About the R.E.A.C.H. Lab

A fourth-year Ph.D. student studying Social Neuroscience at the University of South Florida (USF), Jason explores emotion regulation and threat perception within LGBTQIA+ communities. His research focuses on understanding how societal stressors impact mental and physical health, utilizing neuroscience methods to uncover resilience in queer individuals. Committed to DEI programming and fostering inclusive environments, he leads initiatives like Threads of Inclusivity (T.O.I.) which is Tampa Bay’s first-ever project designed to provide free and accessible gender-affirming clothing and accessories to Trans and Non-binary queer students. As a certified DEI Specialist, Jason advocates for safety, well-being, and success, striving to empower individuals to reach their personal aspirations in a collaborative and equitable setting in every project he tackles.

As a third-year Ph.D. student enrolled in the Cognition, Neuroscience, and Social Psychology program at the University of South Florida, Michael earned a B.S. in Psychology with a specialization in Quantitative Skills from Penn State University. His undergraduate studies included minors in Math and Physics. His research focuses on investigating the impacts of environmental exposure, particularly natural and urban settings, on creativity, and comparing group versus individual processes and performance. He primarily collaborate with Dr. Ruth Ann Atchley in their research endeavors.

As a third-year doctoral student in the Cognition, Neuroscience, and Social (CNS) Psychology program at USF, Hannah completed her B.S. in Psychology at South Dakota State University, where she also pursued minors in Biology and Rehabilitation Services. Additionally, she earned her M.A. in Experimental Psychology from the University of Minnesota Duluth. Her research primarily focuses on applied psychology, particularly attention allocation in dual-task paradigms. She is also interested in ambiguity processing and tolerance, as well as metacognition.

Kaelyn is a third-year Ph.D. student in the Cognition, Neuroscience, and Social Psychology program at USF. She graduated from The University of Alabama with a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Biology. Her research in cognitive neuroscience centers on examining how individual differences influence cognitive ability and processing. She utilizes electrophysiology (EEG) measures to investigate brain wave activity during various cognitive tasks.

Zach is a second-year Cognitive, Neuroscience, and Social Psychology Ph.D. Student with a concentration in cognition, working alongside Dr. Paul Atchley. Hailing from Detroit, Michigan, he earned his B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Philosophy at Wayne State University. Zach's research interests lie in investigating the cognitive processes involved in mindfulness cultivation and other forms of emotion regulation. He is also keen on both basic and applied research concerning metacognition and executive functions.

Elizabeth is a first-year Ph.D. student in the Cognitive, Neuroscience, and Social Psychology program. She graduated from the University of Florida with her B.S. in Psychology and minors in Education Studies and Teaching English as a Second Language. Her previous research includes investigations of college student stress-coping strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as early childhood task engagement among typically developing children and children with special needs. She is currently working with Dr. Ruthann Atchley to explore the psycholinguistic characteristics and cognitive processes of adults diagnosed with developmental language disorders during their childhood.

Riley is a first-year graduate student from Ogden, UT, pursuing a Ph.D. In Cognitive Neuroscience and Social Psychology. He graduated from Weber State University (WSU) with a B.S. in psychology and neuroscience minor and was the Outstanding Neuroscience Graduate for his graduating class. During his time at WSU, he worked under the supervision of Dr. Aminda J. O’Hare, researching emotional and cognitive processes, particularly in attention, mindfulness, individual differences in social intelligence, and implicit biases in emotional facial expressions. Riley is currently working with Dr. Paul Atchley in the driving simulation lab. His current research interests focus on interdisciplinary and applied approaches to psychology. More specifically, Riley is interested in using simulation to understand attentional aspects, such as the overlap between implicit and explicit processing and the relationship between executive attention and visual distractors.