Dr. Melanie Franklin is a pediatric psychologist at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia with expertise in sleep disorders, treatment adherence, and pediatric psychology. She operates within the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and collaborates across multiple teams. BA in Psychology – Muhlenberg College PhD in School Psychology – Lehigh University Residency and Fellowship in Pediatric Psychology – Nemours/A.I. DuPont Children’s Hospital Her research focuses on: Sleep behavior in chronic illness populations Mental health communication barriers ADHD functional outcomes Treatment adherence strategies Recent publications demonstrate expertise in ADHD comorbidities , Cystic Fibrosis sleep interventions , and academic functioning analysis . Key collaborations include: Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Sleep Center Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine Division
Alexis Battle is an Associate Professor at Johns Hopkins University with appointments in Biomedical Engineering , Computer Science , and Genetic Medicine (secondary). She directs the Malone Center for Engineering in Healthcare and serves as Deputy Director of the Data Science and AI Institute . Educated at Stanford University (PhD in Computer Science, 2013), Battle transitioned to academia after leadership roles at Google. Research Focus: Battle’s work bridges genomics and machine learning , emphasizing the impact of genetic variation on human health. Her lab develops tools like Watershed to predict functional effects of rare variants, aiming to enhance rare disease diagnosis. Key themes include non-coding DNA analysis , personalized genomics , and systems biology , with applications in cardiovascular disease and neurodegenerative disorders . Publications & Awards: Over 60 peer-reviewed articles in journals like Nature , Science , and Genome Biology , with recent emphasis on single-cell transcriptomics , multiomics integration , and telomere biology . Recipient of the President’s Frontier Award (2022), Microsoft Investigator Fellowship (2019), and Searle Scholar (2016). Scientific Awards: 2022 President’s Frontier Award 2019 Microsoft Investigator Fellowship 2019 Johns Hopkins Discovery Award 2017 Johns Hopkins Catalyst Award 2016 Searle Scholar Advising & Funding: Mentors 11 PhD students, 3 undergraduates, and postdoctoral fellows. Her research is funded by NIH, Searle Scholars, and institutional grants. The Battle Lab collaborates on projects like the GTEx Consortium , focusing on gene regulation and clinical genomics .
Natalie H. Brito is an Associate Professor of Applied Psychology at New York University (NYU), affiliated with the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. Her research focuses on how early social and cultural contexts shape neurocognitive development in infants and toddlers, particularly in areas of attention, memory, and socio-emotional skills. Prior to NYU, she completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Columbia University Medical Center and was a Robert Wood Johnson Health and Society Scholar. Dr. Brito’s work bridges developmental psychology, neuroscience, and public policy, emphasizing the need for equitable environments that support healthy child development. She has received prestigious awards such as the APS Rising Star Award and NIH grants, reflecting her impactful contributions to understanding developmental trajectories. Her research also extends to policy implications, such as the effects of paid maternal leave on infant brain function and the role of structural inequities in maternal mental health. Key themes include early life stress, gut microbiome influences, and the neurobiological underpinnings of cognitive development. Dr. Brito has published extensively in journals like Child Development , Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience , and JAMA Psychiatry , with a focus on innovative methodologies (e.g., the OWLET gaze-tracking tool). She teaches courses on developmental psychology and the principles of applied psychology, fostering interdisciplinary approaches to human development. Her scientific accolades include recognition from the International Society of Developmental Psychobiology and the American Psychological Association, underscoring her leadership in advancing developmental science and equity-focused research.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityUnited States
Tae-Ho Lee is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Virginia Tech, with affiliated appointments in the School of Neuroscience and Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health. His research focuses on affective and cognitive neural development across the lifespan, neurodegeneration, and family-based neural dynamics. PhD in Brain and Cognitive Science, University of Southern California M.A. in Clinical Psychology, Korea University B.A. in Psychology, Korea University Dr. Lee’s work explores brain connectome dynamics, dyadic neural concordance in families, and age-related attentional control. He employs neuroimaging techniques to study how familial and environmental factors shape emotional and cognitive outcomes in adolescents and older adults. Recent publications highlight trends in longitudinal studies , parent-child neural similarity , and functional connectivity in emotion regulation . Key areas include autism spectrum disorder, substance misuse risk, and the role of socioeconomic factors in brain development. Rising Star , Association for Psychological Science (2020) Dr. Lee is not currently accepting students and leads the Affective Neurodynamics and Development (AND) Lab at Virginia Tech.
Peter Nilsson is a Professor of Economics at the Institute for International Economic Studies (IIES) , Stockholm University. He also holds a guest professorship at Linnaeus University and serves as a research fellow at IFAU , Uppsala Center for Labor Studies , CESifo , and CEPR . Previously, he was a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University and obtained his PhD from Uppsala University (2010). Research Focus: His work bridges Labor Economics , Health Economics , and Environmental Economics , analyzing how early-life exposures (alcohol, lead), workplace dynamics, and policy interventions (unemployment insurance, congestion pricing) shape long-term socioeconomic outcomes. Key themes include Environmental Health Impacts on Cognition and Crime Labor Market Responses to Insurance Policies Peer Effects in Workplace Behavior Policy Design for Social Equity Scientific Awards: Nilsson has been recognized through research fellowships at leading institutions and editorial roles, including Associate Editor at The Economic Journal since 2021. His work has been featured in American Economic Review , Journal of Political Economy , and NBER platforms. Key Contributions: He provided testimony for Connecticut’s HB-5045 to reduce childhood lead exposure and contributed to Sweden’s Corona Commission report on pandemic responses. His empirical methods combine natural experiments with administrative datasets to identify causal relationships in health, labor, and environmental economics.
Holly J. Benjamin, MD is a distinguished sports medicine specialist at the University of Chicago, serving as the inaugural Director of the Primary Care Sports Medicine Program at UChicago Medicine Student Wellness Center. She holds leadership positions including Chair of the Committee on Sports Medicine & Fitness for the Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and serves as Head Medical Team Physician for the WNBA Chicago Sky and medical officer for major events including the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, US Soccer, and USA Triathlon. Her educational background includes: B.S. in Integrated Life Sciences, Kent State University (1994) Combined BS/MD, Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine (1994) MD, Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine (1994) Residency in Pediatrics, The University of Chicago Children's Hospital (1997) Fellowship in Primary Care Sports Medicine, Lutheran General Hospital (1998) Dr. Benjamin specializes in sports medicine with particular expertise in youth, adolescent, and collegiate athletes. Her research spans acute and overuse sports injuries, concussion management, sport biomechanics, and musculoskeletal ultrasound. She has made significant contributions to understanding injury prevention strategies, safe return-to-play protocols, and the psychological aspects of sports injuries. Her work frequently addresses female athletes and elite/professional athletes, with emphasis on evidence-based approaches to optimize performance while minimizing injury risk. Recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on concussion research, with multiple studies examining diagnostic approaches, recovery trajectories, and factors influencing outcomes. Her work spans biomechanics, mental health considerations in sports injuries, and innovative approaches to injury prevention across various athletic populations. Her scientific recognition includes: Election as Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine (2003), becoming the second female pediatrician ever elected Election as Fellow of the American Medical Society of Sports Medicine Distinguished Alumni Award from The New Aurora High School Alumni (1999) Invitation to serve as volunteer physician for the Olympic Training Center (2008) Multiple expert contributions to national media including Runner's World and the Naperville Sun Dr. Benjamin actively mentors through her coaching roles at high school and collegiate levels, emphasizing safe return-to-play post-injury and injury prevention. She has developed educational content through video productions for the American Academy of Pediatrics and serves as head team physician for the University of Chicago Lab School and the NCAA Division III UChicago Maroons. Notably, she is one of only a few sports medicine specialists in the country offering diagnostic and procedural musculoskeletal ultrasound in her office, demonstrating her commitment to advanced diagnostic capabilities for patient care.
Elizabeth A. Simpson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Miami's College of Arts and Sciences. She serves as Associate Director of the Child Division and directs the Social Cognition Laboratory, focusing on infant social and cognitive development through interdisciplinary methodologies. Education: Ph.D. in Psychology (unspecified institution) Key Research Areas: Developmental Psychology, Autism, Social Cognition, Primate Studies, Visual Attention, Infant Behavior Her research investigates individual differences in infant visual attention, social motivation, and physiological markers like salivary oxytocin. Recent studies demonstrate: Stability of attentional patterns from newborn to 14 months Sex differences in early face detection Links between oxytocin levels and social affect in infants Neurophysiological markers in newborns later diagnosed with ASD Scientific awards include the NSF CAREER grant for neonatal imitation research. She contributes to open science initiatives through the ManyBabies consortium and develops remote eye-tracking methods for broader accessibility. Current lab work explores: Parent-infant affective interactions during still-face episodes Predictive power of early attentional biases Development of pathogen avoidance behaviors Cross-species comparisons of social cognition
Kathryn Roeder is the UPMC University Professor of Statistics and Life Sciences at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), affiliated with the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Departments of Statistics & Data Science and Computational Biology. Her research focuses on developing statistical methods for genetic and genomic data, particularly in identifying autism risk genes and analyzing single-cell multi-omic data. She earned her Ph.D. in Statistics from Penn State University and has been at CMU since 1994, previously serving as Vice Provost for Faculty (2015–2019). Education: Ph.D. in Statistics, Penn State University (1988) B.S. in Wildlife Resources, University of Idaho (1982) Research Interests: Her work integrates modern statistical techniques (high-dimensional statistics, machine learning, networks) to study complex diseases like autism and schizophrenia. Recent efforts include tools for analyzing single-cell RNA-seq and proteomic data, such as UNICORN, DAWN, and SCEPTRE. Key Awards: COPSS Distinguished Achievement Award (2020) National Academy of Sciences Member (2019) COPSS Presidents’ Award (1997) AAAS Fellow (2020) Advising & Grants: She has advised over 20 Ph.D. students, many contributing to landmark studies in autism genetics. Her grants include NIH funding for projects like the Autism Sequencing Consortium. Current research teams focus on computational biology and statistical genetics. Labs & Collaborations: Her lab develops software tools (e.g., TADA, MIND) and collaborates with the Autism Sequencing Consortium and iPSYCH-BROAD Consortium on large-scale genomic studies.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityUnited States
Martha Ann Bell is a University Distinguished Professor of Psychology and College of Science Faculty Fellow at Virginia Tech. She leads the Cognition, Affect, and Psychophysiology (CAP) Lab, focusing on developmental cognitive neuroscience and the integration of emotion and cognition in early development. Her work examines EEG/ECG biomarkers, executive function, temperament, and maternal-child interactions. Dr. Bell holds a PhD in Human Development from the University of Maryland (1992), an MS in Child and Family Studies from the University of Tennessee (1983), and a BS in Home Economics from Carson-Newman College (1978). She has held progressive roles from Assistant Professor (1996) to her current distinguished title. Her research interests include developmental changes in brain-behavior relations, neurophysiological correlates of emotion regulation, and longitudinal predictors of child development. Recent work explores maternal emotion coaching, EEG neuromarkers of ADHD, and the neurodevelopmental impacts of nutrition. Key awards include the Virginia Tech University Distinguished Professorship (2021) and College of Science Faculty Fellowship (2019–2025). Her publications span developmental psychobiology, neuroimaging methods, and temperament-behavior links. Dr. Bell’s advising and grants focus on interdisciplinary developmental science. The CAP Lab collaborates on projects involving infant neuroimaging, maternal-child physiology, and early childhood interventions.
Carina Mallard is Professor of Experimental Perinatal Brain Injury Research and Pro-Vice-Chancellor at the University of Gothenburg since July 2023, where she oversees research infrastructure and chairs the Research Board. She previously served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (2021–2023) and Head of Core Facilities (2018–2021). Her academic career began with a Physiology degree from Lund University and a PhD in Pediatrics at the University of Auckland (1995), followed by a professorship appointment in 2006. Her research focuses on perinatal brain injury , particularly in premature infants , investigating neuroinflammatory mechanisms maternal dietary interventions neurovascular unit dynamics microglia activation long-term consequences of maternal obesity . Recent publications highlight her work on neonatal rodent models , transcriptomic profiling , and anti-inflammatory therapies . Key themes include RNA degradation , mitochondrial protection , and immune-neurovascular interactions . She has supervised 20 doctoral students since 2004 and collaborates internationally with institutions like King's College London. Contact details include two institutional emails and physical addresses across Gothenburg's biomedical campuses. Her leadership roles span research strategy, doctoral education, and EU-level scientific initiatives.
Ashli Owen-Smith is a behavioral scientist affiliated with the School of Public Health at Georgia State University , where her research focuses on mental health disparities, suicide prevention, and integrative/complementary approaches for complex mental-physical health conditions. She works with underserved populations including refugees/immigrants, incarcerated individuals, and LGBTQ+ communities through community-based participatory research and mixed-methods frameworks. Her current projects are funded by CDC , DBHDD , and DPH . Education: Ph.D. in Behavioral Sciences (Emory, 2009), S.M. in Public Health (Harvard, 2005), B.A. in Psychology (Smith College, 2001) Her research spans mental health , trauma , suicide prevention , and mindfulness-based interventions . Recent work examines telehealth adaptations for chronic pain and mental health, vaccine hesitancy in refugee communities, and social determinants of suicide . She leads studies on gender-affirming care and health disparities in LGBTQ+ populations. Key article trends include epidemiological analysis of suicide risk factors, COVID-19 impacts on mental health, ICD-10 coding for autism, and complementary medicine in trauma recovery. Subfields span telehealth , health equity , mental-physical comorbidity , and community engagement . Students she has mentored include C.A. Scarlett , T. Griner , and M.M. Sesay . Her work integrates public health policy , clinical research , and health systems analysis .
Margaret Bublitz is Associate Professor at Brown University with joint appointments in the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior , Department of Medicine , and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology . She holds secondary appointments at the School of Public Health as Senior Investigator and Behavioral and Social Sciences faculty member. Dr. Bublitz earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology (2010) from the University of British Columbia, followed by postdoctoral training in Cardiovascular Behavioral Medicine at Brown Medical School. Her research focuses on: Psychological stress pathways to adverse perinatal outcomes Maternal childhood maltreatment effects on neurobiology Mindfulness interventions for hypertension and preterm birth prevention Her 15 most recent publications demonstrate expertise in perinatal mental health , sleep-disordered breathing , HPA axis regulation , and fetal neurodevelopment , with significant collaborations in neuroendocrinology and maternal-infant health disparities . Scientific recognition includes: 2024-2025 Global Fulbright Scholarship 2022 Brown Early Career Research Achievement Award Multiple NIH and foundation grants exceeding $6 million Bublitz leads NIH-funded projects examining mechanisms of mindfulness training (R01HL157288) and serves as mentor in the MORPHE Trial for digital maternal health innovations. She is a licensed psychologist and active member of Brown's Stress, Trauma and Resilience (STAR) Institute and Mindfulness Center .
Marcia Barnes is the Dunn Family Chair in Psychoeducational Assessment and a Professor of Special Education at Vanderbilt University's Peabody College, Department of Special Education. Her research focuses on understanding and addressing learning difficulties in reading comprehension and mathematics among children with neurodevelopmental disorders and those at risk for learning disabilities. Her research interests include: Cognitive and linguistic processes in reading and math disabilities Development of assessment tools for inferential comprehension Design and evaluation of interventions for early mathematics and reading comprehension Co-occurring reading and math disabilities Technology-assisted and combined cognitive-academic interventions Her work employs longitudinal studies, randomized controlled trials, and meta-analyses, and has been supported by federal funding from the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Her publications appear in top journals such as Scientific Studies of Reading , Journal of Educational Psychology , and Neuropsychology . Marcia Barnes is the author of numerous peer-reviewed papers, book chapters, and a widely used book on learning disability identification and intervention. She leads the Barnes Lab at Vanderbilt, which is dedicated to improving outcomes for children with or at risk for learning disabilities through rigorous research. Ph.D. in Psychology, McMaster University, 1988 Postdoctoral Fellowship, Research Institute, The Toronto Hospital for Sick Children, 1988–1991 She advises students and leads research teams in the Barnes Lab, focusing on innovation in assessment and intervention for learning disabilities. While specific advisees are not listed, her federally funded projects suggest active mentorship and collaboration. Her lab explores future directions in technology-enhanced learning and integrated cognitive-academic supports. The Barnes Lab conducts cutting-edge research on: Risk factors for co-occurring math and reading disabilities Intervention efficacy through randomized trials Development of novel assessment instruments Technology-assisted learning tools Longitudinal trajectories of learning difficulties
Dr. Naseem Choudhury is a Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at Ramapo College of New Jersey, affiliated with the School of Social Science and Human Services (SSHS). She holds a Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology from the University of Vermont. Her research focuses on the neural basis of infant information processing, particularly how perceptual abilities influence typical and atypical development, with an emphasis on familial and sociocultural factors. Her work spans auditory processing in infants at risk for developmental language disorders, electrophysiological studies in children with autism, and cross-cultural analyses of artistic perception. She directs the Palestroni Integrated Neuroscience Lab, exploring neural mechanisms underlying cognitive development. Dr. Choudhury has published extensively in journals like Journal of Neuroscience and Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience , with over 50 peer-reviewed articles since 2002. Her studies often involve ERP and EEG methodologies to track developmental milestones and intervention efficacy in high-risk populations. Her research demonstrates that early auditory experiences shape prelinguistic acoustic mapping and that neuroplasticity interventions improve outcomes for language-impaired children. She collaborates internationally on projects linking sensory perception to linguistic outcomes, particularly in Italian and bilingual populations. Dr. Choudhury’s contributions bridge basic neuroscience and clinical applications, emphasizing early screening and preventive strategies for developmental disorders.
Aysegul Gunduz, Ph.D., is a Professor and Fixel Brain Mapping Professor at the University of Florida's Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering. She leads the Brain Mapping Laboratory, focusing on neural networks and clinical translation for neurological disorders. Her work integrates electrophysiology, bioimaging, and neuromodulation to develop diagnostic and therapeutic systems for conditions like Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, movement disorders, and stroke. Education: B.S., Electrical Engineering, Middle East Technical University (2001) M.S., Electrical Engineering, North Carolina State University (2003) Ph.D., Electrical Engineering, University of Florida (2008) Post-doctoral Fellowship in Neurology, Albany Medical College (2011) Research interests include human brain mapping, closed-loop deep brain stimulation (DBS), neuromodulation strategies for movement disorders, and wearable sensor technologies for neurological monitoring. Her lab emphasizes translational research, bridging basic science with clinical applications to improve patient outcomes. Awards include the BMES Fellowship (2024), AIMBE Fellowship (2022), and PECASE (2019), reflecting her leadership in neural engineering. Her articles explore cutting-edge topics like DBS efficacy, neural network dynamics, and ethical considerations in neural device research. Grants and collaborations focus on advancing adaptive DBS and brain-computer interfaces. She mentors students in neuroengineering and advocates for equitable participation in clinical research. The Brain Mapping Laboratory actively engages in multidisciplinary projects with neurologists, surgeons, and industry partners. Future work includes optimizing closed-loop systems for Tourette syndrome and Parkinson’s disease, developing open-source neuroimaging tools, and expanding wearable sensor applications for real-time neurological monitoring.
