Meet the Lab!
Lab Manager
Anwyn Gatesy-Davis
I am the lab manager for the Computational Cognitive Development (CoCoDev) Lab. I recently graduated from Hampshire College with a B.A. in Animal Behavior and Psychology. Outside of work I enjoy reading and going for hikes with my corgi named Yoda. You can reach me at manager-buchsbaum@brown.edu |
Post-Doctoral Researchers

Pablo León-Villagrá
I am a postdoc in the Computational Cognitive Development Lab at Brown University. During my stay at Dr. Buchsbaum's lab I'd like to explore how children form representations of the world around them and how these representation allow them to perform rapid generalization and transfer. Outside of work I like to play chess, read and try out new recipes.
I am a postdoc in the Computational Cognitive Development Lab at Brown University. During my stay at Dr. Buchsbaum's lab I'd like to explore how children form representations of the world around them and how these representation allow them to perform rapid generalization and transfer. Outside of work I like to play chess, read and try out new recipes.
Graduate Students
Rebekah Gelpi
I am a PhD student currently studying at the University of Toronto. I am particularly interested in the differences between children’s and adults’ learning in social environments, and whether these differences reflect strategies that children and adults are uniquely suited to using. Outside of the lab, I love seeing new films at TIFF and trying out new recipes from the Great British Bake Off. |
Research Assistants

Luis Gomez, Undergraduate Research and Teaching Awards Student
I'm a sophomore at Brown University pursuing a degree in Cognitive Science and Economics. I'm interested in learning more about how people learn and might go into research after undergrad. I'm fascinated by the cognitive science behind the human brain, and am intrigued by its intersection with philosophy. In my free time, I enjoy scuba diving, windsurfing, and exploring nature.
I'm a sophomore at Brown University pursuing a degree in Cognitive Science and Economics. I'm interested in learning more about how people learn and might go into research after undergrad. I'm fascinated by the cognitive science behind the human brain, and am intrigued by its intersection with philosophy. In my free time, I enjoy scuba diving, windsurfing, and exploring nature.

Sophia Sadikman, Volunteer Research Assistant
Hi! I’m a junior at Brown University studying Cognitive Science with a focus on comparative cognitive development. I have worked with kids my whole life and I have two adorable dogs, so I am very excited to join the lab and engage in both cognitive development and canine research! In my free time, I love playing the piano and guitar, going on walks, and talking to my friends while they are trying to study in the library!
Hi! I’m a junior at Brown University studying Cognitive Science with a focus on comparative cognitive development. I have worked with kids my whole life and I have two adorable dogs, so I am very excited to join the lab and engage in both cognitive development and canine research! In my free time, I love playing the piano and guitar, going on walks, and talking to my friends while they are trying to study in the library!

Elze Amileviciute, Volunteer Research Assistant
I'm a first year at Brown University intending to concentrate in Neuroscience and planning to pursue my own research in the future. I've always been fascinated by children and their capacity for learning and development so volunteering here is extremely exciting for me! In my free time I enjoy exploring new places, singing, baking (although it is proving difficult in a dormitory) and cinema!
I'm a first year at Brown University intending to concentrate in Neuroscience and planning to pursue my own research in the future. I've always been fascinated by children and their capacity for learning and development so volunteering here is extremely exciting for me! In my free time I enjoy exploring new places, singing, baking (although it is proving difficult in a dormitory) and cinema!

Liana Haigis, Volunteer Research Assistant
Hello! I’m a sophomore at Brown University pursuing a degree in Psychology and/or Cognitive Science. All through high school, I worked with children ages 4-13 teaching music, math and science. Through this I became interested in age-related differences in cognitive and social-emotional development. I’m excited to learn more about child psychology and cognition during my time at the CoCoDev lab. Outside of academics, I enjoy playing guitar, hiking and spending time with friends.
Hello! I’m a sophomore at Brown University pursuing a degree in Psychology and/or Cognitive Science. All through high school, I worked with children ages 4-13 teaching music, math and science. Through this I became interested in age-related differences in cognitive and social-emotional development. I’m excited to learn more about child psychology and cognition during my time at the CoCoDev lab. Outside of academics, I enjoy playing guitar, hiking and spending time with friends.

Samantha Kritzer, Volunteer Research Assistant
I am an undergraduate student at Brown University studying Psychology and History of Art. Previously, I have conducted neuroscience research focusing on Alzheimer’s disease and epilepsy. Now, I am eager to expand to research in cognitive development and to work with both children and dogs!
I am an undergraduate student at Brown University studying Psychology and History of Art. Previously, I have conducted neuroscience research focusing on Alzheimer’s disease and epilepsy. Now, I am eager to expand to research in cognitive development and to work with both children and dogs!

Yemi Hailemariam, Volunteer Research Assistant
Hi! I’m Yemi, a junior at Brown University studying Neuroscience and Public Health, with a self-selected focus on child development across both the fields. I’m really interested in the different factors that underlie and influence child development, as well as important macrolevel factors that affect children’s outcomes in different communities. I’m very excited to explore the cognitive aspect of children’s learning through the research done in the CocoDev lab and hope to develop critical skills to help me explore avenues of research with child development. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, watching crime shows, improving my cooking skills, writing and, when I can find the time, taking long morning walks!
Hi! I’m Yemi, a junior at Brown University studying Neuroscience and Public Health, with a self-selected focus on child development across both the fields. I’m really interested in the different factors that underlie and influence child development, as well as important macrolevel factors that affect children’s outcomes in different communities. I’m very excited to explore the cognitive aspect of children’s learning through the research done in the CocoDev lab and hope to develop critical skills to help me explore avenues of research with child development. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, watching crime shows, improving my cooking skills, writing and, when I can find the time, taking long morning walks!

Naveen Abraham, Volunteer Research Assistant
I’m an undergraduate student at Brown University, concentrating in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. I really love being able to interact with people and understanding how they perceive different things. I feel like it helps me become a more empathetic human. I hope to take this empathy as a future physician into aerospace medicine. I’ve actually started flying planes a full 3 years before I started driving! I really, really enjoy doing both now - it’s so freeing. My dream is to buy my own plane one day.
I’m an undergraduate student at Brown University, concentrating in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. I really love being able to interact with people and understanding how they perceive different things. I feel like it helps me become a more empathetic human. I hope to take this empathy as a future physician into aerospace medicine. I’ve actually started flying planes a full 3 years before I started driving! I really, really enjoy doing both now - it’s so freeing. My dream is to buy my own plane one day.