People

Modified

February 21, 2025

Important

The Brain and Behavioral Dynamics Lab, part of the Psychology Department at Penn State, is looking for research assistants to study brain development in infants, children, and adolescents for Fall 2025.

You can earn research project (PSY 494) credit or work study funds, and learn video, computer, and communication skills. Prior research experience and computer skills are a plus, but aren’t required. We are especially interested in students who have morning availability, computer skills, or are interested in developing skills in advertising, marketing, or public relations. You may apply by completing an application. At least a TWO semester commitment is required.

Lab Director

Rick O. Gilmore is Professor of Psychology, a Huck Institute of the Life Sciences faculty member, and an Associate of the Institute for Cyberscience. He earned his bachelor’s degree magna cum laude in Cognitive Science from Brown University, and master’s and doctoral degrees in Psychology from Carnegie Mellon University where he participated in the Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition (CNBC) training program in cognitive neuroscience. Gilmore’s research focuses on the development of visual perception and memory. He is particularly interested in the development of brain networks that enable perceivers to extract information about the layout of the environment, the shape of objects, and the speed and direction of self-movement from patterns of visual motion called optic flow. Gilmore is also keenly interested in developing tools and practices that make scientific research more open, transparent, and reproducible. He is co-founder and Co-Director of the Databrary.org data library, and is co-PI on the Play & Learning Across a Year (PLAY) Project. From 2008 to 2014, Gilmore served as the founding Director of Human Imaging at Penn State’s Social, Life, and Engineering Sciences Imaging Center (SLEIC). He has won the College of the Liberal Arts tenure-line faculty teaching award, leads the Open Data in Developmental Science (ODDS) initiative for the Penn State Child Study Center, and has had support for his research from the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation.

Gilmore has served as president of the Centre Region Bicycle Coalition, the Acoustic Brew Concert Series, and the State College Community Theatre. An active radio amateur or ham (callsign W3TM), he is member of the Board of Directors of the Nittany Amateur Radio Club and served as the faculty adviser and K3CR license trustee for the Penn State Amateur Radio Club from 2018-2023.

Contact Information

114 Moore Building
Department of Psychology
The Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA 16801
814-865-3664, voice
814-863-7002, fax

rogilmore AT-SIGN psu DOT edu

Meeting scheduler

Current Staff

Andrea Seisler, Lab Manager

Andrea R. Seisler is the Laboratory Manager of the Brain and Behavioral Dynamics Laboratory directed by Dr. Rick O. Gilmore and the Support and Authorizations Specialist at Databrary. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering from The Catholic University of America. During her graduate studies, she was a recipient of the Clare Booth Luce Fellowship award.

She completed MRI based neuroscience and orthopedics research while working at The National Institutes of Health from 2001-2007. After her move to State College, she served as an IRB Compliance Coordinator for the Human Research Protection Program at Penn State and then moved on in 2009 to manage the Human Electrophysiology Facility located at the Social, Life, and Enginineering Sciences Imaging Center through 2014.

She is active in Scouts BSA as a Committee Member in Troop 245, an Executive Board Member of the Juniata Valley Council, BSA, and the Council Training Committee Vice-Chair. She completed her Wood Badge leadership training course in September 2020 and was a Troop Guide on Wood Badge staff in the Spring of 2022. She has been the Assistant Scoutmaster of Administration for National Youth Leadership Training since 2021. She was nominated and joined the Order of the Arrow in Fall 2024. In addition she enjoys dancing ballet and teaching preschoolers and adults at Dance Academy.

Contact Information

503 Moore Building
Department of Psychology
The Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA 16802
ars17 AT-SIGN psu DOT edu

Bruna Baldivieso, Undergraduate Research Assistant

Bruna Baldivieso is a senior at Penn State University, majoring in Biology with a concentration in Neuroscience and a minor in Psychology. She plans to continue her education in medical school, aspiring to become a neurologist specializing in epilepsy. Bruna is also actively involved in LifeLink PSU, a secondary transition program that offers college experiences for students with special needs from the State College Area School District. Outside of her academic pursuits, she enjoys attending concerts, fostering dogs, and shopping.

Brianna Beamer, Undergraduate Research Assistant

Brianna Beamer is a Senior at Penn State University studying Psychology with a neuroscience focus. She works in the Gilmore Lab here at Penn State. She hopes to further her education and eventually earn a Ph.D. in Psychology to become a neuropsychologist. With this, she plans to help patients with damage in their central nervous system to help them to overcome the struggles they encounter. In Brianna’s free time, she enjoys baking, listening to music, and exploring the outdoors. A fun fact about Brianna is she is from Dallas, Texas!

Nicole Cruz, Undergraduate Research Assistant

Nicole Cruz is pursuing an undergraduate degree in Psychology with a Neuroscience focus at Pennsylvania State University. She intends to graduate in the spring of 2025 and continue her education by pursuing an MD and/or Ph.D. in Neuropsychology. She is interested in research on topics about neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s disease. She is now an undergraduate research assistant working with Dr. Gilmore in his Brain and Behavioral Dynamics lab Gilmore Lab at Penn State. In her free time, she enjoys listening and playing music, traveling, and cooking.

Julia DiFulvio, Undergraduate Research Assistant

Julia DiFulvio is a current undergraduate student pursuing a biobehavioral health major and neuroscience minor at Penn State University. Julia is graduating in May of 2025, and plans to work in research and apply to Genetic Counseling Master’s programs. In the meantime, she contributes to the Legacy Project: Visual Acuity as a Project Lead. Julia also serves as the Penn State Genetic Counseling Club’s treasurer and student outreach chair. She is a member of the Health and Human Development Honor Society, which allows her to participate in volunteering, outreach, and professional development. In her free time, Julia enjoys spending time with friends, spending time outside, and cooking. A fun fact about Julia is that she is from Pittsburgh, PA!

Paige Haplea, Undergraduate Research Assistant

Paige is a psychology major at Penn State hoping to pursue her MD after graduation. She works for the Gilmore Lab as a research assistant and project leader on the [PLAY project] with Brianna Beamer as the primary data collector. She hopes to someday work as a neurologist and use what the lab has taught her about the brain and development in her work and studies. In her spare time when she is not working on her applications, she likes to play bass guitar, go skiing, and bartend at Cafe210. One fun fact about Paige is that her hometown is the mushroom capital of the world (yum!).

Seunghee Ham, Undergraduate Research Assistant

Seunghee Ham is a class of 2025 majoring in Psychology with a life science focus. Currently, she is an undergraduate research assistant in Dr. Gilmore’s Lab and Dr. Erika’s Labs at Penn State. This role allows her to develop her research skills and contribute to projects in the Lab, a crucial step in becoming a clinical psychologist. She is learning how to use R and GitHub!

Her academic interests are primarily in Clinical Psychology, and she intends to pursue an MD and/or Ph.D. in clinical psychology. She aspires to pursue a career as a clinical psychologist. She wants to improve her perspectives on psychotherapy and provide & settle better psychotherapy/counseling services at the University in Korea.

Hayley Lawrence, Undergraduate Research Assistant

Hayley Lawrence is an undergraduate student at Pennsylvania State University, expected to graduate in 2025. She plans on pursuing a B.S. in psychology with a concentration in neuroscience. Following her undergraduate studies she plans to attend medical school and pursue an MD in psychiatry. She is interested in the biology and behavior behind different types of prescribed medications as well as the neurological effects of addiction. She is currently working as an undergraduate research assistant in the Brain and Behavioral Dynamics lab under Dr. Gilmore, the principal investigator, at Penn State. She is also a member of Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology. In her spare time, Hayley enjoys doing yoga, cooking, making crafts, traveling, and taking care of her many houseplants!

Kassandra Marin, Undergraduate Research Assistant

Kassandra Marin is an undergraduate student at The Pennsylvania State University, aiming to graduate with a degree in Psychology with a focus on neuroscience and a minor in Spanish, with the Class of 2028. She plans to pursue further studies in neuropsychology, either through a PsyD or PhD, with the goal of becoming a neuropsychologist. Her academic interests center around cognitive processes and brain dysfunction. Currently, Kassandra works as an undergraduate assistant in the Brain and Behavioral Dynamics Lab. Outside of her studies, she enjoys figure skating, painting, and hiking.

Megan Orlando, Undergraduate Research Assistant

Megan Orlando is a senior here at Penn State studying psychology with a clinical focus on children. She works in the Gilmore Lab here at Penn State and one day hopes to earn her Ph.D in Child Clinical Psychology to become a child psychologist. She hopes to be able to work with children and adolescents who have experienced traumatic events or mental disorders that have affected their daily lives. In her free time Megan enjoys writing, listening to music, studying, and hanging out with her friends.

Gavin Robinson, Undergraduate Research Assistant

Gavin is a Paterno Fellow and Schreyer Scholar double majoring in Psychology and Sociology intending to graduate in 2026. Gavin is a member of Psi Chi, the international honor society in psychology, and a Peer Advisor in the college of the Liberal Arts. After college, Gavin plans to pursue a career in brain imaging, hopefully working with rTMS technology in treatment of depression. Outside of school he enjoys playing guitar, going to concerts, and playing basketball.

Trinity Wilson, Undergraduate Research Assistant

Trinity Wilson is studying Psychology, and will be graduating from Penn State in May 2025. She plans to continue her education with a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, with the hopes of becoming a clinical neuropsychologist. She’s interested in psychopathology and neurological testing, and wants to have her own practice one day. Right now, she works in the Gilmore Lab as an undergraduate research assistant under Dr. Gilmore. Outside of school, Trinity likes to read, take care of her plants, travel, and crochet new clothes.

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