People

PPEL Studies Team

Faculty

Dr. Heather Bachman

Dr. Heather Bachman is a Professor and Associate Dean of Research in the School of Education, and a Research Scientist in the Learning Research and Development Center, at the University of Pittsburgh. She also has a secondary faculty appointment in the Department of Psychology. She completed her postdoctoral training at the Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University. Dr. Bachman graduated from Wheaton College with a bachelor's degree in psychology. She conducts policy-relevant research with young children and families in communities and classrooms to support early academic and socioemotional development. Outside of the lab, Dr. Bachman enjoys playing with her son, traveling, and meeting with her Pitt book group.

Heather's School of Education profile
Heather's Department of Psychology profile

Dr. Melissa Libertus

Dr. Melissa Libertus is a professor in Department of Psychological Sciences at Case Western Reserve University. Her research focuses on how young children think and learn about the world around them. She completed her Ph.D. in psychology and neuroscience at Duke University and her postdoctoral fellowship at the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Johns Hopkins University. She graduated from the University of Osnabrück in Germany with a bachelor's degree in cognitive science. Outside of work, Dr. Libertus enjoys running, biking, and spending time with her husband and three children.

Dr. Elizabeth Votruba-Drzal

Dr. Elizabeth Votruba-Drzal is a Professor of Psychology and the Director of the Learning Research and Development Center at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Votruba-Drzal's research focuses on how dimensions of socioeconomic status, relate to opportunities for healthy growth and development across the life course. She received a Ph.D. in Human Development and Social Policy from Northwestern University. She graduated from Michigan State University with a bachelor's degree in social relations. Outside of her work life, Dr. Votruba-Drzal enjoys spending time with her family as well as reading, running, hiking, and practicing yoga.

Postdoctoral Research Associates

Jazelle Pilato

Jazelle Pilato is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Learning Research and Development Center. She received her BA in psychology and biology from Clark University and completed her PhD in Behavior, Cognition, and Neuroscience at American University. Her primary interests focus on the intricate relationships between ecological contexts—such as socioeconomic environment, school environment, and parent-child interactions at home—and STEM education outcomes for students throughout their development. She is particularly interested in examining the role of cognitive processes in these relationships through the use of interdisciplinary techniques. In her spare time, Jazelle enjoys reading, cooking, and printmaking.

Alex Silver

Alex Silver is a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Learning Research and Development Center at the University of Pittsburgh. Broadly, she is interested in how, despite sharing foundational cognitive architecture with many animals, humans are the only species that has developed the ability to interpret and manipulate symbols and design and test theories. Her work asks how our core cognitive abilities support the uniquely human ability to use symbols and develop theories to solve problems, and how environmental factors, including affective experiences and social support, shape children's conceptual development. Her research focuses on mathematical learning as a case study to answer these puzzling questions. She examines how internal factors, such as numerical processing abilities, and external factors, such as the learning opportunities children are exposed to, uniquely and reciprocally contribute to learning in math. Alex received her PhD in Cognitive Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh in 2024. 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, gardening, and eating ice cream whenever possible.

Research Associate

Portia Miller

Portia Miller is a research associate on the PPEL studies. Her research goals focus on investigating how economic disadvantage impacts child and adolescent development, with a particular interest in examining factors that contribute to or can alleviate income disparities in school readiness. In pursuing these goals, Portia has studied how children's early contexts, like neighborhoods and child care, shape the academic and behavioral development of ethnically-diverse and socioeconomically disadvantaged children. She uses an interdisciplinary approach that integrates theories and methods from psychology, developmental psychopathology, economics, and sociology. Portia earned a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Pittsburgh. She also received a J.D. and a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Pittsburgh. In her spare time, Portia enjoys reading and spending time with her family.

Graduate Students

Joei Camarote

Joei Camarote is a graduate student in the Developmental Psychology program. She received her bachelor's degree in psychology from Temple University and worked in Dr. Elizabeth Gunderson's Cognition & Learning Laboratory before coming to Pitt. Joei's research focuses on children's academic development, specifically in the spatial domain. She is especially interested in gender differences in spatial ability and how factors like the home environment and parental involvement influence these differences. In her free time, Joei loves to read and go on walks.

Jorge Carvalho Pereira

Jorge is a graduate student in the Cognitive and Developmental Psychology programs. His research interests center on understanding how diverse, early social-cognitive interactions in home and learning environments contribute to the development of children's mathematical abilities and competence in academic domains. Jorge graduated with a master's degree in psychology from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. He received a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Delaware. 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.

Nandini Rastogi

Nandini is a graduate student in the Developmental Psychology program! She is broadly interested in how STEM learning is scaffolded over time and across home, school, and community contexts. She is fascinated by the development of children's math identities, and how adult and peer relations play an important role in learning motivation and school engagement. Nandini graduated with her BPhil in Psychology and Neuroscience from the University of Pittsburgh and later worked as a research coordinator at the Kids' Thinking and Food for Thought labs. In her free time, she loves to roller skate, paint, and try out new restaurants.

Staff

Jessie Ferraro

Jessie Ferraro is the project coordinator for the PPEL Studies. Jessie earned an MPH in Public Health Genetics from the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a double major in Biology and Anthropology. Since completing her master's degree, Jessie has worked in research with young children and their families - first in oral health research and now in cognitive development at the Pitt Kids' Thinking Lab and the Pitt PPEL studies.

Molly Guy

I am a research assistant working on the PPEL Project. I graduated from Pitt in December 2024 with a bachelor's degree in psychology, minors in Neuroscience and Administration of Justice, and a certificate in Conceptual Foundations of Medicine. I am currently working towards a career in Clinical Psychology (PsyD) with youth populations. I began working at the KiT Lab in August 2023 as an undergraduate and had a fantastic experience learning about cognitive development and gaining research skills!

Kalina McNeil

Kalina McNeil is a research assistant on the PPEL Project. She graduated with her Bachelor of Philosophy in Psychology with a minor in LGBTQ and Critical Sexuality Studies from the University of Pittsburgh. Kalina is currently a master's student in the Education Policy program at the University of Pittsburgh. Kalina's research interests lie in children's STEM learning in informal environments. In her spare time, Kalina enjoys playing with her cats, hanging with friends, and singing to herself.

Jaimee Rissman

Jaimee Rissman is a research assistant on the PPEL Project. She graduated in Spring 2026 with her BS in Education and BA in Cognitive Science from the University of Virginia. While at UVA, she worked with Dr. Jamie Jirout in the Research in Education and Learning (REAL) Lab, studying curiosity and science identity. She is interested in the early mechanisms of learning, specifically how young children actively explore their environments, and how parents and teachers can leverage that natural curiosity to foster long-term STEM motivation and engagement. In her free time, Jaimee enjoys reading, hanging out with friends and family, and spending time outdoors.

Abby Sites

Abby Sites is a Research Assistant on the PPEL project. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in December 2023 with a bachelor's degree in psychology and minor in Creative Writing. She is currently exploring her research interests in the development of child psychopathology, specifically the social and contextual factors which can prevent or contribute to these outcomes. Abby looks forward to applying to developmental psychology doctoral programs this year. Outside of the lab, she enjoys hanging out with friends, exploring Pittsburgh, and reading.

Amaranda Wiseman

Amaranda Wiseman is a research assistant on the PPEL Project. She graduated from Indiana University in spring 2026 with a B.S. in Clinical Psychology. While at IU, she worked in Dr. Karin James' Cognition, Action, & Neuroimaging Lab, investigating the effects of 2D and 3D mental rotation training on visuo-spatial capabilities in young children. Amaranda's research interests center on how baseline cognitive abilities may influence the etiology of mood and anxiety disorders in young children. In her spare time, Amaranda enjoys being outside, going out to eat, and nannying. 

Lab Alumni