Noa Ofen, PhD
noa.ofen@utdallas.edu
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Dr. Ofen is a professor at the Center for Vital Longevity and The University of Texas at Dallas in the school of Behavioral and Brain Sciences within the Department of Psychology. Dr. Ofen joined UT Dallas in 2024 having held a faculty position at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan (2011-2023).
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Dr. Ofen is the director of the Cognitive and Brain Development Laboratory. Together with her research team she has been investigating the development of memory systems in the brain. In particular, using a range of cognitive neuroscience approaches pairing careful behavioral assessments with multiple neuroimaging approaches including intracranial EEG and both structural and functional MRI, we aims to understand the factors that shape cognitive ability across the lifespan.
One focus of her ongoing research is utilizing localized electrical signature of brain activity to uncover the neurophysiological mechanisms that support memory encoding and retrieval. Coupled with rigorous investigations using fMRI these studies promise to provide profound understanding on the neural basis of memory in the developing brain. Another key focus of her research has been the investigation of the structure and function of the hippocampus, a crucial brain structure for learning and memory that is altered in a number of neurodevelopmental disorders. Yet another key focus in her research is striving to disentangle sources of individual differences in behavior and biological measures that are linked to environmental influences or genetic predispositions.
Dr. Ofen provides extensive service to professional societies and participates in peer-review of grants and scientific manuscripts. Her excellence in scholarship has been recognized in various awards including Career Development Chair from Wayne State University and being elected as a Kavli Frontiers of Science Fellow by the National Academy of Science.
Dr. Ofen’s research has broad societal implications in clinical conditions where memory serves as a key domain of deficit and she has also written about, and is interested in exploring, how insights gained from developmental cognitive neuroscience may have practical implication in education settings.
In her free time, she enjoys connecting with friends, traveling, exercising, and spectating her kids’ sporting events.
Parker Younger, BS
parker.younger@utdallas.edu
Parker received his BS in Psychology from Old Dominion University. During his time at ODU, he worked under Dr. George Noell researching the emergence of hierarchical categorical reasoning during development. His current research interests are centered in neuropsychological thought with focuses on understanding the development of neural and cognitive mechanisms in early schooling applications. In his spare time he enjoys baking, playing board games, and competitively sailing around the nation.
Qin Yin, PhD
qin.yin@utdallas.edu
Qin received her PhD in Psychology from Wayne State University in 2023. Her research interests are the neural correlates of memory and memory development. Specifically, she uses intracranial EEG to investigate the development of episodic memory. Qin enjoys hiking, cooking, and watching movies in her free time.
Aditi Arora, PhD
aditi.arora@utdallas.edu
Aditi Arora earned her PhD from the Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Salzburg, Austria. She is dedicated to understanding the intricacies of human memory. Her research explores neural correlates of memory processes among children and adults throughout the lifespan. She is also interested in how memory and metacognitive abilities develop and change throughout our lives. Aditi enjoys traveling, exploring new cultures, spending time with animals, and embracing the outdoors.
Chi Zhang, BS
chi.zhang@utdallas.edu
Chi Zhang earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Zhejiang University, China, with a major in Psychology. His research interests focus on memory development and the interaction between different types of memory. He is passionate about exploring various neuroimaging techniques and their applications in memory research. In his free time, Chi enjoys listening to music, photography, and traveling.
Prestin Cherian
prestin.cherian@utdallas.edu
Prestin Cherian is working toward a Bachelor’s Degree in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Texas at Dallas. He is interested in the brain and how it affects cognitive function. Prestin likes hiking, watching movies, and gardening in his free time.
Antonia Stefan
antonia.stefan@utdallas.edu
Antonia Stefan is a Neuroscience major and Music minor student at the University of Texas at Dallas. She is on the Pre-Medical track and her passions are studying memory and learning in the brain, neurodevelopmental disorders, childhood mental health, and nutrition. Antonia also enjoys tutoring, reading science fiction books, and going on walks.
Zain Pervaiz
zain.pervaiz@utdallas.edu
Zain Pervaiz is a Business Administration and Pre-Med student at The University of Texas at Dallas. He has always been interested in how the brain stores and retrieves memory, especially in stressful situations, and how this relates to medicine and psychiatry. Zain is excited to explore these topics further through research and hands-on experience. In his free time, he enjoys lifting, traveling, and playing sports with friends.
Osman Khan
osman.khan@utdallas.edu
Osman Khan is a Neuroscience and Pre-Med student at The University of Texas at Dallas. He has a strong interest in neuropharmacology, particularly in how neurotransmitters influence behavior and cognition, as well as the neural mechanisms underlying addiction and memory. Osman is eager to deepen his understanding of these topics through research and hands-on experience. In his free time, he enjoys going on runs, traveling, and cooking.
Bee Gutierrez
bee.gutierrez@utdallas.edu
Bee Gutierrez is a Senior at the University of Texas at Dallas, majoring in Psychology and Child Learning and Development. They are passionate about the development in behavior throughout lifespan. Bee is interested in pursuing a doctorate in Clinical Psychology. In their free time, Bee loves to cake decorate and create music.
Laasya Kammari
laasya.kammari@utdallas.edu
Laasya Kammari is a pre-med neuroscience major at the University of Texas at Dallas, and she is especially interested in pediatric neurology and how memory works across different stages of life. Through tutoring kids and caregiving for older adults, she’s developed a strong interest in the ways memory and cognitive function can vary with age. Outside of school, she enjoys watching TV, crocheting, and going on long drives!
Dimple Wadhwa
Former Lab Manager
Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine
Lipika Devara
Former Undergraduate RA
Dimple Wadhwa
Former Undergraduate RA