Team |

Dr. Aaron T. Mattfeld

Principal Investigator & Cognitive Neuroscience Director at FIU

Dr. Mattfeld is the Director of Mattfeld MaDLab. His research is focused on understanding the neurobiological mechanisms that support learning and memory, and how these mechanisms change as a result of development and neurodevelopmental disorders.

Dr. Mattfeld obtained his M.A. in Cognitive Neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University. He later completed his Ph.D. in Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of California, Irvine. He then received his postdoctoral training in developmental neuroscience from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Graduate Students

Amanda Renfro, M.S.

Mandy’s research interests are primarily ADHD and its influences on memory and other cognitive processes. She has experience in GSR and EEG work and through her work in Madlab she has become proficient with fMRI.

Adam Kimbler, M.S.

Adam’s research is focused on the neural underpinnings of memory overgeneralilzation and brain changes across early development.

Vanessa Rivera, B.A.

Vanessa’s research is centered on the neurobiological mechanisms underlying negative overgeneralization in children and adolescents with anxiety. She is broadly interested in how neural circuits go awry, thereby affecting emotion control and memory. Her goal is to bridge neuroscience and clinical approaches to detect early disruptions in neurodevelopment that could contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders.

Postdoctoral Scholars

Dr. Nathan Muncy

Dr. Muncy is a postdoctoral scholar in the Mattfeld Laboratory. His research interests include the neural mechanisms of memory and decision making. Dr. Muncy originally studied false memories and the recovery therefrom, the role of temporal information and context in episodic memory, and how highly similar memories are maintained separate. His goals is to describe how memory information affects decision making and other executive processes.

Undergraduate Students

Luisa Bermero

Adriana Pellot

Adriana’s research interests include neurological disorders and how they affect children and adults specifically dealing with social cognition and behavior. I also enjoy medical anthropology, museum studies, and archaeology.

Arianna Valdes

Arianna is a senior at FIU majoring in Natural and Applied Sciences with a minor in Biology. I am very interested in neurological and physiological research and I am on the pre-med track.

Fernando Melara Barahona

Fernando is an international student from El Salvador who is currently a sophomore majoring in Biomedical Engineering. He aims to gain experience, knowledge, and valuable insight into the processes and mechanisms that determine learning and memory. His goal is to attend medical school and continue doing research to serve his community and revolutionize the future of medicine.

Kaylee Marrero

Kaylee is interested in studying the neurobiological connections that govern memory formation and how these change with disorders like ADHD.

Paola Parrales

Paola is a rising senior majoring in Chemistry and minoring in Biology and Psychology. After graduation, she plans on getting involved with more research regarding cognitive neuroscience before applying to medical school.

Alumni

Dr. Whitney Fosco (PostDoc) – Pennsylvania State University

Parsa Nilchian

Michael Farruggia – Yale INP Program

Alejandro Hermida – University of Miami Medical School

Sofia Espinosa – Occupational Therapy School

Shridat Jadoo – University of Pennsylvania Medical School

Maya Zlitni

Massiel Dos Santos – PA school

Kevin Alzate

Isabel Thorson

Gabriel Garcia – FIU Medical School

Anibal Morales

Clara George

Jeslyn Rodriguez – SUNY Albany Medical School

Krissie Lobon