Principal Investigator
Dr. Courtney Filippi
I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine.
I received my PhD in Developmental Psychology from the University of Chicago in 2016. Broadly, my research investigates the neural mechanisms that underlie social emotional development in infancy and early childhood. To do so, I utilize MRI, EEG, and observational assessments.
My ongoing work examines how factors that are intrinsic to the individual (e.g., temperament) and early experiences shape risk for developing anxiety. These studies prioritize investigation of neural systems associated with infant attention and behavioral control.
Postdoctoral Researchers
Dr. Alice Massera
I earned my PhD in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience from Université Claude Bernard - Lyon 1 in 2023. My research investigates how early social experiences influence socio-cognitive and emotional development from infancy to early adulthood, utilizing MRI, EEG, and behavioral observations. Currently, I am exploring the relationship between resting-state fMRI and fear-of-novelty behaviors in infancy through longitudinal studies.
Dr. Luís Martinez Agulleiro
Luís earned their MD at the University of Santiago de Compostela in Galiza, Spain, and completed their residency in Psychiatry at Arquitecto Marcide Hospital. As a clinician turned researcher, their interest lies in identifying the brain mechanisms of psychiatric disorders using functional neuroimaging and Big Data. Luís’ other interests range from LGBTQIA+ mental health and substance use to health technology and artificial intelligence.
Dr. Jiayin Xing
Jiayin Xing is a post-doc fellow in the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at NYU Langone Health, working with Prof. Courtney Filippi in the Infant Brain and Behavior Lab. She earned her Ph.D. in the Communication Sciences and Disorders program at Northwestern University, where she studied social and linguistic development in individuals with early developmental disorders (e.g., autism spectrum disorder, fragile X syndrome) and their families. To do so, she utilized eye-tracking, speech and language analysis, EEG, and behavioral assessments. In her postdoctoral research, Jiayin continues to examine early risk factors for and behavioral and neural markers of social-communicative development.
Research Associates
Sydney Takemoto
Sydney majored in Cognitive Studies and Child Development at Vanderbilt University, where she also worked as a research assistant in Dr. Kate Humphreys’s Stress and Early Adversity Lab. She has studied how maternal mental health and parent–child interactions may shape child development. She is interested in further exploring the importance of the pre/postnatal caregiving environment in predicting child psychopathology.
Lily Su
Lily recently graduated from Emory University with a BA in Psychology and a minor in Women’s, Gender, & Sexuality Studies. While at Emory, Lily worked as a Research Assistant at The Dilks Lab under Dr. Daniel Dilks, using MRI and behavioral methods to investigate the development of navigation and facial recognition systems in young children. Lily is interested in childhood psychopathology and honing her MRI and EEG skills. She is thrilled to join the IBB team and grow as a researcher and future psychologist!
Undergraduate Volunteers
Cheryn Hong
I am an undergraduate junior at New York University majoring in Psychology with a minor in French and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Studies. My interest in psychology consists of mental disorders, specifically in children. I am working at the IBB lab to explore the infant brain development field and gain more knowledge about my interests through experience.
Alisha Zhu
I am a sophomore at New York University majoring in Psychology and minoring in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Studies. My long-term goal is to work with parents and children across cultures and design the best parenting strategy for them. Working at the IBB lab is a great opportunity to apply my knowledge of developmental psychology and neuroscience to research!
Sophie Yang
I am a sophomore at New York University double majoring in Psychology and Politics with a minor in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Studies. With a background in teaching, I am particularly interested in how early brain development shapes responses to novelty and how these mechanisms relate to mental health outcomes in young children. Working at the Infant Brain and Behavior Lab will give me hands-on experience in neurodevelopmental research, helping me build the skills and knowledge I need for a potential career in medicine, where I hope to better understand and address mental health challenges from both a scientific and clinical perspective.
Nalani Mumm
I am an undergraduate senior at New York University majoring in Psychology with a minor in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Studies. In the future, I hope to pursue graduate studies in counseling or clinical psychology, with a focus on early development and culturally informed mental health care. I am particularly interested in the intersection of neurodevelopment, early life stress, and long-term emotional outcomes.
IBB Lab Alumni
Amanda Waite, Research Associate
Dr. Haley Berka, Psychiatry Fellow
Renee Mao, Undergraduate Volunteer
Kaelan Swinmurn, Undergraduate Volunteer
Gabrielle Sadinoff, Undergraduate Volunteer
Talia Katz, Undergraduate Volunteer
Aditya Jadhav, Data Analyst
Bhanu Prakash Poluparthi, Data Analyst
Nhi Ly, Undergraduate Volunteer
Genevieve Perez, Undergraduate Volunteer
Jackson Parrott, Undergraduate Volunteer
CC Groves, Research Associate