Our Team | Cognitive Development Lab

Our Team

Lab Director

Dr. Maggie Guy

Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Loyola University Chicago

Ph.D., University of Tennessee, 2014

Postdoc, University of South Carolina, 2014-2017

My research interests are in the area of developmental cognitive neuroscience with an emphasis on the development of attention, information processing, and recognition memory in typically developing infants and infants at elevated likelihood of developing autism spectrum disorder (ASD). My primary research aims are to define the developmental trajectory of social and nonsocial information processing in infancy, to identify neural mechanisms contributing to differences in responses to social and nonsocial stimuli, and to determine overlap and divergence within the development of information processing across infants at low and elevated likelihood for ASD.

Graduate Students

Asli Bursalioglu

I am a sixth year student in the Developmental Psychology Ph.D. program at Loyola University Chicago. My research interests consist of, but are not limited to, executive functions and their neural bases, as well as how these functions affect the progression of ASD. In my free time I enjoy traveling, exploring the city of Chicago, reading and spending time with friends.

Cidnee Hall

I am a second year Ph.D. student in the Developmental Psychology program at Loyola. My research interests are centered on how early social experiences, such as exposure to racial and ethnic diversity and maternal psychopathology, impact attention and processing of emotional expressions across infancy. Furthermore, I am interested in how these individual differences may contribute to vulnerability for psychopathology. When I’m not in the lab, I enjoy crocheting, playing cello, and hanging out with my dogs.

Undergraduate Research Assistants

Owen Caldwell

I am a Junior at Loyola University Chicago, studying Cognitive Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychology. I am very interested in the intersection between the two and how they interact. Precisely, my interests lie in the progression of neurological diseases behaviorally as well as neuropharmacology. Following my graduation, I plan to pursue my Ph.D. in a related field. Outside of the classroom, I am involved with the men's club soccer team here at Loyola and enjoy hiking and running!

Grace Ellerbeck

I am a senior undergraduate student at Loyola studying Biology with a Bioethics minor. I am fascinated by child development and am interested in learning more about how children, specifically infants, process both new and familiar surroundings and the processes that allow them to form meaningful associations. Following graduation, I hope to attend medical school to achieve my lifelong dream of becoming a physician! In my free time, you can find me volunteering, working in clinical settings, staying active, and spending time with my family and our dog, Charlie.

Saniyah Fuzail

I am a sophomore undergraduate student at Loyola studying Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychology. My interest in Neuroscience sprouted from my curiosity about the formation of neurological disorders in the elders that I volunteered with and in individuals in my family. My research interests include the developmental patterns of neurological disorders, like ASD, in children and infancy. After I graduate, I hope to pursue a career in Neurology, and I am considering Pediatric Neurology! Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with my family, discovering local coffee shops, and looking for interesting reads.

Kristen Jacob

I am a second-year undergraduate student majoring in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience. After graduation, I plan to pursue research to advance what we know about neuroscience in the medical field. I am fascinated by how infants recognize new and old faces. My research interests include cognitive development and information processing in infancy. In my free time, I love reading, playing softball and rugby, and traveling to new places!

Safa Khatoon

I am a sophomore undergraduate student at Loyola University pursuing a major in Biology and a minor in Bioethics. I am particularly interested in research surrounding behavioral and cognitive development. After graduation, I plan on attending medical school to become a physician for underdeveloped and underserved communities. I enjoy visiting coffee shops with my sister and spending time with loved ones in my free time.

Milosz Krzewinski

I am a senior studying Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience with double minors in Bioethics and Chemistry. I am a Provost Fellowship recipient currently running a project on the other-race effect in racial minority infants. Additionally during my senior year, I am in the process of applying for Ph.D. programs focusing on the field of biochemistry. After graduation, I hope to broaden my research experience by implementing my two favorite subjects, chemistry and neuroscience. In my free time, I like to write, spend time with my family, and travel.

Maya Martin

I am currently a sophomore majoring in Psychology here at Loyola University Chicago. In terms of research, I am interested in the impact of autism spectrum disorder on both the auditory and visual systems. Looking toward the future, I hope to be accepted into a Neuropsychology or Audiology graduate program after completing my undergraduate degree. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, swimming, spending time with my family & friends, and engaging in all kinds of music!

Emily Pawelko

I am in my third year here at Loyola! I am a Psychology major with an interest in Developmental Psychology, specifically emotional and cognitive development from infancy to childhood. Additionally, I am interested in children with autism spectrum disorder, which led me to become an ABA Therapist this past summer. I hope to work in the field of Developmental Psychology post-graduation! Some of my hobbies outside of school include baking, running, practicing yoga, and traveling!

Marcus Piatttoni

I am a senior at Loyola University Chicago studying Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience and Bioethics. The Bioethics minor at Loyola really helped shape my passions and career interests. In the future, I hope to combine my background in neuroscience and bioethics to pursue a career in science policy. In my free time, I like to read, bake, and explore Chicago's bookstores.

Priscilla Ruiz

I am a senior majoring in Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience and minoring in Bioethics. In terms of research, I am most interested in developmental neuroscience for both neurotypical infants and infants at high-risk for autism. My own personal connections with people who have intellectual or developmental disorders made me want to join the Cognitive Development Lab and my favorite part of the lab is meeting the participants. After graduation, I hope to study medicine and become a physician. During my free time, I enjoy spending time with my friends and family, but I also like to read and workout!

Lab Alumni

Katya Aguilar (2020-2021)
Megan Alagna (2020-2022)
Eli Au Buchon (2020-2021)
Rachel Barbanente (2020-2022)
Trinity Bauer (2021-2023)

*Carbon Fellow

Rebecca DePiero (2020-2021)
Nhi Duong (2020-2023)

*Provost Fellow

Aleena Ferozuddin (2018-2021)

*Provost Fellow

Maria Gonzalez Rodriguez (2020-2022)
Mary Graebner (2020-2021)
Sabina Hajdarovic (2018-2019)
Olivia Hutchinson (2021-2022)
Osinigwe Ibekie (2022-2023)

*Cura Scholar

Batul Karimi (2020-2022)
Samia Khatoon (2020-2021)
Aleks Kostic (2020-2021)
Diana Mahlis (2018-2020)
Kerri Maselli (2018-2019)
Bella Mershad (2020-2022)
Alexandria Michalak (2021-2022)

*Cura Scholar

Mudra Patel (2018-2019)
Sunny Patel (2021-2022)
Nadira Shabbir (2021-2022)
Leighanna Sheran (2018)
Elizabeth Wolfgram (2018-2020)