People

Teal is an Associate Professor of Gerontology and Psychology, and the Associate Dean of the Art and Healthy Aging (AHA) Center. Her research centers on understanding sex differences in the cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying learning and memory changes in healthy and pathological aging, with a particular focus on Alzheimer’s disease. She uses behavioral and neuroimaging (structural- and functional-MRI) methods to probe these interactions in healthy younger and older adults, and in individuals at risk for developing neurologic disorders including Alzheimer’s Disease based on biologic and genetic risk factors.

Contact: teich@usc.edu
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Lorena received her PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience from Rice University, where she examined how individual differences in aging impacted emotional memory and neurobiological function. In the Lifespan Cognition Lab, she researches how sex differences and mental health in late life influence memory and neurobiology. She has a particular focus on the hippocampus and the locus coeruleus, two brain regions that are important for memory and are affected by Alzheimer’s pathology early in disease progression. This combination of high-resolution MRI and age-sensitive behavioral measures allows for early detection of memory perturbations in aging that may be indicative of dementia risk.

KJ Davidson-Turner is a postdoctoral scholar at the University of Southern California. She draws upon both biological and sociological perspectives to better understand health disparities and age-related diseases at a population-level. Specifically, her research focuses on how stress and other social factors impact women’s hormonal health, aging transitions, and later life health outcomes. Prior to USC, KJ received her B.A. in Neuroscience from Middlebury College and her PhD in Sociology and Demography from the University of Texas at Austin.

Joan is a cognitive and computational neuroscientist interested in studying the vascular contribution to the aging brain. He started his career doing a Ph.D. in Neuroscience at the Vall d’Hebron Hospital (Neurovascular, Barcelona), where he explored how cerebral small vessel disease affects cognition. He then did a first postdoctoral fellowship at the Lifespan cognition lab (University of Southern California, Los Angeles), trying to disentangle how complex mappings of cerebrovascular lesions correlate to specific clinical phenotypes. He then moved to the Institut d’Investigacions Mèdiques Hospital del Mar (Neurovascular, Barcelona), where he is currently integrating multi-modal data (genetics and neuroimaging) to improve the prediction, understanding and prognosis of cerebrovascular diseases.

Contact: joanjime@usc.edu
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Jessie is a PhD student in the Davis School of Gerontology. She is currently investigating the underlying cognitive mechanisms of age-related differences in memory specificity, such as how memorial interference due to similarity can be reduced via inhibitory mechanisms. In the next steps, she aims to study the potential role of memory specificity in valued-based decision making using both behavioral and neuroimaging methods.

Before coming to USC, she received her M.A. in Psychology from Brandeis University (Master’s thesis advisor: Dr. Angela Gutchess) and a B.S. in Psychology from Penn State University.

Contact: chihyuan@usc.edu

Dokyung is a PhD student at the Leonard Davis School of Gerontology. She is currently investigating how social and biological factors shape cognitive aging. Her research examines the impact of social isolation, exploring how different patterns of isolation relate to specific domains of cognition. She also studies biological influences, focusing on sex hormone changes during the menopausal transition. By integrating these perspectives, her work aims to reveal how social and biological factors interact to influence cognition in midlife and older women.

Dokyung received her M.A. in Child and Family Studies at Yonsei University and a B.A. in Psychology and a B.S. in Child and Family Studies from Yonsei University.

Email: dokyung@usc.edu

Gloria is a PhD student at the Leonard Davis School of Gerontology. Her research interests center on age-related changes in memory and cognition, with an emphasis on identifying early neural and behavioral markers of Alzheimer’s Disease.

Before joining the Lifespan Cognition Lab, she earned her B.S. in Cognitive Sciences at the University of California, Irvine, and later worked as a research coordinator in the Stanford Memory Lab.

Suhani is a PhD student in the Neuroscience Graduate Program. Her research uses structural and functional MRI to investigate risk factors for dementia and cognitive decline, with a focus on how individual findings inform a population-level understanding of brain health. She is additionally co-mentored by Eleanor Hayes-Larson. Before joining USC, Suhani received a B.S. in Behavioral Neuroscience from Northeastern University.

Chloe is a PhD student in the Neuroscience Graduate Program. Her research interests include identifying neurobiological, psychological, and behavioral markers of cognitive aging, with a focus on how modifiable health and lifestyle factors such as exercise influence brain health and cognitive outcomes. 

Before joining USC, Chloe received a M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Columbia University and a B.A. in Psychology/Cognitive Science from UCLA. 

Daniel received his B.A. in Psychology from USC in 2023 and is now a full-time research coordinator and lab manager at the Lifespan Cognition Lab. His research interests revolve around the interplay of memory, language, and perception. He is particularly interested in identifying factors that promote cognitive resilience across the lifespan.

Prior to joining the team, Daniel completed his undergraduate psychology honors thesis in the Social Learning and Choice Lab at USC and also worked in the DASHLab and the CHAT Research Team at Children’s Hospital LA. He is also very passionate about the clinical applications of research and previously worked as a case manager at Gateways Hospital and Mental Health Center.

Rahul is a B.S. Neuroscience major and Spanish minor at the University of Southern California. He is a research assistant in the Lifespan Cognition Lab, where he contributes to ongoing work examining cognitive aging and memory function. He is particularly interested in the relationship between aging, hormones, and memory, and how these factors interact in the development of neurodegenerative diseases. His goal is to better understand the biological mechanisms underlying age-related cognitive decline and to support efforts aimed at early detection and intervention. Outside of his academic work, Rahul is an EMT, volunteers in the emergency room, participates in street medicine efforts, and helps provide blood pressure and A1C screenings to underprivileged communities across Los Angeles. Long-term, he plans to integrate these experiences with a career in medicine to support patients through both scientific discovery and clinical care.

Kevin is an undergraduate at the University of Southern California pursuing a double major in Human Biology (B.S.) and Neuroscience (B.A.), with a minor in Healthcare Studies. He aspires to become a physician in emergency medicine and critical care, with a clinical interest in managing critically ill patients and research interests in neuroaffective disorders of aging and socioeconomic disparities in health care. As a research assistant in the Lifespan Cognition Lab, he is responsible for collecting and processing participant samples. Outside the laboratory, he is a certified American Heart Association CPR instructor and teaches lifesaving skills to the USC community.

Afsana is a first-year undergraduate student at the University of Southern California, majoring in Biological Sciences. She is a research assistant in the Lifespan Cognition Lab, where she is interested in understanding how biological factors influence aging and cognitive function. As a premedical student, she aspires to become a physician and is committed to addressing health disparities in underserved communities. Outside of the lab, she volunteers at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) and serves as a writing editor for USC’s Prison Education Project. Through her academic, clinical, and service experiences, her goal is to use scientific research to improve health outcomes for diverse populations.

Nadeem is a senior majoring in neuroscience at the University of Southern California. His goal is to enter medical school and eventually become a physician that serves disadvantaged populations in Southern California. His research interests include neuroimaging, neurological trauma, and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

Ryan is a senior at the University of Southern California, majoring in Human Development and Aging on the Health Science track and beginning his Master of Arts in Medical Gerontology through USC’s Progressive Degree Program. As a pre-medical student, he is interested in how biological and social factors influence health outcomes across the lifespan, with a focus on aging and cognitive change. Beyond academics, Ryan is committed to service and leadership as president of the American Red Cross at USC, where he organizes campus-wide humanitarian and health initiatives. He is eager to apply his background in healthcare training and community engagement to research in lifespan development and cognition.

Megan is a senior at the University of Southern California majoring in Neuroscience and minoring in Occupational Sciences. She is interested in the intersection of cognitive science, aging, and healthcare. Her goal is to pursue a career in medicine and become a physician. Her research position with the Lifespan Cognition Lab and interning at Lakeside Community Healthcare has furthered her passion for improving patient outcomes within the aging population.

Blanca in a recent graduate from the University of Southern California, where she majored in Health and Human Sciences and minored in Cultural Competence in Medicine. Her interest in partaking in research with The Lifespan Cognition Lab stems from her volunteer experience with Adventist Health Hospice where she became more cognizant of the sex differences associated with Alzheimer’s disease. That said, Blanca intends to become a physician, and she aims to continue to further her understanding of the needs of older adults to ultimately improve their overall health and well-being.

Maggie is a pre-med undergraduate student at USC pursuing a B.S. in Neuroscience. As a research assistant in the Lifespan Cognition Lab, Maggie contributes to the ongoing work examining age-related cognitive processes. This research aligns with her academic interests in the neural mechanisms underlying cognition across the aging process. Most importantly, this work integrates her passion for neuroscience and working with older adults. Her career interests in the fields of geriatric neurology and palliative care will be informed by her time in the Lifespan Cognition Lab, where she studies and advocates for brain health and quality of life.

Daniel is a sophomore at the University of Southern California majoring in Neuroscience (B.S). Motivated by the passing of his life-long mentor and the incredible ongoing research at USC, Daniel developed a deep personal interest in the biological basis for neurodegenerative diseases and how they are influenced by aging. Eager to learn, ambitious, and dedicated to his interests, he aims to attend medical school and pursue a career in Neurosurgery, contributing to the care for those that need it most.

Nick is a freshman at the University of Southern California pursuing a major in Biological Sciences with an emphasis in Biotechnology and a minor in Geroscience. As an aspiring physician, he is interested in the connection between translational aging research and clinical practice. Off campus he currently serves as an Intern with the California Coalition on Family Caregiving, where he advocates for policy changes to support unpaid caregivers. On campus, he is an active member of USC’s Advocates for Healthy Aging, volunteering to support local seniors at the Betty Hill Senior Center. He is dedicated to bridging the gap between biotechnology solutions and aging populations.