Melissa Libertus

libertus@pitt.edu

Office: 607 LRDC

Dr. Melissa Libertus' research interests center around the question of how children learn math and why some children struggle with it more than others. She is particularly interested in foundational number skills such as children's ability to approximate numbers and how these foundations help children acquire mathematical abilities. She uses behavioral methods, eye tracking, and neuroscience techniques (EEG/ERP, fMRI) to study these questions.
What to expect when working with Dr. Libertus as a graduate student

Shirley Duong

shd77@pitt.edu

I am a third-year graduate student in the Cognitive Psychology program. I graduated from the University of New Haven with a degree in psychology and a minor in mathematics. During my post-baccalaureate year, I worked as the lab coordinator of the Lab for Early Social Cognition at the University of Maryland. Currently, my research examines how language input, particularly questions, and cognitive factors may foster and be shaped by children's math abilities. I am also interested in how math skills and decision making are related in early childhood. In my free time, I enjoy baking, watching anime, and video editing.

Danielle Fox

dsf26@pitt.edu

I am a first-year graduate student in the Cognitive Psychology program. My interests include how children develop number sense and spatial awareness and how environmental factors influence their learning.

Jorge Carvalho Pereira

jmc376@pitt.edu

Jorge is a first-year graduate student in the Developmental Psychology program. He graduated from the University of Delaware with a B.A. Psychology in 2015 and obtained a M.A. in Psychology from Rutgers in 2020. Jorge’s research interests center on understanding the contributions of diverse, early social-cognitive interactions, occurring within home and learning environments, to the development of children’s mathematical abilities and competence in academic domains. In his spare time, Jorge loves doing escape rooms and is always looking for his newest room to venture into and escape within the hour.

Xueying (Caroline) Ren

xur1@pitt.edu

I am a second-year graduate student in the Cognitive Psychology program. I am interested in neuroimaging methodologies, studying brain patterns of the learning process computationally and quantitatively. Currently, I am working on a number sense project, which investigates the integration between symbolic and non-symbolic numerals using both fMRI and behavioral measurements. I am co-advised by both Dr. Marc Coutanche and Dr. Melissa Libertus.

Alex Silver

ams645@pitt.edu

Alex is a third-year graduate student pursuing a PhD in Cognitive Psychology. Her research focuses on how social factors influence cognitive development, with a particular interest in studying early numerical development. She is specifically interested in understanding how parents and children adapt their interactions based on parents' and children's attitudes, interests, and abilities. Before joining the Kids' Thinking Lab, Alex received a BA in Psychological and Brain Sciences from Johns Hopkins University and worked as the Lab Manager for the Lab for Child Development at Johns Hopkins. When she isn't in the lab, she loves to be outdoors hiking, kayaking, and sailing whenever possible.

Leanne Elliott

lek79@pitt.edu

I am a postdoctoral associate at the Learning Research and Development Center at the University of Pittsburgh. I received my Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology in 2019 from the University of Pittsburgh, also working in the Kids' Thinking Lab during this time. My research focuses on how children's early academic and cognitive skills develop in diverse settings with a particular focus on how parents help to foster their young children's math learning. I am especially interested in how socioeconomically disadvantaged parents can support their young children's learning, including the unique challenges these families face as well as the ways that parents overcome these challenges. Outside of the lab, I enjoy spending time with family, including my two dogs, biking, crocheting, and trying as many different Pittsburgh restaurants as I can.

Andy Ribner

andy.ribner@pitt.edu

Andy Ribner is a postdoctoral scholar in the Kids' Thinking Lab and leads the Classroom and Home Opportunities for Math Practice (CHOMP) project. He earned his PhD in Developmental Psychology from New York University in 2019 where he worked in the Neuroscience and Education Lab with Clancy Blair and the Center for Research on Culture, Development, and Education with Cathie Tamis-LeMonda. Andy's research journey started in the Cognitive Development Lab at Wesleyan University with Anna Shusterman where he was first introduced to research on mathematical cognition. His primary area of study is on the development of children's self-regulatory skills and their role in math learning in and out of classroom settings. Additionally, he studies the antecedents and consequences of screen-based media use in young children. Outside of research, he enjoys cooking, baking, hiking, camping, and giving into the demands of his 70lb dog who acts like a baby.

Taylor Casteel

tlc97@pitt.edu

I am currently a project coordinator for the NUMBER Study under Dr. Libertus. I graduated from Westminster College with a bachelor's degree in psychology and a minor in sociology. I spent several years working with kids after graduating, leading to one of my research interests in the cognitive development of children. Still figuring out the rest!

Jessica Ferraro

jaf84@pitt.edu

I am a research coordinator and the lab manager for the Pitt Kids' Thinking Lab. I graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in May 2012 with a double major in Biology and Anthropology. I then continued my education at the University's School of Public Health, where I graduated with my MPH in Public Health Genetics in 2015. Since then, I have been working in research with young children and their families- first in oral health research and now in cognitive development here at the Pitt Kids' Thinking Lab. Research with human subjects has been the perfect way to merge my interests in science and human behavior and culture. I love having the opportunity to continue expanding my knowledge and skills working on KiT Lab projects!

Laura Funk

lph16@pitt.edu

I am a Project Coordinator for the Classroom and Home Opportunities for Math Practice (CHOMP) study under Andy Ribner. I graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2021 with a major in Psychology and a certificate in GSWS. I love working in the KiT lab because I'm able to learn from my peers, as well as children, each day.

Lucia Huerga

lph16@pitt.edu

I am a currently project coordinator for the EDL and CHOMP studies at the Kids' Thinking Lab. I graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in May 2021 with a bachelor's in Psychology and a minor in Italian. I have been working under Dr. Libertus for two years, and I have learned so much about research and children. Excited to attend graduate school sometime in the future, while being able to carry all the experiences the KiT Lab has offered!

Heather Booth

I am a third-year undergraduate majoring in Biology, minoring in Spanish and Chemistry, and completing certificates in the Conceptual Foundations of Medicine and Latin American Studies. I hope to attend medical school and partner with the Air Force Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) to pursue a career in trauma surgery/emergency medicine. This lab has allowed me to explore the psychological side of research, an area I am extremely passionate about but don’t get to include in my curriculum. I’m excited to continue learning about children’s emerging cognitive abilities, further developing my data analytics skills, and hopefully gain hands-on experience once covid restrictions lift.

Melanie Custodio

I am a senior majoring in Psychology and Spanish with a minor in Luso-Brazilian culture and a concentration in Latin American Studies. After graduating, I plan to teach Spanish abroad to children in elementary school. Eventually, I plan on pursuing a PhD in policy and developmental psychology or clinical psychology. I thoroughly enjoy working at the KiT Lab as I am learning the value of math talk in the development of children's knowledge! Overall, being a part of this lab has taught me the value of research within the field of developmental and cognitive psychology, in addition to psychology in general.

Julien Gruber

I am a senior at Pitt studying Psychology and doing a minor in Economics. I have always enjoyed working with kids and spent many of my summers working as a camp counselor and have gotten to continue that working in the KiT lab. I have always been really interested in education, both at the cognitive level of understanding how we learn and looking at our school systems to think about how they can be improved. I hope to go into Clinical Psychology or Education and being a research assistant in the lab has given me countless opportunities to learn more about these fields and get hands-on experience in a research setting.

Jerusha George

I’m a sophomore at Pitt majoring in biology. I hope to work in healthcare one day, specifically in urban, underserved communities. I enjoy working with kids, and tutor K-12 students when I’m not in the lab. It’s so fascinating to learn about how kids learn in the KiT Lab!

Sasha Hofman

I am a senior at Pitt majoring in Psychology and minoring in History. My goal is to attend graduate school with hopes to work with adolescents in the field of clinical psychology. This is my fourth year at the Kids' Thinking Lab, and I love being a part of the community here. Researching how parents and children interact to develop children's learning is fascinating and being able to take part in these studies has taught me so much about developmental psychology and academic research as a whole.

Aaron Jackson

Hello! I am a freshman at Pitt looking to major in Neuroscience on the pre-med track. I hope to one day make it to medical school and pursue a career in medicine. I am very interested in both psychology and neuroscience. As a member of the KiT lab, I enjoy being able to contribute to ongoing research that can help us understand how children learn and develop abilities.

Diva Kothari

I am a first-year student at Pitt, pursuing a neuroscience major, chemistry and economics minor, and the conceptual foundations of medicine certificate. After undergrad, I would like to attend medical school to become a doctor specializing in pediatrics and/or orthopedics. As a research assistant in the KiT lab, I’m not only pursuing my interest in psychology but also enhancing my classroom learning through hands-on experiences. This is just my first semester in the lab, but I am excited to continue exploring child development and eventually investigate my own hypothesis!

Jessica Lanning

I am a junior psychology major, on the pre-med track, with a minor in chemistry and working on obtaining 2 certificates (Conceptual Foundations of Medicine and Community Health Assessment). I joined the KiT Lab because I wanted psychology research experience and this lab seemed like a perfect fit. In the lab, I have been able to apply what I have learned in previous courses to real life scenarios which has given me new insight on childhood development.

Ana Larez

Hello! My name is Ana Larez. I am a sophomore Psychology and English writing major, with a minor in Spanish. I have been a research assistant in the Pitt Kids' Thinking Lab since Spring of 2022. I have always been interested in how children perceive and interact the world around them and in particular, how circumstantial factors such as socio-economic standing and culture affect a child’s acquisition of skills such as math, literature comprehension etc. This lab has provided me the opportunity to explore my interests and deepen my comprehension on the development of children.

Sivan Lurie

I am a junior majoring in Psychology and minoring in Applied Statistics and Classical Civilizations. I have always loved working with children, so I have been so excited to work in the KiT Lab this year. I have especially loved learning more about children’s development of math abilities as well as the research process in general! I am very appreciative that the KiT Lab has given me the opportunity to explore my independent research goals through being awarded the University Honors College Research Fellowship. I hope to be able to continue investigating and learning by furthering the research I am doing in the KiT Lab and completing my BPhil Honors Thesis in my final year.

Namita Mahajan

I am a current freshman at Pitt potentially majoring in biology and economics and pursuing a certificate in global health. A goal of mine is to attend medical school and work in the healthcare field, specifically with kids. Understanding the way kids learn and advance fascinates me and being a research assistant at the Kids' Thinking Lab allows me to learn more deeply about how kids process the information around them and how their parents can influence their development. I enjoy being a part of the studies I am on right now and am excited for what is to come!

Kalina McNeil

I am a junior Psychology major and am pursuing a minor in LGBT and Critical Sexuality Studies here at Pitt. I am currently working with the UHC Research Fellowship and plan to continue working in the lab until I graduate. I love learning about both child development and math, and the KiT Lab has given me the opportunity to do both. I plan to take a gap year and eventually go to graduate school to pursue a PhD in developmental psychology.

Vanshika Narala

Hello! I am a senior at the University of Pittsburgh majoring in Neuroscience and Psychology with minors in Theatre Arts and Chemistry and a Certificate in the Conceptual Foundations of Medicine. In the future, I hope to attend medical school and practice as a pediatrician or in a specialty with kids! I love working with and learning about kids, which has allowed me to enjoy my time as a research assistant at the KiT lab! The KiT Lab has given me many opportunities to become a part of some fascinating studies and learn more about children's cognitive development. I'm excited to continue researching in the KiT Lab!

Gurleen Pal

Hi! My name is Gurleen Pal. I'm a junior studying Psychology on a Pre-Med track, with a chemistry minor and a certificate in the Conceptual Foundations of Medicine. My future goals are to go to medical school and hopefully become a pediatrician. I have been working at the KiT Lab for over a year now, and it has given me the opportunity to learn about the role parents play in children's development and learning.

Kelsey Phillips

I am a junior majoring in Psychology with a minor in Religious Studies and a Certificate in Global Health. My passion for psychology research stemmed from a love of Cognitive psychology and learning techniques for children. Being a part of the KiT Lab has been a great opportunity to see how children and parents interact to help child development.

Laura Pickert

I am a Pitt senior majoring in psychology and biological sciences and minoring in chemistry. I am interested in family systems and child development. Working in the Kids’ Thinking Lab has given me the opportunity to learn about childhood math development and explore how family systems can better support kid’s math skills. After graduation, I will be taking a gap year to accrue patient care experience before pursuing medical school. My goal is to have a career in healthcare.

Brandi Ramcoobeer

I am a freshman at Pitt majoring in neuroscience and gender, sexuality, and women’s studies on the pre-medicine track. My goals are to attend medical school in order to become a psychiatrist in the future. I’m excited to continue working at the KiT lab because it helps me learn more about developmental psychology and how parents contribute to how their children interact with math.

Nandini Rastogi

I am a sophomore majoring in Neuroscience and Psychology, also pursuing a minor in Political Science and a Global Health Certificate. Within the lab, I have been so excited to learn about the intricate nature of child development in the context of numeracy, and the interpersonal and social influences that affect how kids learn. I hope to apply what I've learned about the parent-child relationship and eventually hope to work in pediatrics or public health.

Laura Ruckenstein

I am a senior Psychology major and Sociology minor here at Pitt. After graduating, I plan on going to grad school to pursue a career in Educational Psychology. Working on various studies in the Kids' Thinking Lab has taught me a lot about research in general and child development. I am very thankful for the time I have spent in the KiT Lab!