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.
CC Groves
CC is the Lab Manager and a Research Associate in Dr. Filippi's Infant Brain and Behavior Lab at NYU Langone. After graduating from Cornell University in 2020, she taught Middle School in Harlem, New York for two years where she discovered a passion for mental health research and care. CC is interested in the intersection between early social emotional development and anxiety and is so excited to be a part of Dr. Filippi's team at the Infant Brain and Behavior Lab.
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
Nhi Ly
Nhi is a recent graduate from NYU on the premed track and majored in Psychology and minored in Chemistry and Child & Adolescent Mental Health Studies. Currently, she is interested in the association between self-regulation/effortful control and infant brain morphometry. Her career goals include attending medical school and becoming a psychiatrist specializing in anxiety and OCD. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, as well as playing D&D and video games, especially Pokémon!
Genevieve Perez
I am an undergraduate Senior at New York University majoring in Psychology with a minor in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Studies. Because I am originally from California, I like taking the time to explore the city and my interests. My career goal is to become a forensic psychologist and work with law enforcement, but to do so I believe that I need to have a deeper understanding of child development. By working in the lab I am seeking a better understanding of infancy since our past helps shape us into the individuals we will soon become.
Jackson Parrott
I am an undergraduate senior majoring in psychology at New York University. My research interests revolve around the neurodevelopment and epigenetics of anxiety, and I am planning on pursuing a psychology PhD with a focus on clinical, developmental, and neuroscience research. Working at the Infant Brain and Behavior Lab allows me to explore these interests and expand my skills to better prepare me for my future academic goal of aiding research that addresses the neural underpinnings behind anxiety and other psychopathologies.
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.
IBB Lab Alumni
Amanda Waite, RA
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