People
Current Lab Members
kmlempert at
adelphi dot edu
Dr. Karolina Lempert, Principal Investigator
Dr. Lempert has been an Assistant Professor at the Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology at Adelphi University since January 2022. She received her B.A. in Neurobiology from Harvard University, and her Ph.D. in Psychology from New York University. Her postdoctoral training was at the University of Pennsylvania. In addition to directing research at the lab, she teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in cognitive psychology and neuroscience, and she blogs for Psychology Today.
paziamiller at
mail dot adelphi dot edu
Pazia Miller, PhD Student
Pazia is a fourth-year doctoral candidate at the Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology at Adelphi University. She graduated from Barnard College with a BA in women’s, gender, and sexuality studies in 2014 and from Hunter College with a MSEd in adolescent special education in 2016. Prior to pursuing a career in psychology, she worked for five years as a middle and high school special education teacher. Pazia is studying how decision making and preferences change through the course of substance use disorders. In her free time, Pazia enjoys distance hiking, sailing, and spending time with her cat.
jonathangrant at mail dot adelphi dot edu
Jonathan Grant, PhD Student
Jonathan is a third-year doctoral candidate at the Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology at Adelphi University. He graduated from Hofstra University with a B.B.A. in Marketing in 2018, followed by a post-baccalaureate study in psychology. He then went on to graduate with a M.A. from City College of New York in general psychology, focusing on substance use disorders. Additionally, throughout previous years he has worked in a variety of clinical roles in both inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation centers. Jonathan’s primary interests lie at the intersection of addictive substance and behavioral disorders, agency, and the principle of free will. Aside from academia, Jonathan is a life-long musician and enjoys hiking with his dog and mixed martial arts.
luissebastiangarci at mail dot adelphi dot com
Luis Sebastian Garcia Campos, PhD Student
Hello everyone! I'm Luis Garcia, an international student from Peru and a first-year doctoral student at Adelphi University who loves reading scientific articles in his free time. I like to research topics related to how media can affect our perception of the world, methods for relaxation, and topics related to personality and Psychopathology. My hobbies include playing musical instruments and playing competitive video games, as well as writing novels in my free time!
avitalmiller at mail dot adelphi dot edu
Tali Miller, PhD Student
Tali is a first-year doctoral candidate at the Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology at Adelphi University. She graduated from Yeshiva University with a B.A. in psychology and an A.A. in Jewish studies in 2023. Tali’s primary research interests are the impact of anxiety and OCD on decision-making and motivation. In her free time, Tali enjoys reading, arts-and-crafts with friends, and long walks outdoors.
heathergittelson at mail dot adelphi dot edu
Heather Gittelson, Undergraduate Student
Heather is a senior undergraduate student at Adelphi University. She is a Cognitive Neuroscience major and a member of the Adelphi Honors College. After college, she is interested in attending graduate school to attain her Ph.D. in neuroscience. Her current interests involve the connections between various aspects of social progress and neuroscience. This includes the impact time perception has on decision making in an age of increasing technology and decision making related to climate change and sustainability. In her free time, she enjoys exercising, listening to music, reading, and drawing.
oliverpoole at mail dot adelphi dot edu
Oliver Poole, Undergraduate Student
Oliver is a junior undergraduate student at Adelphi University studying cognitive neuroscience. After college he plans on attending graduate school or becoming a nurse. His current research interests are memory, trauma, and its impact on decision making. In his free time he can be found running through the suburbs of Long Island or studying foreign languages.
cott at adelphi dot edu
Chloe Ott, Lab Manager
Chloe is a recent graduate from the University of Vermont with a B.A. in psychology. Chloe is interested in neuroscience and psychology and hopes to pursue her PhD in clinical psychology. Chloe is from Long Beach, NY and enjoys surfing, skateboarding and snowboarding in her free time.
Former Lab Members
fprocida at adelphi dot edu
Federica Procida, Visiting Research Scholar
Federica is a visiting research scholar at the Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology at Adelphi University and a second-year doctoral candidate at the University ‘G. d’Annunzio’ of Chieti-Pescara in Italy. She graduated in Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Rome, La Sapienza. Federica’s primary research interests lie in cognitive neuroscience (e.g., episodic memory and decision-making). Additionally, motivated by her keen interest in neuroimaging techniques after obtaining her master's degree, she pursued a specialized master's program in neuroimaging. In her free time, she enjoys reading books and traveling.
danielleakilov at
mail dot adelphi dot edu
Danielle Akilov, Undergraduate Student
Danielle Akilov is a junior undergraduate student at Adelphi University. She is majoring in Cognitive Neuroscience and minoring in Public Health & Policy. She is interested in research topics related to temporal discounting, memory, and neurodegenerative diseases. Following graduation, she hopes to attend law school and become an attorney. In her free time, she enjoys baking and traveling.
Brianna dela Cruz, Research Assistant