People

Modified

October 30, 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 2026.

We are full 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 moving 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, Scouting America serving as the Council Training Committee Chair. She completed her Wood Badge leadership training course in September 2020 and participated on Wood Badge staff as a Troop Guide (2022) and Scribe (2025). She has been the Assistant Scoutmaster of Administration for National Youth Leadership Training 2021-2025 on multiple courses. She joined the Order of the Arrow in Fall 2024. In addition she enjoys dancing ballet as well as 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

Ella Froemming, Undergraduate Research Assistant

Ella Froemming is a research assistant in the Gilmore Lab and a fourth-year student majoring in Biobehavioral Health, Class of 2026. She plans to pursue a medical degree, either through medical school or a combined medical doctorate program. Her research interests include developmental psychology, neurological dysfunction, and the relationship between the brain and behavior. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends, Pilates, and going for walks.

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.

Anika Mahadevan, Undergraduate Research Assistant

Anika Mahadevan is a 3rd year undergraduate at The Pennsylvania State University. She is working towards a degree in both psychology and biology. In the future she aspires to attend medical school to become a radiologist. Currently she is a member of the Brain and Behavioral Dynamics Lab and the Emotional Development Lab at Penn State. These research opportunities allow her to further her interest in neuroscience and child development. She is also involved in the chemistry department as a learning assistant for general chemistry. In her free time, she enjoys trying new food, traveling, and being outdoors.

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 McQuaid, Undergraduate Research Assistant

Megan McQuaid is a third-year undergraduate student at The Pennsylvania State University, graduating in May 2027. She is majoring in Psychology B.S. with a Neuroscience concentration and minoring in Human Development and Family Studies. Her research interests include the brain-behavior relationships underlying autism and epilepsy. She plans to pursue a PhD in Neuropsychology after graduation. She currently works in the Brain and Behavioral Dynamics Lab and is an active member of Psi Chi - The International Honor Society in Psychology. In the future she plans to continue promoting excellence in psychology and address social issues through research, service, advocacy, and education!

Isabella Moyer, Undergraduate Research Assistant

Isabella Moyer is an undergraduate student at The Pennsylvania State University, graduating in December 2025. She is majoring in Psychology with a Neuroscience concentration and minoring in Biology. Her research interests include the etiology of neurodegenerative disorders on a biological level, and she plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Neuroscience after graduation.

She currently works in the Brain and Behavioral Dynamics Lab and Dr. Newman’s Laboratory for Anxiety and Depression, where she expands her understanding of psychological disorders and the broader field of neuroscience.

Outside of research, she is a member of the Psychology Honor Society, as well as the Alpha Epsilon Delta Honor Society. She also volunteers at a local nursing home through Alzheimer’s Buddies at Penn State, an experience that has provided her with valuable clinical insight into neurodegenerative disease.

Brianna Welzmuller, Undergraduate Research Assistant

Brianna Welzmuller is an undergraduate student at The Pennsylvania State University, working towards a degree in Biology and a minor in Disability Studies with the class of 2027. She aspires to continue her education by attending medical school and becoming an emergency medicine doctor. Currently, Brianna works as an undergraduate assistant in the Brain and Behavioral Dynamics laboratory. This research allows her to gain further knowledge of neuroscience and child development which are her primary academic interests. In her free time Brianna is involved with Remote Area Medical, a club that plans and facilitates free medical clinics to remote underserved areas. She is also a mentor through Life link on campus as well as Paw Pals. During this time, she works with peers that have disabilities and teaches science lessons to elementary school students respectively.

Recent Alumni

  • Bruna Baldiveso
  • Brianna Beamer
  • Nicole Cruz
  • Julia DiFulvio
  • Paige Haplea
  • Hayley Lawerence
  • Megan Orlando
  • Trinity Wilson
  • Peter Huang
  • Molly Askin
  • Yinghe Liu
  • Sydney (Belle) Peterson
  • Madison Gehringer
  • Oriana Franco
  • Ysa Fernandez
  • Yiming Qian, Ph.D.
  • Cecelia Petrarca
  • Kayla Moninger
  • Kavya Jhaveri
  • Bowen Deng
  • Anjali Jivan
  • Maureen Burke
  • Sara Delmoral
  • Kymberle Shields
  • Shahir Rayes
  • Michelle Mendez
  • Rachel Chang
  • Anna Capria
  • Emily Herman
  • Chelsea Davis
  • Sandy Rayes
  • Luka Kelly
  • Amar Bhatia
  • Zhichun Zhao
  • Sarah Shahriar
  • Ashton Dluzneski
  • Alyssa Pandos
  • Charmi Mehta
  • Michael Dexheimer
  • Hifzah Malik
  • Raya Willoughby
  • Katie Torres
  • Shivani Patel
  • Michael O’Neill
  • Daved Fared
  • Auburn Lattanzio
  • Michelle Shade
  • Sam Pai
  • Jun Oh
  • Amanda Thomas, Ph.D.
  • William Adamiak
  • Shivam Vedak, MBA, MD
  • Dan Elbich
  • Jeremy Fesi, Ph.D., Research Analyst, U.S. Marine Corps
  • Lorena Gonzalez
  • Ricky Groner
  • Ken Hwang
  • Matthew Lee
  • Patricia Jones