Lab director
Vicky T. Lai is an assistant professor in Psychology Department and Cognitive Science program at the University of Arizona. She also has courtesy affiliations with Second Language Acquisition Teaching GIDP, Linguistics Department, and BIO5. The overarching theme of her research is the processing of meaning and language in context. Specific topics include non-literal language (metaphor, irony, idiom), emotion and language, and language and thought. She was elected a fellow in Psychonomic Society in 2018 and was awarded Distinguished Mentoring Award in 2023. In her free time, Vicky likes to swim, hike, cook, and watch sci-fi movies and comedies.
Graduate students
Laura Baiocco is a third-year PhD student in the cognition and neural systems (CNS) program in the department of Psychology. Her interests include figurative language processing, emotional processing, and the relationship between the two. In her free time, she likes to watch good tv shows, visit new places, and eat veggie food.
Lindsay Krebs is a second-year PhD student in the cognition and neural systems (CNS) program in the department of Psychology. Her interests include bilingualism as well as ways in which language might help to structure thought. Her current project focuses on whether apt use of metaphor in teaching can enhance learning of science concepts. She enjoys reading, cooking, and video calling with her three dogs (and family!) back home.
Çağatay Çora is a first-year PhD student in the Cognition and Neural Systems (CNS) program within the Department of Psychology. He is interested in the embodied perspectives of figurative language. Additionally, he is interested in Natural Language Processing. In his free time, he enjoys camping, cycling, reading and also delving into the profound enigma of conscious realism.
Fatima Jebahi is a third-year PhD student of Dr. Aneta Kielar in the Language and Neuroimaging Research laboratory in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences. She is interested in the cognitive and neural correlates of language in acquired neurogenic language disorders. In this lab, Fatima is collaborating on a project examining the semantic and emotional features of speech produced by primary progressive aphasia. In her free time, she enjoys watching TV shows, reading books, and exploring new places.
Mourad Abdennebi is a third-year Ph.D. student of Dr. Janet Nicol in the Second Language Acquisition and Teaching program (SLAT). In this lab, he is collaborating on his dissertation project which examines multisensory learning of vocabulary in adult second language learners.
Undergraduate students
Annie Laguer is a senior majoring in Psychological Sciences. In the future, she would like to study Psycholinguistics or Clinical Psychology. She would like to go to Graduate school in Switzerland or Sweden. In her free time, she likes to read and hang out with her friends.
Sabrina Gesina is a senior studying Psychological Sciences and Biology! She is an Arizona native, born and raised in the Phoenix area. She enjoys going on hikes, playing with her two dogs and getting outside whenever she can. Sabrina has an older sister, too, who she always go home to visit. She is so thrilled to be working on lab projects, and she can’t wait to see what this year brings!
Hannah Witherspoon is a senior majoring in Psychological Science. Her research interests are in clinical psychology and the interaction between language and those with mental health issues. Hannah has lived in Tucson all her life, and hopes to move somewhere a little greener in the future. In her free time, she enjoys working on computers, crocheting, watching documentaries, and listening to music.
Blake Gruskoff is a senior majoring in Psychological Sciences. They are interested in linguistics, social psychology, and artistic interpretation as a form of self-expression. They are working currently as a behavioral technician helping neurodivergent children achieve their goals and live their best lives. In their free time, they enjoy writing, philosophy, reading, video games, and dancing.
Cindy Nguyen is a senior majoring in Psychological Science. Her research interest is developmental psychology and she has a passion for working with children. In her free time, she enjoys catching flights, trying new places to eat, and shopping as a form of self-care
Mx Hyde is a junior triple majoring in Neuroscience Cognitive Science, Psychological Science, and Linguistics. Their research interests are cognitive psychology, linguistics, and Autism/ADHD. When they have time, they enjoy reading, video games, music, dance, and crafting.
Desbah White is a junior majoring in Psychological Science and minoring in Educational Psychology. A native of Arizona, she was born and raised on the Navajo reservation. My research interests are in social and developmental psychology, and she has a passion for working with children and teenagers in educational settings. In her free time, I enjoy watching movies and TV show marathons, reading, working out, and listening to music.
Arjun Phull is a junior double majoring in Neuroscience & Cognitive Science and Information Science. His research interests lie at the intersection of data science and human biology. Specifically, Arjun seeks to explore how information systems can model our neural processes and augment our understanding of how we think. In his free time, Arjun loves to cook, write, and work out.
Sheridan Kraus is a junior double majoring in Neuroscience & Cognitive Science and Spanish. Her research interests include neurolinguistics and
bilingualism. Outside of the research lab, she enjoys traveling, listening to music, hanging out with friends, and spending time with her cat.
How do I join the lab?
If you are a prospective student applying to the Cognitive Neural System program in the Department of Psychology at the University of Arizona, please contact Dr. Lai directly (tzuyinlai at arizona dot edu) with your research interests and CV. Please do so in September, October, or November, as the application deadline is December 1 each year.
If you are an undergraduate at the University of Arizona looking for independent research or directed research opportunities, please contact Dr. Lai directly (tzuyinlai at arizona dot edu). In your email, please include the following information and documents: Name, email, major(s) or minor(s), honors student (yes or no), year (sophomore, junior, or senior), CV or resume, transcript (unofficial fine), prior experiences in other research labs if any, and what your research interests are.