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!
Jackie de Melo (she/they)
Lab Manager
Jackie obtained their B.A. in Psychology with minors in Latina/o studies and Education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2021. During her time at UNC, she worked in the CIRCLE Lab under the guidance of Dr. Margaret Sheridan. Post-grad, she worked at the Children’s Learning Institute at UTHealth in the Texas Medical Center. As the daughter of Brazilian and Serbian immigrants, her culture and community drive her passion for community-based research at the intersection of psychology and educational equity, with a particular interest in bi/multilingual populations. In their free time, Jackie enjoys exploring nature, spending time with friends and family, traveling, and writing poetry!
Valeria Li (she/her)
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Lily Ferragamo (she/her)
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Lily is pursuing a Psychology and Linguistics degree with a minor in Quantitative Sciences. She is interested in all facets of psychology, mainly in how language shapes our brains and cultures. In her free time, she likes to read, bake gluten-free goods, draw, and dance.
Alex Kolios (he/him)
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
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).
Graduate Students
Are you accepting graduate students this year?
Yes, I will be considering graduate student applications this cycle – interested applicants can apply through the Cognitive and Computational Sciences, Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience, or Developmental Science concentration in the Department of Psychology.
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
