Team | TsayLab

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Jonathan S. Tsay, Principal Investigator

Email · CV · BlueSky · Scholar · Neurotree · Faculty Profile · My Story, · Bio

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, my daughter, lily, 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.

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

Email · Neurotree

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.

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.

Tingyi Hsueh, Ph.D. Student @ Carnegie Mellon Univ.

I am a Ph.D. student in Cognitive Neuroscience. I completed both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in kinesiology at National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan. Broadly, I am interested in how we acquire and adapt movements across development. Before joining the lab, my research focused on proprioceptive function and motor learning difficulties in children with developmental disabilities. Outside of the lab, I enjoy shopping and trying out different kinds of exercise.

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

Email · Scholar

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.

Sage Rohrbach, Undergraduate (Lab Manager) @ 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!

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.

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.

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.

Claire Bruno, Undergraduate @ Carnegie Mellon Univ.

I am an undergraduate student at CMU majoring in Neuroscience with a concentration in Neurobiology. I am interested in how the brain shapes behavior and movement across different stages of life. I am especially curious about questions involving child development, developmental disorders, and degenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s Disease. On campus, I am involved with CMU EMS, a first-year orientation counselor, and a member of the Health Professions Program. In my free time, I enjoy doing yoga, reading, spending time with the people I love, and petting every dog I see!

Alayna Ptak, Undergraduate @ Carnegie Mellon Univ.

I am a CMU undergraduate double majoring in psychology (concentrating in cognitive neuroscience) and creative writing. This means I spend half my time studying how the brain constructs reality, and the other half constructing fake realities. I’m particularly interested in the neural mechanisms underlying cognition — especially how we think, learn, perceive, and make decisions. Outside of academics, I enjoy reading, writing, playing D&D, and ‘hiking,’ aka getting mildly lost in the woods. I’m also chronically incapable of sticking to one hobby and will enthusiastically (and incompetently) try almost anything.

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.

Kiki, Lab Meow-nager

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