (Spanish-English) and bicultural (Chicana) Research Associate at Loyola University Chicago and has a master's degree in Non-Clinical Communication Sciences from Northwestern University. She has extensive experience using quantitative and qualitative methods and integrates a racial and ethnic equity lens when conducting research with families. She also has experience integrating the voices of community members in co-writing and co-designing partnership programs. Currently, she is managing a research project called Ciencia en Relatos, where she continues to use mixed methods to understand how Latine caregivers perceive science and nature and how Latine families with 3-5-year-old children engage in STEM across different activities including oral storytelling. In her free time, she enjoys reading books, dancing, and being outdoors (when the weather permits it!).
Milla Metlicka
Current: Project Coordinator
Undergraduate: B.S. Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, Interdisciplinary Honors Program, Minor in Dance, Summa Cum Laude, Loyola University Chicago
About: Milla became interested in children’s learning and memory as an undergraduate research assistant. She plans to continue developmental research in graduate school. In her free time, Milla enjoys doing jigsaw puzzles and playing with her cats.
Paula Ueki Galarza
Current: Research Assistant, Ciencia en Relatos
Undergraduate: B.A. in Psychology, Temple University
About: Paula is a volunteer research assistant in Dr. Haden's Memory and Learning Lab. She completed her bachelor's degree in Philadelphia, where she developed an interest in STEM engagement and parent-child interactions. Currently, she works for the Ciencia en Relatos project, but she also works as a project coordinator at a different university managing the implementation of evidence-based interventions across Chicago Public Schools. In her free time, Paula likes to read, cook, and play Animal Crossing.
Undergraduate Research Assistants |
|---|
Federica Ciotta
Current: Undergraduate Research Assistant, Majors in Cognitive & Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychology
About: Federica is a third year undergraduate student studying Cognitive & Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychology in the pre-med track. With her interest in mental health, she would love to follow clinical psychology. In her free time, she loves to read, take many pictures and try new foods. She also loves traveling and experiencing different cultures.
Isabella Clerici
Current: Undergraduate Research Assistant, Majors in Psychology and Cognitive & Behavioral Neuroscience
About: Isabella is a second-year studying Psychology and Cognitive & Behavioral Neuroscience. Her interest in Ciencia en Relatos stems from her work with preschoolers and her love of Early Childhood Education. Isabella loves to read, explore the city, and crochet in her free time.
Aiesha Patel
Current: Undergraduate Research Assistant, Majors in Psychology and Cognitive & Behavioral Neuroscience, Minors in Spanish and Biology
About: Aiesha is a third-year undergraduate student pursuing a double major in Psychology and Cognitive & Behavioral Neuroscience, with additional minors in Spanish and Biology. After graduating, she plans to attend dental school, with a particular interest in specializing in orthodontics, though she is open to exploring other dental specialties. In her free time, Aiesha enjoys playing tennis, traveling, and watching K-dramas.
Lilly Sabolay
Current: Undergraduate Research Assistant, Majors in Cognitive & Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychology
About: Lilly is a junior undergraduate student double-majoring in Cognitive & Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychology. After Loyola, she hopes to continue her education in graduate school, with the goal of eventually earning a PhD in a neuropsychology-related field. She hopes to work in the research side of neuropsychology and wants to study the relationships between brain structures and cognition, specifically in relation to mental illness. At Loyola, Lilly is the student worker for the Community Service and Action office on campus, and a leader of a volunteer group in the club Loyola4Chicago. In her free time, she loves playing with her cat, watching movies with her friends, and reading.
Maya Lim
Current: Undergraduate Research Assistant, Major in Cognitive & Behavioral Neuroscience
About: Maya is a second-year undergraduate student at Loyola University Chicago studying Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience. Maya's interest in developmental psychology stems from her time with an organization providing recreational programs for children with disabilities. In her free time, Maya loves to watch new movies/shows, thrift, listen to music, and explore Chicago with friends.
Adeline Sauer
Current: Undergraduate Research Assistant, Major in Psychology
About: Adeline is a fourth-year undergraduate student studying Psychology, with plans to pursue graduate school on a Developmental Psychology path. She has a passion for supporting and advancing children's development—in terms of learning as well as how they adapt to their unique environments. Adeline has specifically worked with children with learning and developmental disabilities, which has provided her with an understanding perspective on individualized support strategies. Outside her studies, Adeline enjoys reading, running on the Lakeshore path, and crocheting.
Fatima Cervantes-Ceballos
Current: Undergraduate Research Assistant, Major in Public Health, Minor in Biology
About: Fatima is a sophomore who is majoring in Public Health with a minor in Biology on the pre-med track. She is passionate about how children learn and understand science in Spanish and hopes to use this interest to support her community as she grows in her career. Her long-term goal is to become an OB/GYN who helps Latina women and their children by providing care that is both accessible and culturally aware. When she is not in class or the lab, Fatima enjoys reading, hiking, and spending time with her family.
Maggie McKiernan
Current: Undergraduate Research Assistant, Major in Biology
About: Maggie is a second-year undergraduate student studying Biology on the pre-med track. After Loyola, she plans to go to medical school to become a pediatrician. Maggie has a passion for learning how children develop and learn and hopes to inspire more children to become interested in STEM. In her free time, she spends a lot of time in the kitchen, baking and cooking. She also enjoys volunteering, working out, and spending time with her friends.
Millie Diaz
Current: Undergraduate Research Assistant, Majors in Psychology and Bioethics
About: Millie is a senior undergraduate student studying Psychology and Bioethics. After graduation, she plans to attend medical school with an interest in OB/GYN or Psychiatry, though she is open to exploring other specialties. Her interest in developmental psychology comes from her academic career here at Loyola and hands-on experience in a pediatric clinical setting. In her free time, Millie loves to cook, read, spend time at the beach, practice yoga, and spend time with her two dogs!
Aliyah Studt
Current: Undergraduate Research Assistant, Major in Psychology, Minor in Cognitive & Behavioral Neuroscience
About: Aliyah is a fourth-year undergraduate, majoring in Psychology with a minor in Cognitive/Behavioral Neuroscience. After her Bachelor's, she plans to pursue a graduate degree in a Community Psychology-related field. She is passionate about advocating for social change and mental health through psychology research and direct community involvement. She is the Volunteer Coordinator for Loyola's Heart for the Unhoused Chapter, and an Event Coordinator for Loyola Women in Neuroscience. Outside of her studies, Aliyah loves dancing, spending time in nature, and playing with her cat.
Camila Perez Medrano
Current: Undergraduate Research Assistant, Major in Cognitive & Behavioral Neuroscience
About: Camila is a second-year student studying Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience on the pre-med track. She is passionate about exploring how culture, personal background, and bilingualism shape the way people think, learn, and engage with the world, especially within scientific settings. She hopes to attend medical school and eventually become a neonatologist, where she can support the health and development of newborns and their families. Outside of academics and the lab, Camila enjoys volunteering with children, baking, watching movies, and spending time with friends.
Maria Cheng
Current: Undergraduate Research Assistant, Major in Biology
About: Maria is a first-year undergraduate student studying Biology on the pre-med track. Her interest in developmental psychology stems from her past experience helping children with disabilities adapt to different environments. In her free time, Maria loves to read, travel, and watch new movies/shows.
Alyssa Sweis
Current: Undergraduate Research Assistant, Major in Psychology, Minor in Women's Studies and Gender Studies
About: Alyssa is a second-year undergraduate student with a major in Psychology and a minor in Women's and Gender Studies. After graduating from Loyola, she aims to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology and work in both a clinical setting as well as teaching at a university. Aside from academics, Alyssa loves lifting weights, journaling by the beach, and going on road trips to different states!