Meet the members of our lab!

Bianca Aldrich

Current: Doctoral Graduate Student, Developmental Psychology

Graduate: M.A. Developmental Psychology, Loyola University Chicago

About: Bianca studies how parents can promote children's engagement in informal learning activities. She is especially interested in the role of autonomy for children's STEM engagement. In her free time, Bianca enjoys hiking, murder mystery novels, and boardgames.

Grace Ocular

Current: Doctoral Graduate Student, Developmental Psychology

Graduate: M.A. Education, California State University Long Beach

About: Prior to starting graduate studies at Loyola, Grace earned a master’s degree in Education at California State University, Long Beach and has conducted research in children’s informal learning in aquarium settings. These experiences are what shaped her research interests in children’s science learning in informal settings. At Loyola, Grace contributes to research projects at the Chicago Children’s Museum and the Gulf of Maine Research Institute. For her thesis, Grace is studying how middle school students understand and apply scientific practices (e.g., gathering data, representing and analyzing) about the changing ecosystem of the Gulf of Maine during a field trip experience. She is especially interested in students’ methods of inquiry when exploring different kinds of data representations. In her free time, Grace enjoys biking on the Lakefront Trail, being outdoors, and spending quality time with her cat, Kimchi, & friends.

Riley George

Current: Doctoral Graduate Student, Developmental Psychology 

Undergraduate: B.S. Psychology, Loyola University Chicago 

About: Prior to starting the graduate program, Riley attended Loyola for her undergraduate degree in Psychology and worked as the Project Coordinator for the Tinkering and Learning Engineering Stories project. She aims to explore how we can design tinkering programs for informal learning spaces such as museums that will foster young children's feelings of STEM belonging and interest. During her free time, Riley loves to read, play with her cat, Toast, and go on long walks on the lakeside trails. 

Anele Villanueva

Current: Research Associate, Ciencia en Relatos

Graduate: M.A. Non-Clinical Communication Sciences

About: Anele Villanueva is a bilingual (Spanish-English) and bicultural (Chicana) Research Associate at Loyola University Chicago and has a master's degree in Non-Clinical Communication Sciences from Northwestern University. She has extensive experience using quantitative and qualitative methods and integrates a racial and ethnic equity lens when conducting research with families. She also has experience integrating the voices of community members in co-writing and co-designing partnership programs. Currently, she is managing a research project called Ciencia en Relatos, where she continues to use mixed methods to understand how Latine caregivers perceive science and nature and how Latine families with 3-5-year-old children engage in STEM across different activities including oral storytelling. In her free time, she enjoys reading books, dancing, and being outdoors (when the weather permits it!).

Chelsea Maldonado

Current: Research Assistant, Ciencia en Relatos

Graduate: M.A. Community Counseling

About: Chelsea Maldonado graduated with her M.A in Community Counseling at Loyola. She has been involved as a research assistant in Dr. Haden's Memory and Learning Lab for 4+ years and completed undergrad with a major in Psychology and a minor in Neuroscience. Chelsea is proficient in Spanish and is interested in research primarily focused on children of color to help advocate and promote social justice. In her free time, Chelsea loves to watch medical drama TV shows and spend time outside with her dogs. 

Milla Metlicka

Current: Project Coordinator

Undergraduate: B.S. Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, Interdisciplinary Honors Program, Minor in Dance, Summa Cum Laude, Loyola University Chicago

About: Milla became interested in children’s learning and memory as an undergraduate research assistant. She plans to continue developmental research in graduate school. In her free time, Milla enjoys doing jigsaw puzzles and playing with her cat.

Undergraduate Research Assistants

Alberto Cueto

Current: Undergraduate Research Assistant, Majors in Psychology and Spanish

About: Alberto is a senior undergraduate student studying Psychology and Spanish at Loyola. Alberto’s interest in research stems from his desire to give back and work with underserved populations, especially Latine communities. In his free time, Alberto loves to roller-skate around campus, spin vinyl records, cook, and explore Chicago with friends.

Federica Ciotta

Current: Undergraduate Research Assistant, Majors in Cognitive & Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychology

About: Federica is a third year undergraduate student studying Cognitive & Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychology in the pre-med track. With her interest in mental health, she would love to follow clinical psychology. In her free time, she loves to read, take many pictures and try new foods. She also loves traveling and experiencing different cultures.

Elyse Hertzman

Current: Undergraduate Research Assistant, Majors in Psychology and Healthcare Administration

About: Elyse is a senior undergraduate student at Loyola studying Psychology with a minor in Healthcare Administration. She is passionate about youth mental health and education-based interventions. In her free time, Elyse likes to explore the city with her friends, write, try new foods, and spend time in nature. 

Neva Lang

Current: Undergraduate Research Assistant, Majors in Psychology and Dance

About: Neva is a senior undergraduate student double-majoring in Psychology and Dance in the Interdisciplinary Honors Program. Since her junior year, Neva has also served as the Co-President of Loyola University Psychological Association (LUPA). Upon graduation, she plans on continuing her studies in clinical psychology to study children’s mental health. In her free time, Neva enjoys exploring the city with loved ones, spending time by the lake and dancing or choreographing. 

Anna Steinorth

Current: Undergraduate Research Assistant, Major in Psychology

About: Anna is an undergraduate junior at Loyola with a major in Psychology. She is passionate about the different ways memory can be created, retained, and utilized for children. As Anna plans to become a clinical child psychologist, she aims to use this interest to help children learn, retain, and utilize coping mechanisms throughout their life. When she is not in class, Anna is an active committee member of the Department of Programming where she plans and hosts events around campus. In addition, her introverted side loves to read books, cook gluten-free food, and oil paint.

Mariam Elhaje

Current: Undergraduate Research Assistant, Major in Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience

About: Mariam is a fourth-year undergraduate student at Loyola University studying Behavioral & Cognitive Neuroscience. After graduation, Mariam plans on pursuing a Master's/PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience or Neuropsychology. She hopes to work with children to better understand the interplay between biology and psychology in children's development. In her free time, Mariam enjoys playing video games, reading novels, and watching soccer. 

Isabella Clerici

Current: Undergraduate Research Assistant, Majors in Psychology and Cognitive & Behavioral Neuroscience 

About: Isabella is a freshman studying Psychology and Cognitive & Behavioral Neuroscience. Her interest in Ciencia en Relatos stems from her work with preschoolers and her love of Early Childhood Education. Isabella loves to read, explore the city, and crochet in her free time.  

Aiesha Patel

Current: Undergraduate Research Assistant, Majors in Psychology and Cognitive & Behavioral Neuroscience, Minors in Spanish and Biology 

About: Aiesha is a third-year undergraduate student pursuing a double major in Psychology and Cognitive & Behavioral Neuroscience, with additional minors in Spanish and Biology. After graduating, she plans to attend dental school, with a particular interest in specializing in orthodontics, though she is open to exploring other dental specialties. In her free time, Aiesha enjoys playing tennis, traveling, and watching K-dramas. 

Caileigh Shaw

Current: Undergraduate Research Assistant, Major in Psychology, Minors in Criminal Justice and Management 

About: Caileigh is a third-year undergraduate student at Loyola University, majoring in Psychology with a strong interest in cognitive development. She plans to specialize in Forensic Psychology. At Loyola, Caileigh is an active member of Phi Sigma Sigma, a sorority committed to promoting educational equity by providing essential supplies to underprivileged children in schools. Outside of her academic and philanthropic pursuits, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, and hiking. 

Riley Weber

Current: Undergraduate Research Assistant, Majors in Psychology and Spanish 

About: Riley is a second year studying both psychology and Spanish with hopes to pursue a PhD in developmental psychology. She is also an active member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority. In her free time, you can often find her at a coffee shop reading or watching a sports game, often times soccer or football. 

Amani Bettler

Current: Undergraduate Research Assistant, Majors in Psychology and Spanish 

About: Amani is a second year undergraduate student at Loyola University Chicago studying Psychology and Spanish. Amani spent time interning with an organization that provides bilingual mental health and case management services for primarily immigrant and refugee communities, learning more about clinical psychology and techniques for supporting mental and behavioral health. She hopes to one day become a bilingual clinical psychologist. In her free time, Amani loves to read, swim, and try new coffee spots!