Stephanie Badde, PhD
Stibel Family Assistant Professor of Brain and Cognitive Sciences
Stephanie Badde has a background in psychology and mathematics, attended an interdisciplinary (psychology, computer science, neuroscience) graduate school working with Brigitte Röder, and received her Ph.D. (Dr. rer. nat.) from the University of Hamburg. After a post-doctoral fellowship at New York University working with Michael Landy she joined Tufts University in Fall 2020. Her research focuses on the computations underlying multisensory perception especially with the bodily senses, and the plasticity of these mechanisms. She especially values interdisciplinary research and enjoys collaborating with a broad range of researchers. Fun Fact: She is a dog-person who loves bunnies.
Crista Falk
Crista Falk is a PhD student in the Cognitive Science PhD program at Tufts University. She is interested in modeling perceptual experience through computational techniques, with a present focus on somatosensation and proprioception. Prior to Tufts, Crista received a bachelor’s degree in computation and cognition from MIT in 2023. Fun Fact: Crista plays the oboe and shares a birthday with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Vanalata Bulusu
Vanalata Bulusu is a PhD student in the Cognitive Science PhD program at Tufts University. She holds a BSc in Computer Sciences and a MSc in from the IIT in Hyderabad and currently works on interactions between oculomotor actions and somatosensory perception. Fun Fact: Vanalata’s guilty pleasures are chocolate chip cookies, Reese’s peanut butter cups, and Britney Spears.
Celina Kwon
Celina Kwon is a sophomore studying Cognitive and Brain Sciences as well as Computer Sciences at Tufts University. Celina currently works on the effects of endogenous attention on tactile perception. Fun Fact: Cilantro tastes like soap to Celina.
Risha Sarya
Risha Sarya is a freshman studying Biopsychology at Tufts University. Risha investigates perceptual learning across vision and audition. Fun Fact: Risha’s favorite show is The Vampire Diaries.
Michelle Yunran Wang
Michelle Wang is a junior studying Engineering Psychology as well as Japanese Language & Cultural Studies at Tufts University. Michelle studies how tactile temporal resolution varies across the body. Fun Fact: Michelle eats cheese every day.
Jacob Galuten
Jacob Galuten is a senior studying Cognitive and Brain Sciences as well as Philosophy at Tufts University. Jacob works on animations that allow us to study how humans perceive the laws of Physics. Fun Facts: Jacob is (almost) a black belt in Shaolin Kempo, plays the alto saxophone, and claims to be able to hold his breath for 25 minutes.
Disha Bhowmick
Disha Bhowmick is a senior studying Cognitive Brain Science and Biotechnology at Tufts University. Disha works on the effects of endogenous spatial attention on tactile temporal perception. Fun Facts: Disha loves to sing, dance, and hike.
Emma Castro
Emma Castro is a sophomore majoring in Cognitive and Brain Science and French. She is particularly interested in the neural mechanisms involved in our responses to visual art and language. Fun fact: Emma had her first solo show in an art gallery last summer.
Mina Shimada
Mina Shimada is a sophomore majoring in Cognitive and Brain Science and Computer Science. She works on human perception of the laws of physics. Fun fact: Mina’s favorite meal of the day is breakfast.
Previous Lab Members
Feiyi Wang
Feiyi Wang was the research coordinator of the lab from 2022 to 2023. She holds a BSc in Psychology from the University of Washington and MSc in Psychology from Boston University. She now is a PhD student at Boston University. Fun Fact: she was a cheerleader in high school, but never fully grasped the rules of football.
Emma Cary
Emma Cary is a senior studying Cognitive and Brain Sciences as well as Computer Science at Tufts University. She is interested in psychophysics and currently works on cross-modal temporal perception. Fun Fact: she is also captain of the women’s club lacrosse team at Tufts.
Sofia Montoya
Sofia Montoya is a senior studying Biopsychology at Tufts University. She is interested in multisensory learning and neuroplasticity. Sofia currently works on our cross-modal perceptual learning study as well as visual-tactile integration in the absence of awareness. Fun Fact: Sofia loves animals and has worked with sloths and pigeons.
Sophia Grekin
Sophia Grekin is a senior studying Cognitive and Brain Sciences at Tufts University. She is interested in consciousness, cognition, and neuroscience, and currently works on the influence of priors on tactile temporal perception. Fun Fact: Sophia has more pets than family members.
Lily Volper
Lily Volper is a senior studying Cognitive and Brain Sciences as well as Studio Art at Tufts University. She is interested in the cross-section where art and psychology meet, and is currently working on body-posture perception and awareness. Fun Fact: Lily thinks that Fun Facts are fun, but just cannot think of one about herself.
Ilona Lahdesmaki
Ilona Lahdesmaki is a junior studying Cognitive and Brain Sciences as well as Computer Science at Tufts University. She is interested in computational approaches to perception and currently works on models of cross-modal temporal perception. Fun Fact: Ilona has played the flute since I was seven years old.
Jordana Raich
Jordana Raich is a sophomore studying Cognitive and Brain Science at Tufts University. She is interested in visual perception and currently works on visual influences on posture perception. Fun Fact: Jordana is a Wilderness First Responder.
Marissa Starks
Marissa Starks is a senior majoring in math on the pre-medical track at Tufts University. She is interested in the intersection of math and visual perception, and is currently working on visual influences on posture perception. Fun Fact: Marissa writes with her left hand but is otherwise right hand/side dominant.
Emily Nadler
Emily Nadler is a senior studying Cognitive and Brain Sciences at Tufts University. She is interested in perception as it relates to consciousness, and is working on the perceptual learning project. Fun fact: Emily plays violin in the Tufts Symphony Orchestra!
Madeline Dumont
Maddy Dumont is a Sophomore studying Cognitive and Brain Science and Computer Science at Tufts University. She is interested in cognition and consciousness and currently working on a perceptual learning project. Fun Fact: she is on the club field hockey team.
Jared Lee
Jared Lee is a sophomore studying Cognitive and Brain Sciences at Tufts University. He is interested in the intersection of neuroscience and computer science, and is currently working on understanding how the laws of physics influence our perception. Fun Fact: Jared’s favorite candy is Mike and Ike’s.