Lab Members
My research focuses on the early development of the social, cognitive and brain processes that underpin adaptive social cognition and behavior. I earned my Ph.D. in Psychology from the Max Planck Institutes for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences and Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany.
Website | tg3ny@virginia.edu| Publications
Tobias Grossmann
Principal Investigator
Lab Manager
Camile Bernard
Lab Manager
Camile is the lab coordinator for the Early Social Development Lab and Baby Lab and serves as the project coordinator for the Development of Gratitude Project. She earned her B.A. in Psychology and History from Pomona College. Her research interests include the impact of media on children’s education and how growing up in a digital age shapes the learning experiences of the new generation. During her undergraduate studies, Camile’s research focused on social psychology and the psychology of climate change, with her senior thesis examining children’s perceptions of environmentalists.
Contact Camile: vnp4hd@virginia.edu
Graduate Students
Kenn Dela Cruz
Graduate Student
I am interested in questions around how children come to understand their own emotions and those of others. I am interested in studying emotion through multiple levels of analyses, such as within the child and the surrounding contextual factors. I received my B.A. in Psychology from UCLA and M.A. in Developmental Psychology from San Francisco State University.
Contact: kld2db@virginia.edu
Olivia Allison
Graduate Student
My broader research interests include identifying biological and environmental factors that are associated with early social development, and understanding how brain function is linked to social information processing and behaviors. I am particularly interested in studying facial and emotional processing throughout infancy to understand how underlying mechanisms give rise to individual differences in social cognition and behaviors. I received my B.A. in Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience from Temple University where I completed a thesis project that investigated anticipatory motor behavior towards tactile stimulation in infant development. Additionally, I worked as a full-time research assistant at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia where I completed a project that investigated face-encoding neural activity in preschool children with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Contact Olivia: yjg9uy@virginia.edu
Halle Miller
Graduate Student
My research explores how contextual and environmental factors shape social and cognitive development in early life, from infancy through early childhood. I am particularly interested in how social factors including early adverse childhood experiences or a child’s social network may influence a child’s brain function and behavior, both within an individual and intergenerationally. I received my B.S. in psychology from Harding University in 2023.
Contact Halle: yqg7ay@virginia.edu.
Sophie Clayton
Graduate Student
Sophie is a third-year graduate student in the Early Social Development Lab and Baby Lab. Her research interests are focused on reputation and impression management in children, specifically working to understand age of development and which environments may impact reputation management behaviors. She received her B.A. in Cognitive Sciences and Psychology from Rice University.
Contact Sophie: slc6ep@virginia.edu
Dr. Johanna Chajes
Post-doctoral Research Associate and Lecturer at UVA
In my research, I study the development of prosocial behavior and executive function during infancy and early childhood. I’m especially interested in understanding how early experiences shape individual outcomes, and in making connections between children’s observable behaviors and their underlying brain activity.
Contact: jrc4hw@virginia.edu
Research Assistants
Helena Nguyen
Research Assistant
I’m a third-year undergraduate student from Springfield, Virginia, majoring in Psychology and minoring in Asian Pacific American Studies. I aspire to become a social worker and currently work with children with special needs, so I love learning everything about how young individuals develop emotionally and socially. My interests outside of the lab include cooking, arts and crafts, and nature.
Kyle Luong
Research Assistant
I am a third year student from Baltimore, Maryland majoring in Psychology while also pursuing Pre-Med. I also volunteer at the University of Virginia hospital and serve as a Patient Service Coordinator for Medstar in Baltimore. Outside of academics and work, I enjoy to both play and watch sports.
Angelina Lee
Research Assistant
I’m a 4th year student from Centreville, VA, double majoring in Psychology and Cognitive Science. I love working with children and aspire to become a pediatric mental health counselor. In my free time, I enjoy volunteering, cooking, traveling and crocheting.
Prisha Javed
Research Assistant
I’m a third year undergraduate student from Aldie, VA, majoring in Human Biology on the Pre-Med track. I deeply enjoy working with children and am curious to study their cognitive functions! Outside of the research lab, I love to draw, exercise, and travel.
Rebecca Bonheur
Research Assistant
I’m a forth-year psych major from Norfolk, VA, and I’m so excited to be involved with the Babylab! I love working with children and getting to explore different applications of my psych education. I’m hoping to get involved with psychology or business research following graduation.
Sally Bussian
Research Assistant
My name is Sally, and I am a forth-year Neuroscience major from Birmingham, Alabama. As one could guess, my favorite subjects are biology and psychology, and being a research assistant in Babylab allows me to apply both! I love helping others, and I hope to make a lasting impact at Babylab before I graduate. Outside of the lab, I enjoy spending time with friends, exploring Charlottesville, reading fantasy novels, listening to country music and playing the piano!
Lucy Nguyen
Research Assistant
Lucy Nguyen is a first year at UVA and is planning on majoring in Biochemistry with a minor in Spanish. She plans to specialize in oncology pediatrics in the future. Her future goal is to be able to help immigrant children find a healthy life in America since she comes from an immigrant family that have worked extremely hard to get where they are. Lucy is a part of the VR study team in baby lab. Outside of research she enjoys weightlifting, finding new sweet cravings, and meeting new people.
Meron Zebro
Research Assistant
I’m a third year undergraduate student from Alexandria, Virginia, double majoring in Psychology and Cognitive Science, with a neuroscience concentration. I love working with children, as I have done by working as a Camp Counselor, and am very interested to examine how their brains work and how they process different situations. I hope to be a child neuropsychologist. Some of my other hobbies include playing clarinet in the marching band, playing piano and reading.
Lisa de Groot
Research Assistant
I’m a second-year from Manassas, Virginia, majoring in Psychology with a minor in Biology on the Pre-Med track. I am passionate about working closely and engaging with children and I’m enthusiastic about gaining new insights into children’s development while working with Babylab! Outside of the lab I love running, rowing, hiking, and reading.
Caroline Ivey
Research Assistant
I am a second year from Atlanta, GA majoring in Behavioral Neuroscience on the Pre-Med track. Working with children has always been a passion of mine, so I hope to work in pediatrics one day. Participating in Babylab propels me toward this goal while allowing me to combine my love of children with my interest in psychology! I also volunteer at Martha Jefferson Hospital and walk children to and from school with Madison House. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, baking, and going on walks.
Lauren Jochims
Research Assistant
Lab Alumni
Dr. Jessica Stern
Assistant Professor at Pomona College
Dr. Caroline Kelsey
Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Boston Children’s Hospital
Dr. Kathleen M. Krol
Senior Product Researcher at WillowTree