LAB DIRECTOR
LEAH SOMERVILLE, PHD
Grafstein Family Professor of Psychology
Leah Somerville is the Grafstein Family Professor of Psychology at Harvard University, a Harvard College Professor (Endowed 2021-2026), and faculty in the Center for Brain Science. Her research focuses on characterizing adolescent brain development, and the consequences of brain development on psychological functioning and well being. This work integrates behavioral, computational, and neuroimaging approaches, including conducting the Human Connectome Project in Development, a large NIH-funded study on brain connectivity development. In addition to directing the lab and teaching undergraduate and graduate courses, Leah is the Director of Graduate Studies for the Department of Psychology.
POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWS
ERINN ACLAND, PHD
Erinn received her PhD in Psychology from the University of Toronto. Her research focuses on understanding why people harm others and act in destructive ways. To do this, she investigates the developmental processes involved in emotion, psychopathology, and antisociality in children and youth. Outside of the lab, Erinn enjoys making art, hikes with her dog, and learning how to play tennis.
THERESA CHENG, PHD
Theresa received her PhD in Psychology from the University of Oregon. Her research seeks to understand how adolescence may be a sensitive period of enhanced plasticity for social development, and what this means for clinical and educational contexts. These interests have led her to examine puberty, stress, and different types of peer interactions in relation to the developing brain. Outside of the lab, Theresa loves modern dance, learning languages, and community/labor organizing.
KATHERINE GRISANZIO, PHD
Katherine received her PhD in Psychology (Cognition, Brain & Behavior Track) from Harvard University in 2024. Her research aims to characterize negative affective experiences during adolescent development, with a focus on understanding how connectivity within large-scale brain networks and pubertal mechanisms give rise to emotional experiences, and how these experiences affect social relationships. Outside of lab, you can find Katherine running on the trails with her new pup, struggling with the NYT crossword, or re-watching a 90s sitcom.
GRADUATE STUDENTS
YELINA CHEN
Yelina received her B.A. in Cognitive Science from the University of Pennsylvania. She is interested in decision making and peer influence in adolescence. Outside of the lab, she enjoys taking long walks, listening to audiobooks, and going down rabbit holes searching for environmental-friendly swaps for everyday things.
JOANNA (JO) HERNANDEZ
Jo is a psychology Ph.D. student in the Cognition, Brain & Behavior area at Harvard. Prior to joining ANDL, she worked as a neuroimaging research coordinator at Northwestern University, where she also earned a B.A. in cognitive science. Her research focuses on adolescent brain development, with particular interest in how pubertal timing and development shape psychosocial functioning and risk for psychopathology. When she’s not in the lab, you can find her at the library, hunting down the best coffee spots in Boston, or getting lost in museums and art galleries.
ADAM OMARY
Adam received his B.A. in Cognitive Science and M.S. in Biostatistics from the University of Southern California. He is currently a Ph.D. student in Psychology (Cognition, Brain, & Behavior) at Harvard University. His research focuses on how sex hormones influence brain development during puberty and give rise to psychological sex differences. Adam is also interested in the genetic, social, and environmental factors associated with pubertal timing, disorders of sexual development, and gender diversity.
CAMILLE PHANEUF-HADD
Camille received her B.S. in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science (Computation Track) from the University of Michigan (Go Blue!), then spent two years as a Lab Manager for the Hartley Lab at New York University. Now, she is a Psychology PhD student (Cognition, Brain & Behavior Track) at Harvard University. Camille is interested in how reward and executive functioning modulate learning, memory, and decision-making from childhood to early adulthood. Outside of lab, you can find her reading, sending snail mail, or embroidering in a coffee shop or on a picnic blanket.
LAB STAFF
DANIELLA ROTHSTEIN
Daniella graduated from Tufts University in 2024 with a B.S. in Cognitive and Brain Sciences. As an undergraduate, she worked at the Faja Lab at Boston Children’s Hospital along with the Crehan Lab at Tufts University, primarily studying autism spectrum disorder (ASD). She is interested in the legal and philosophical implications of research surrounding adolescent neurodevelopment and behavior. Outside of the lab, Daniella loves all-things music! She drums in jazz, funk, and rock groups, and she also plays the piano and the electric bass.
RESEARCH ASSISTANTS
WAVERLY HUANG
Waverly is a sophomore at Rice University majoring in Cognitive Science and Computer Science. Her research interests focuses on understanding how motivation, attention, and cognitive flexibility interact and how leveraging these insights can improve learning, education, and task performance. Outside of her academic pursuits, Waverly enjoys hiking, photography, and exploring new restaurants with friends.
TIANXIANG LI
Tianxiang received his B.A. in Liberal Arts from St. John’s College and M.S. in Computer Science from Columbia University. He is broadly interested in how computational models help with adolescent studies, especially in the decision-making and learning process. In his free time, Tianxiang enjoys singing in local community choirs, discovering new cooking recipes, and hanging out with his friends and cat.
POST-DOG-TORAL FELLOWS
KITA
Kita is advised by Adam on a K9 Postdogtoral Research Fellowship. She graduated from the Animal Rescue League of Boston in 2024. Kita has completed training in Sit, Lie Down, Shake, and Up! for which she was awarded a Good Girl certification. She is currently researching the velociraptor phase of early adolescent dogvelepment, and is co-authoring a study with Willow involving wrestling outside of the William James Hall lawn. Kita’s interests include eating, running, jumping, digging, pulling on her leash, napping, cuddling, and sniffing.
WILLOW
Willow is advised by Katherine on a K9 Postdogtoral Research Fellowship, after recently graduating from the Animal Welfare Society in Kennebunk, Maine in 2024. Willow’s research centers around evaluating various chewing techniques for maximum efficiency in toy destruction, with a secondary focus on socks, sneakers, and slippers. In her collaborative project with Kita, Willow is focusing on the effect of outdoor wrestling on subsequent zoomie reduction, nap quality, and her human’s productivity. Outside of work, you can find Willow sprinting at the dog park, closely watching all ball-related sports, or napping in her favorite spot on the couch.