A group of people learning about brains learning…

Lab Director

Tehila Nugiel, Ph.D.

Tehila is an Assistant Professor in the Psychology Department and Neuroscience Program at Florida State University. Trained in developmental cognitive neuroscience, her research broadly investigates how brain function and organization supports academic learning and attention in youth with a variety of experiences and developmental challenges. Her research has been supported by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute on Child Health and Development and the National Institute of Mental Health.

Before coming to FSU, Tehila completed a postdoctoral fellowship at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She received her Ph.D. in Psychology with a cognitive neuroscience concentration from the University of Texas at Austin-and received her B.A. in Psychology from Ramapo College of New Jersey. When she’s not in the lab you can find Tehila bothering anyone around her to play pickleball or playing backgammon and hanging out with her wife and small petting zoo (a cat and two rabbits).

CV

Lab Manager

Nikita Potdar, B.A

Hi, I’m Nikita and I recently graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a major in Psychology and a minor in Social and Behavioral Sciences. My research interests broadly include early childhood development, neurodevelopment disorders, and emotion regulation. I’m super excited to be working at the Learning Brain Lab and can’t wait to see where it takes me! I love being outdoors, so when I’m not working, I’m exploring new places, playing soccer, running, or hiking.

Graduate Students

Ashley Jaimes, M.S

Hi! I am currently a Neuroscience graduate student in the Nugiel Lab. In 2016, I earned my bachelor's degree in psychology from Colorado State University. After graduating, I taught English in Vietnam and Taiwan for 5 years before completing a Master's degree in Cognitive Neuroscience at National Taiwan University in 2022, working with Dr. Joshua Ooh Son Goh and Dr. Susan Shur-Fen Gau to investigate developmental functional connectivity differences in adolescent children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and typically developing children (TD). My current research plans in the Nugiel Lab include examining and identifying specific brain networks and hub-regions in adolescents to better understand brain network developmental differences. In my free time I enjoy trail running, exploring the beautiful FL beaches, and most importantly, trying out different banana bread recipes.

Summer Caliri, B.S.

Hi, I’m Summer and I’m from Miami Florida. My research interests include learning disorders / ADHD from a developmental perspective some former research topics include exploring memory and memory disorders in older adults. In my free time I enjoy cooking and hanging out with my roommates and doggie Coco!