Wig Neuroimaging Lab

Research Scientist

mchan@utdallas.edu
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Micaela completed her Ph.D. in the Cognition and Neuroscience program at UTD, and her B.S. in Psychology from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her research focuses on how our experience and environment interacts with the brain’s functional network organization. Her broader scientific interest includes network analysis, optimizing workflow and data-processing, and contributing to open source projects/open science. In her spare time, she trains Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, does random woodworking projects, and unwinds by watching science/education videos. All research and leisure activities are powered by coffee.

Doctoral student

ziwei.zhang@utdallas.edu
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Ziwei is a Ph.D. student in the cognitive neuroscience program at UTD. Before joining the Wig Lab, she pursued a bachelor’s degree in psychology and worked as a research assistant in a neuroimaging lab at UCLA. Her primary research interests involve the mechanisms of neurodegenerative disease and psychopathology. Currently she is working on a project that examines the effects of aging and Alzheimer’s disease on functional brain network organization and cognition. In her precious spare time, she tries to read books on a variety of topics, write about random things to clear her mind, cook Chinese food, meditate and play video games.

Doctoral student

ezra@utdallas.edu
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Ezra joined the Wig Neuroimaging lab as a Ph.D. student in 2019 after graduating from the University of Illinois with a degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology. His research interests are centered around dynamics of resting-state network organization, and his current project investigates the nature of spontaneous, transient large-scale topological changes. His favorite thing about network neuroscience is that you never have to worry about running out of questions. In his free time, he enjoys reading, playing basketball, and watching sports.

Doctoral student

linhthi.nguyen@utdallas.edu
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Linh is a Ph.D. student in the Cognitive Neuroscience program at UTD. Prior to joining the lab, she got her B.A. in Psychology at Columbia University and worked as a research assistant at Ohio State University studying functional and structural connectivity in visual attention. Currently, she is exploring how different behavioral and environmental factors can influence the aging brain, particularly how the aggregation of these factors can influence integrity of an individual’s brain network and function across the lifespan. Outside of the lab, you can find Linh buying books she will never read or cooking food that doesn’t taste good.

Research Assistant

Cameron.Sullins@utdallas.edu
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Cameron is a Research Assistant for the Wig Neuroimaging Lab. Prior to joining, he earned a B.S in Psychology at the University of Texas at Arlington with minors in criminal justice and counseling psychology. During his undergraduate studies he assisted in research examining cyber-vetting in the workplace and tasks that improve prospective memory. His primary research interest is examining cognitive decline in older adults through neuroimaging. In his spare time he enjoys exercising, playing video games, and catering to the needs of his pet cockatiel.

Research Assistant

Sarah.Klausner@utdallas.edu
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Sarah is currently a Research Assistant for the Midlife Brain & Environment Study in the Wig Neuroimaging Lab. She earned her BS in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience with a minor in Crime and Justice from the University of Michigan in April 2022. Sarah’s research interests include how behavioral and environmental factors influence attention and memory throughout the lifespan. She also hopes to further explore the genetic influences of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. In her free time, Sarah enjoys taking her dog, Ralph, to agility training and attending kickboxing classes!

Undergraduate Researcher

Maya.Seale@utdallas.edu

Maya is currently a Research Assistant for the Midlife Brain & Environment Study in the Wig Neuroimaging Lab. She will be graduating from The University of Texas at Dallas in the Fall of 2022 with a B.S. in Cognitive Science and a minor in Physics. Maya’s budding research interests include interaction design, artificial intelligence, cognitive neuroscience, psychoplastogens, mental health, community psychology, and socio-economic inequity. In her free time, Maya enjoys volunteering for the Fireside project, Vipassana meditation, and reading books that she’ll never finish.

Undergraduate Researcher

Anirudh.Rayanki@utdallas.edu

Anirudh is an undergraduate Research Assistant for the Midlife Brain and Environment Study in the Wig Neuroimaging Lab and is currently pursuing a B.S. in Neuroscience at the University of Texas at Dallas. His research interests include cognitive neuroscience and understanding the neural mechanisms underlying Alzheimer’s Disease. In his free time, Anirudh enjoys hanging out with his dogs and playing video games.

Undergraduate Researcher

Ryan.Nelson@utdallas.edu
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Ryan is an Undergraduate Research Assistant for the Wig Neuroimaging Lab. He will be graduating from The University of Texas at Dallas in the Spring of 2024 with a B.S. in Computer Science and a minor in Psychology. Ryan’s long term goal is to become a clinical psychologist. His research interests are pediatric clinical psychology and neuropsychology. In his free time, Ryan enjoys volunteering at the Children’s hospital, reading, and going to the gym. On the weekends, Ryan also works PRN as a Recovery Advocate at Phoenix House, a residential facility for teenagers struggling with substance abuse.