assessing cognition Lab Members
... assessing cognition in the healthy, the aging, the injured, and the malingering ...
THE ASSESSING COGNITION LAB
Mentoring graduate thesis students, graduate assistants, and undergraduate researchers provides an phenomenal opportunity for my research and teaching interests to merge. Students who work with me on research projects are trained in ethical conduct, administration of a variety of neuropsychological assessments, experimental paradigm design through SuperLab and EPrime, data collection, data management techniques, and analysis procedures. They also get experience communicating our research in presentation and poster format at UTC-hosted brownbags and conferences.
Samantha Dean
2024 - present
Thesis: Anxiety or Advantage? Detecting Malingered Symptoms in College Students Seeking Academic Accommodations
Cooper Mathis
2024 - present
Thesis: Anxious Impairment: Exploring Executive Functions and Anxiety in College Students
Lauren Strickland
2022 - 2024
Thesis: Adverse Childhood Experiences, Working Memory, and Stress
Now PhD Candidate, Human Development, University of Delaware
“Your knowledge, wisdom, and advice have played such an important role throughout all stages of this thesis. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to learn from you and am excited to continue learning from you in the future.”
Nic Maynard
2014 - 2016, 2024
Thesis: College students' perceptions of malingering attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Now Access Coordinator at UTC’s Disability Resource Center
Jacob Robbins
2020 - 2022
Thesis: Situational and individual factors of reactive cognitive control: examining feedback and motivation
Now PhD Candidate, School Psychology, Texas A&M
Melissa Materia
2020 - 2022
Thesis: Does cognitive control affect successful "sandbagging" of concussion symptoms?
Now PhD Candidate, Experimental Psychology, University of North Texas
“I truly cannot express the gratitude I feel for all that you have done for me. You are so supportive and inspirational, than you so much for all you invested in me as a student. UTC is lucky to have you and I hope you continue to enjoy your time here.”
Taylor Hutson
2018 - 2022
Thesis: Let's get physical: the dual-task costs of multiple motor responses
Now Data Analyst, State of Florida
Allen Nida
2014 - 2016
Thesis: Monitoring in laboratory and real-world tasks
Now a Psychometrist, Virginia Mason Franciscan Health
“I have so much to thank you for. You have been a tremendous mentor in research and I have thoroughly enjoyed working together. I feel as if you have gone far beyond the call of duty in ensuring my success. Thank you for everything you’ve done.”
Christopher Branson
Sarah Finley
2012 - 2014
Thesis: Assessing executive function as it relates to self-regulation
Now a licensed Mental Health Counsellor
Melissa Hansen & Nicole De Amicis
2015 - 2016
Thesis: Cognitive contributors to Multiple Errands Test performance
Both are now Occupational Therapists
“Thank you for the time and energy you have given to help me succeed during our time working together. You have made a life changing impact on me and I have learned more over the past year and a half than I ever have before. I am grateful for that and the opportunity to continue to work with and learn from you.”
Student Supervision and Mentorship
My graduate and undergraduate students have presented our work at many regional, national, and international conferences.
I’ve mentored dozens of undergraduate research assistants, supervised more than 14 graduate assistants, mentored 4 Departmental Honors thesis projects, and served on 10 graduate thesis committees.
While student research mentorship is a time intensive process it is incredibly rewarding.