Team | TsayLab

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Jonathan S. Tsay, Principal Investigator

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I am an assistant professor of psychology at Carnegie Mellon University. I have a background in theoretical mathematics (B.A. from Northwestern University), physical rehabilitation (D.P.T. from Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine), and cognitive neuroscience (Ph.D. from UC Berkeley). If you can't find me in the lab, I am listening to a podcast, taking a long walk, working in a hipster coffee shop, or spending time with my wife, Sophia, and my cat, Kiki.

Indranil Nyamsuren, Ph.D. Student @ Carnegie Mellon Univ.

I am a recent graduate from Minerva University (B.S. in Computer Science and Brain, Behavior, and Cognition). During my studies, I lived in seven different cities around the world and worked in research, education, and women's safety. These experiences fostered my interest in understanding the intersection of human cognition and computation. Prior to joining the lab, I explored this intersection by using machine learning models to classify clinical diagnoses and identify neuron subpopulations from gene expression patterns. Outside of the lab, I like walking, reading, and cooking.

Elizabeth Cisneros, Collaborating Ph.D. Student @ UC Berkeley

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I am particularly interested in how people learn and refine their motor skills. Currently, my research focuses on the impact of both healthy and pathological aging on implicit and explicit motor learning. I hope this knowledge can be applied to enhance rehabilitation practices and deepen our understanding of how motor learning is influenced by healthy and pathological aging. Outside of the lab, I enjoy hiking, climbing, knitting, baking, and attending one too many concerts.

Ding Wei, Collaborating Ph.D. Student @ Tsinghua Univ.

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I am interested in how humans and foundational agents manipulate objects. Specifically, I am investigating the affordance spaces of humans and foundational models, and employing these insights to benchmark and optimize robotics. With a multidisciplinary background in computer science, neuroscience, and robotics, I am eager to explore projects at the intersection of these fields. Outside of work, I love dancing (jazz, waacking, and pole) and traveling for delicious food.

Sophie Elliott, Undergraduate @ Carnegie Mellon Univ.

I am an undergraduate student at CMU studying cognitive neuroscience. I am interested in studying the interactions between brain and behavior for individuals with developmental disorders. Outside of the classroom, I am a member of the CMU varsity swim team, a first-year orientation leader, and a peer tutor for the student academic success center. In my free time I enjoy crocheting, playing with my dogs, and spending time outdoors.

Anjuli Niyogi, Ph.D. Student @ Carnegie Mellon Univ.

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I am a Ph.D. student in Cognitive Neuroscience at CMU, supervised by Jonathan Tsay. I am broadly interested in the intersection between cognition and action. Specifically, I use (1) computational modeling to study action selection and (2) psychophysical tasks to understand the role of time in motor memory formation. I am originally from Northern California and also completed my undergraduate studies at UC Berkeley. Coming to CMU has also been an opportunity to experience life in a new city. When I’m not in the lab, I enjoy traveling, playing board games, and experimenting in the kitchen.

Sritej Padmanabhan, High School Student @ North Allegheny

I am a high school student interested in neuroscience and computational neuroscience research. I hope to apply my skills in computer vision to investigate the underlying causes of movement disorders, such as Parkinson's disease. Outside the lab, I enjoy spending time with my family, playing the flute, and advocating for youth populations.

Pam Villavicencio, Collaborating PhD Student @ University of Barcelona

I am a PhD student at the University of Barcelona, where I am part of the Vision and Control of Action lab. My background is in kinesiology (BKin, University of British Columbia) and physiology (MSc, University of Barcelona), and my current research focuses on motor control and sensorimotor adaptation. I am passionate about understanding and applying principles of motor learning to develop more effective rehabilitation interventions. Outside of the lab, you can find me cycling, swimming, or at a coffee shop!

Sophia Sun, Undergraduate @ Carnegie Mellon Univ.

I’m an undergraduate studying Statistics & Machine Learning at Carnegie Mellon University. I’m interested in motor-skill acquisition and long-term retention for complex visuomotor tasks (e.g., piano, golf), and in how different practice schedules influence retention and transfer. I’m drawn to data-driven approaches like statistical analysis to draw conclusions about association and effect. Outside the lab, you might find me cooking, playing farming games, looking at otters, or wandering parks and zoos.

Noella Horo, Undergraduate @ Carnegie Mellon Univ.

I am an undergraduate student at CMU studying Computer Science with a concentration in machine learning. I am particularly interested in the intricasies of movement, and how the brain perceives, tracks, and controls movement. Outside of the lab, I can be found crocheting, dancing, or watching a film.

Maoxin (Max) Xia, Ph.D. Student @ Carnegie Mellon Univ.

I am a Ph.D. student in Cognitive Neuroscience, co-advised by Jonathan Tsay and Timothy Verstynen. My research explores the cognitive and computational principles underlying motor control and decision-making, especially in sequential learning and future planning. I was born in Tianjin, China, and I couldn’t love this city more. I am a solo traveler who has visited over 20 countries alone. My favorite book is One Hundred Years of Solitude.

Sage Rohrbach, Undergraduate @ Carnegie Mellon Univ.

I am an undergraduate student studying Neuroscience at Carnegie Mellon University. I am interested in how the mind influences physical wellbeing— both in the context of brain injury rehabilitation and everyday human function. Outside of class, I am a team lead for Design for America, a writer for CMU’s student newspaper, The Tartan, and a part of Dancer’s Symposium. In my free time, I enjoy running, hiking, and drawing!

Helen Zheng, Undergraduate @ Carnegie Mellon Univ.

I am an undergraduate student at CMU with the primary major of Statistics and Data Science with a Neuroscience Track, with an additional major in Creative Writing. I am interested in furthering my knowledge of the brain and its behaviour, particularly within the neurological and cognitive realms! Outside of the lab, I enjoy drawing, writing web-novels, playing a multitude of instruments, and singing.

Brayden Kohler, Undergraduate @ Carnegie Mellon Univ.

I am an undergraduate student at CMU studying Computer Science with a minor in Neural Computation. I am interested in using technology to understand who we are, specifically looking at how we learn and interact within a changing world. My interests also extend to the field of neurotechnology. Outside of the lab, I enjoy learning ancient languages, like Ancient Greek and Hebrew, reading Classics, and keeping up with archaeology.

Kiki, Lab Meow-nager

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Kiki reminds us to embrace curiosity and find moments of happiness amidst our scientific endeavors.