Team

Lab Members

Wen Wen, PhD
Postdoctoral Associate

Wen is a Postdoctoral Associate specializing in cognitive aging and neural plasticity. She investigates inhibitory control, learning and memory in healthy aging populations and individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or early Alzheimer’s disease. Her research employs advanced methodologies, including electrophysiology (EEG and MEG), neuroimaging (fMRI), and noninvasive neuromodulation (tES and TMS). Wen received her Bachelor of Science in Faculty of Psychology from Beijing Normal University and obtained her PhD in School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences from Peking University (under the supervision of Professor Sheng Li). Her PhD dissertation focused on the neural mechanisms of distraction inhibition in visual attention. Her interest in working memory developed during her time as a visiting PhD student at Oxford University with Professor Mark Stokes. She is now particularly enthusiastic about understanding age-related working memory decline and developing nonpharmacological methods to enhance cognitive functions.

Shrey Grover, PhD
Postdoctoral Associate
Shrey is a Postdoctoral Associate studying the cognitive and physiological processes underpinning human memory function, and their decline with healthy aging and age-related pathologies. He received his PhD in Psychology from Boston University where he studied modulation of brain rhythms for improving cognitive function and neuropsychiatric symptoms, particularly obsessive-compulsive behaviors. Prior to his graduate studies, he was a research assistant in cognitive neuroscience at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, and received a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, India. Outside of the lab, Shrey enjoys reading about languages, writing systems, and the law.
Chris Gill
PhD Student, Psychological & Brain Sciences

Chris received a BA in mathematics and psychology from the University of Southern New Hampshire. Before graduate school, Chris spent several years working in research labs studying visual perception, memory, and consciousness. In the Reinhart Lab, Chris is interested in studying the neural mechanisms supporting visual working memory and semantic memory. He is also interested in developing procedures for causally manipulating working memory capacity using noninvasive brain stimulation.

Frederik Baumgardt
PhD Student, Psychological & Brain Sciences

Frederik is a PhD student in the Brain, Behavior & Cognition program at the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences. Before joining Boston University, he received a Master’s in Mathematical Medicine and Biology from the University of Nottingham, UK and a BSc in Computer Science from the University of Leipzig, Germany. His research interests focus on representational formats in visual working memory and EEG decoding analyses. Outside of the lab, Frederik enjoys beekeeping, riding his motorcycle, and spending time with family.

Debra (Han) Huang
PhD Student, Biomedical Engineering

Debra received her BS and MSE from Johns Hopkins University, where she completed a master’s thesis on motor learning post-stroke. In the Reinhart lab, Debra is interested in dissecting visual working and long-term memory via behavioral and computational approaches. Outside of the lab, Debra serves on the board of GWISE at BU, a student organization focused on development of graduate students, DEI advocacy programs and volunteering.

Leo Chenyang Lin
PhD Student, Psychological & Brain Sciences
Leo obtained his BS in neuroscience with a minor in Asian Linguistics at UCLA, where he conducted research on cross-modal perception and affective responses to sensory stimuli. Prior to his graduate studies, Leo served as a Full-time Associate at Yale School of Medicine, where he investigated neural mechanisms underlying the cognitive impairments in early-course schizophrenia, using neuroimaging and computational methods. During his graduate studies, Leo is keen to explore the integration of causal neuroscience tools with neuroimaging techniques and computational modeling to address fundamental questions in human consciousness, perception, and cognition, with the aim of using these insights to develop scalable theories and enhance clinical solutions for neuropsychiatric conditions, such as schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s disease. Outside of the lab, Leo enjoys singing, playing badminton, skiing, working out, and binge-watching K-dramas.
David (Yu) Fang
PhD Student, Psychological & Brain Sciences

David obtained his BS in applied mathematics at University of Washington. Before starting graduate school, he worked as a full-time Research Data Analyst at Stanford University. His research interests include using computational tools to understand properties of brain activity and explore how perceptual input translates into neural responses. Outside of the lab, David enjoys reading, playing trading card games, and badminton.

Sarah Lehner
MA Student, Psychological & Brain Sciences

Sarah is a graduate student in the Psychological & Brain Sciences program at Boston University. She received her BS in Psychology, with a minor in Biology, from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Her research interests include utilizing neuroimaging techniques to explore neurodegenerative diseases and neuropsychopathology, particularly in relation to forensic neuropsychology. Outside the lab, Sarah enjoys discovering new music, traveling, and sketching.

Kayla (Shihan) Xu
MA Student, Psychological & Brain Sciences

Kayla is a graduate student in the Psychological & Brain Sciences program at BU. She received her B.S. degree in Applied Math and Psychology & Brain Sciences, with a minor in Applied Psychology, from the UCSB. Her research interests focus on utilizing technology to enhance attention and memory performance, especially in individuals with ADHD and ASD. Outside of the lab, Kayla enjoys reading novels, watching TV shows, and shopping.

Zhining (Demi) Xu
EdM Student, Counseling Psychology

Demi is a second-year master’s student studying counseling psychology at BU. She is deeply fascinated by the complexity of the human mind and understands the profound weight of mental health struggles. Inspired by her own experiences, she is driven to provide the kind of professional support she wishes had been available to her in her youth. Her interests extend beyond mental health to neuroscience, particularly in understanding the intricate mechanisms of learning. She is fascinated by the complex array of factors that influence performance—going beyond conventional concepts of intelligence, attention, or strategy—and is dedicated to uncovering how these elements interact to shape human potential. Additionally, she is committed to advocating for the mental health needs of the geriatric population. She aims to foster societal understanding of their unique experiences and challenges, ensuring they are treated not merely as elderly individuals or children, but as adults with full agency and dignity.

Doug Hazel
Research Technician

Doug obtained his undergraduate degree in Neuroscience from Boston University and his master’s degree in Neurobiology at Tufts University. His master’s thesis focused on understanding the interactions between Alzheimer’s Disease pathologies and glucocorticoid inhibitors. Outside of the lab, Doug enjoys reading, rock climbing and sampling great foods around the city.

Amishu Singh
Research Assistant
Amishu is an undergraduate student at Boston University studying neuroscience and plans on pursuing medicine. She is an ambassador at the Boston Medical Center as well as a part of the BU Alzheimer’s Research Program. She is passionate about neuromodulation and cognition in relation to memory related diseases such as Alzheimer’s or schizophrenia. Amishu hopes to dive into computation neuroscience and data collection across research projects. Outside of the lab, she is a part of BU’s all girls fusion dance team and enjoys reading.
Feiyang Cao
Research Assistant

Feiyang holds a B.S. in Clinical Psychology from UCSD and an M.A. in Psychological and Brain Sciences from BU. He is dedicated to pursuing a career in Clinical Neuropsychology. Feiyang’s research interests focus on the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, investigating the relationship between neuronal degeneration and cognitive decline, and exploring interventions during the mild cognitive impairment phase. In his spare time, Feiyang enjoys reading, working out, and cooking.

Anna Zhang
Research Assistant
Anna is an undergraduate student double majoring in psychology and film production at Boston University. Anna has a passion for learning how visual effects influence the human brain and their emotions. She is also interested in learning how abnormal development of the brain leads to a disorder such as schizophrenia. In her spare time, she enjoys painting, playing video games, and writing novels.
Sofia Smith
Research Assistant

Sofia is an undergraduate junior studying Human Physiology at BU. She is passionate about health, preventative medicine, and applied science. She is eager to learn more about memory and further explore the complexity of the brain and how neurological research operates. Outside of the lab she works as a rehab aide at the Sargent Center for Neurorehabilitation and at the BU sailing pavilion. She is from Vermont and in her free time loves to hike, ski, run, play pickleball, and lift.

Myra Arora
Research Assistant

Myra is an undergraduate freshman studying Neuroscience at BU. She is passionate about investigating ASD and Alzheimer’s disease and the interplay of cultural and social stressors with genetic factors in neuropsychiatric disease. Myra plans on pursuing a career in translational research in neuroscience. Outside of the lab, as well as being part of BU’s Events Department and an editor on the BU Nerve, Myra enjoys reading and listening to music on a long walk.

Seth Schallies
Research Assistant

Seth is an undergraduate senior at Boston University studying Psychology and Neuroscience. He is interested in valuation, probabilistic learning, and executive control and hopes to better understand decision making in both humans and other animals. He is a research assistant at the Pepperberg Avian Cognition Lab, volunteers at the Reinhart Lab, and has previously volunteered in the Decision & Cognition Lab. In his spare time, he enjoys birdwatching, running, and cooking.

Catherine Zhang
Research Assistant

Catherine is an undergraduate student at Boston University studying Neuroscience. She has a passion for memory and aging, especially in neurodegeneration and memory decline. In the lab, Catherine hopes to better understand the underlying neural mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases. Outside of the lab, she enjoys working out, window shopping around the city, and playing the piano. 

Sara Bissell
Research Assistant
Sara is a sophomore majoring in Neuroscience and biology at Brandeis University. Sara is interested in the neurobiological etiologies of obsessive compulsive disorder as well as other neurodegenerative diseases. Sara is extremely excited to gain experience in uncovering novel treatments using neuromodulation for these disorders and hopes to help people and work alongside her fellow peers. Outside of the lab, Sara enjoys reading and studying the Bible, long distance running and fashion.
Aaron Uotila
Research Assistant

Aaron is an undergraduate student at Boston University interested in pursuing a career in Psychiatry. Aaron has a passion towards healthcare and is looking to attend medical school after his undergraduate studies. In the lab, Aaron hopes to pursue his interests in mental illness and uncovering more about the mystery of memory. In his spare time, Aaron enjoys playing sports like basketball and soccer, and working out. He also has interests in art history.

Alumni

Bao Jiaxuan

Research Assistant, 

2022-2024 (Clinical Research Coordinator, Berenson-Allen Center for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation, BIDMC)

Phillip (Xin) Cheng

Research Fellow, 

2021-2023 (Research Specialist II, Sabine Kastner’s Lab, Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University)

Justine Fragetta

MA Student, 

2021-2023 (PhD Program, Nathan Rose’s Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Notre Dame)

Shruthi Sankaranarayanan

MS Student, 

2021-2023 (PhD Program, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University)

Serife Leman Runyun

Visiting PhD Student, 

2021-2022 (PhD Program, Karen Quigley’s Lab, Department of Psychology, Northeastern University)

Senthil Palanivelu

Data Analyst I, 

2020-2021 (Research Associate, Paola Malerba’s Lab, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, Ohio)

Hayato Nakamura

Student Research Assistant, 

2019-2020 (MS Program, Electrical Engineering, Stanford University)

Chenlingxi (Lyncie) Xu

MS Student, 

2019-2021 (PhD Program, Nathan Rose’s Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Notre Dame)

Amanat Bansal

Honors Student & Research Assistant, 

2019-2020 (Founder and Director of Research & Development at CoDee)

Sanjeev Rampam

Student Research Assistant, 

2019-2021 (MD Program, Boston University Medical School)