Meet the Team

Dr. Brianna L. Yamasaki (she/her)

Principal Investigator & Lab Director
CV

Dr. Yamasaki obtained her B.S. in Psychology and her Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology from the University of Washington. Following her graduate work, she completed postdoctoral training in Educational Neuroscience at Vanderbilt University, and she joined the Department of Psychology at Emory University in 2022. Outside of the lab, Dr. Yamasaki enjoys reading, traveling, crafting, and all things penguin-related!

Siyu (Louisa) Chen (she/her)

Graduate Student

Louisa graduated from the University of Washington (UW) in 2024 with a B.A. in Psychology and minors in Data Science and Informatics. During her undergraduate years, she initially worked as an undergraduate research assistant in the Social Identity Lab at UW and the Depression & Anxiety Computational Neuroscience Lab at Peking University, where she discovered her interest in research in psychology. She then joined the Cognition and Cortical Dynamics Laboratory (CCDL) at UW, under the mentorship of Dr. Andrea Stocco, to conduct her honors project. Here, she learned cognitive and computational psychology research methods and developed a desire to continue research in cognitive psychology, specifically in exploring the cognitive and neurobiological factors that drive individual differences. Outside of research, she enjoys spending time with friends, exploring food and Boba places, playing the piano, and attending concerts!

Anson Wong

Graduate Student

Anson earned her Bachelor of Arts degree at UC Berkeley, where she studied psychology and cognitive science and completed an honors thesis investigating the neural correlates of musical creativity. Following graduation, she shifted toward clinical research as a research coordinator at UC San Francisco, contributing to the development of a state-wide dyslexia screener for multilingual populations and examining the impacts of racism and discrimination on cognitive decline in older Asian Americans. These experiences have fueled her passion for studying bilingualism and learning in children through a multi-modal approach and strengthened her drive to develop the clinical expertise needed to become a neuropsychologist. Outside of research, Anson loves staying active, especially through water sports. She has competed internationally in dragon boat racing and taken on outrigger canoe ocean challenges ranging from 8 to 33 miles, finding both joy and community in these pursuits. She is excited to explore all the food and culture that Atlanta has to offer!

Joanna Li (she/they)

Lab Manager

Prior to joining the BaBL Lab, Joanna received her neuroscience training at the University of Chicago (M.A.) and Georgetown University (B.A.), where she conducted research with diverse populations—from altruistic kidney donors to forensic groups—exploring the neural and behavioral mechanisms underlying their decision-making. Joanna is excited to bring her interdisciplinary lens to questions about bilingualism, executive function, and learning. She’s also a strong advocate for accessible science and looks forward to supporting the BaBL Lab’s impactful outreach! Hailing from Chicago, Joanna loves musical theater and a good pizza. Outside of the lab, you can also find her playing chess, on the volleyball court, or volunteering at community events.

Alex Kolios (he/him)

Post-Bac Research Assistant

Alex graduated from Emory University in 2024 with a major in Psychology and a minor in Music. He is currently working as a Research Fellow at the Marcus Autism Center and plans to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology in the future. Outside of psychology, Alex loves traveling, going to concerts, playing soccer, and thrifting.

Daisy Parada (she/her)

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Daisy is double majoring in Psychology and Business. Following study abroad in Argentina and Japan, she has developed an interest in how culture and society shape human behavior and development. During her free time, she enjoys experimenting with matcha and coffee recipes, going to concerts, and spending time with friends. 

Liliana Copeland (she/they)

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Liliana is pursuing a Psychology major and Music minor, on the pre-PhD track. She enjoys learning every aspect of psychology, but is mainly interested in behavior, language, and mental processes through a neuropsychological lens. In her free time, Liliana likes to draw, write, play violin, listen to music, and kickbox.

David Padilla Belgiovane (he/him)

High School Research Intern

David is a senior at the Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology. Following an internship with an autism nonprofit, David developed an interest in psychology and brain processes that drive behavior; additionally, through a bilingual upbringing, David has also become interested in the intricacies of languages. In his personal life, David enjoys studying foreign languages, taking walks, and hanging out with friends!

Emma Farrer (she/her)

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Emma is double majoring in Psychology and International Studies. After high school, she spent a semester living in Ecuador, where she improved her Spanish and discovered her interest in child development and bilingualism. Emma also sings in an a cappella group, loves to hike with Outdoor Emory, and enjoys a strong coffee.

Vrishaan Bhrugushastri (he/him)

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Vrishaan is majoring in Psychology & Linguistics on the pre-medicine track. He is interested in the impact of culture and language on the human mind, and how this can be used to optimize therapy and treatment. In his free time, Vrishaan enjoys going on walks, going to concerts, singing, and trying new foods!

Pedro Saunders (he/him)

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Pedro is majoring in Psychology on the pre-medicine track. Having grown up bilingual, he is interested in researching dual-language learning and bilingual education, as well as cognitive and developmental psychology. In his free time, he enjoys baking, trying out new restaurants, and binge-watching sitcoms. 

Matthew Lee (he/him)

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Matthew is pursuing a joint major in Anthropology and Human Biology and a minor in Spanish on the pre-medicine track. His research interest lies in how multilingualism might influence the ways one might learn and retain information. In his free time, Matthew likes to read, go to the gym, listen/play some music, and learning new languages.

Cassidy Moskowitz (she/her)

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Cassidy is majoring in Psychology and minoring in Artificial Intelligence. She loves learning about all areas of psychology, especially cognitive development, societal & cultural impacts of language, and mental health. In her free time, Cassidy enjoys reading, going to concerts, and spending time in nature.

BaBL Alumni

Lily Ferragamo (she/her)

Undergraduate Honors Student

Nicole Gaidici (she/her)

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Abby (she/her)

High School Research Intern

Jenna Holton (she/her)

Undergraduate Honors Student &     Post-Bac Research Assistant

Aurora Plummer (she/her)

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Isaiah Yisrael (she/her)

Undergraduate Honors Student

Valeria Li (she/her)

Undergraduate Research Assistant

John Wang (he/him)

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Sewon Park (she/her)

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Josh Escalante (he/him)

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Milkyas (he/him)

High School Intern

Gloria Guan (she/her)

Research Staff

Jackie de Melo (she/they)

Lab Manager

Jimena Galvan (she/her)

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Join the Team

Thank you for your interest in joining the BaBL Lab! Click on the specific position type you are interested in to learn more

Undergraduate
Students

Graduate
Students

Postdoctoral Scholars

Undergraduate Students

Are you accepting new undergraduate research assistants this year?

We do not currently have any open positions in the lab, however students interested in gaining research experience can still complete the following application for consideration for future open research assistant positions.

Are my research interests a good fit for the BaBL Lab?

In the BaBL Lab our research is centered around understanding the cognitive and neurobiological factors that drive individual differences in language and reading development, particularly for those who come from diverse and underserved populations. Within this area, we use multiple levels of analysis including behavioral, neuroimaging, and large-scale educational datasets to better understand variability in language and reading skill. If your interests fit within this area, then you could be a good candidate for the BaBL Lab!

 

What are the time commitments for research assistants in the BaBL Lab?

Initially, research assistants are asked to sign-on for a 2 semester (1 year) commitment, working at least 6 hours a week. If it is a good fit, we welcome students to get more involved and continue to work in the lab after their initial year is complete. 

 

What do research assistants do in the BaBL Lab?

Undergraduate research assistants in the BaBL Lab can expect to contribute to ongoing research in collaboration with other students, postdocs, and visiting scholars and to attend and contribute to lab meetings. If a student is interested, there may also be opportunities for them to develop and lead their own independent research project, to present that research at lab meetings and scientific conferences, and to collaboratively write manuscripts.

 

Do I need to have prior research experience to apply for a research assistant position in the BaBL Lab?

No prior research experience is necessary – we encourage anyone who is interested in learning more about the research process or about the work that we do to apply, especially those early in their undergraduate career (e.g., freshmen and sophomores).

 

How can I become an honors student in the lab?

Generally, only students who join the lab in their junior year or earlier are eligible to complete an honors project through the lab. Those who are interested in pursuing the Honors Program through Psychology, Linguistics, or Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology (NBB) should contact Dr. Yamasaki in the fall of their junior year to discuss eligibility and next steps.

 

Graduate Students

Are you accepting graduate students this year?

No, I will not be considering graduate student applications this cycle.

Are my research interests a good fit for the BaBL Lab?

In the BaBL Lab our research is centered around understanding the cognitive and neurobiological factors that drive individual differences in language and reading development, particularly for those who come from diverse and underserved populations. Within this area, we use multiple levels of analysis including behavioral, neuroimaging, and large-scale educational datasets to better understand variability in language and reading skill. If your interests fit within this area, then you could be a good candidate for the BaBL Lab!   

Am I a good fit for the BaBL Lab?

Generally, applicants who are a “good fit” for the BaBL Lab tend to have:

  • A passion for learning and an enthusiasm for the research process
  • Prior research experience demonstrated through either the completion of an independent research project during one’s undergraduate career or via a post-bac research position and/or significant contributions to scientific papers or posters
  • Experience with statistical analysis of either behavioral and/or neuroimaging data and training with at least one statistical computing program such as R, SPSS, or Python

 

Will the BaBL Lab be a good fit for my career goals?

Graduate students in the BaBL Lab will gain experience that will prepare them for many different careers, including working as a professor or administrator at a research or teaching institution or working as a researcher or project manager in a medical center, a non-profit, a government agency, or in industry.

 

What is your mentoring style?

I do my best to adjust to the individual mentoring needs of each of my students. Through regular one-on-one meetings, I provide guidance, feedback, support, and a dedicated time to develop project ideas and work through roadblocks.

 

What do graduates students do in the BaBL Lab?

In addition to course work and other university and departmental requirements, graduate students in the BaBL Lab can expect to contribute to ongoing research in collaboration with other students, postdocs, and visiting scholars, to develop and lead their own independent research projects from start to finish, to present research during lab meetings, to supervise and mentor more junior lab members, to attend and present at scientific conferences, and to write manuscripts and grant applications.

 

Where can I find more information?

Information about applying to the Psychology Graduate program can be found here.

 

Postdoctoral Scholars

Are you recruiting postdoctoral scholars?

Yes, please contact Dr. Yamasaki (byamasaki@emory.edu) directly with your CV and timeline if you are interested in joining the lab as a postdoc.

 

Are my research interests a good fit for the BaBL Lab?

In the BaBL Lab our research is centered around understanding the cognitive and neurobiological factors that drive individual differences in language and reading development, particularly for those who come from diverse and underserved populations. Within this area, we use multiple levels of analysis including behavioral, neuroimaging, and large-scale educational datasets to better understand variability in language and reading skill. If your interests fit within this area, then you could be a good candidate for the BaBL Lab!   

 

What is your mentoring style?

I do my best to adjust to the individual mentoring needs of each of my trainees. Through regular one-on-one meetings, I provide guidance, feedback, support, and a dedicated time to develop project ideas and work through roadblocks.

 

Get in Touch with the BaBL Lab