Personnel

Current Members

Anna Hendricks, B.S.

CUBB Lab Graduate Research Assistant 

Graduate Student (Experimental Psychology: Social)

Anna is a first year Ph.D. student in the Experimental Social Psychology program. Anna received her B.S. in psychology from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Anna’s research interests include social cognition, stereotypes, and social justice.

Jakub Mierzejewski, B.S.

CUBB Lab Graduate Research Assistant 

Graduate Student (Experimental Psychology: Cognitive Neuroscience)

Jakub is a student in the Experimental Psychology Ph.D. program with a concentration in Cognitive Neuroscience. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin - Green Bay, where he was part of a neuropharmacology lab and a social cognitive affective neuroscience lab. His research interests include the neural dynamics of cognition, empathy, rejection sensitivity, social feedback, and psychopathology, particularly in bicultural, minority, and marginalized populations. Upon completion of his degree, he aspires to pursue a career in academia as a research scientist. 

Ita Encarnacion

CUBB Lab Assistant Research Scientist since Spring 2023

Undergraduate Student (Psychology, Criminology, & Criminal Justice)

Ita is a senior majoring in Psychology with a minor in Criminology and Criminal Justice. Additionally, she is a Research Assistant in the Social Determinants and Minority Stress Lab. She has gained hands-on experiences from her internships at the Center for Counseling and Family Therapy and the University Counseling Center. On campus, Ita is dedicated to advancing mental health and diversity initiatives through her roles on the JED Task Force and in student government. Long-term, she aims to pursue a career in clinical forensic psychology with a specialization in developmental psychology, while also doing research centered on marginalized communities and/or neurodivergence.

Narjes  Alkhafaji

CUBB Lab Assistant Research Scientist since Fall 2023

Undergraduate Student (Psychology & Nutrition, Health, and Wellness)

Narjes is a student at Saint Louis University, majoring in Psychology and minoring in Nutrition Health, and Wellness. This is her fourth semester at the CUBB lab and is currently working on an extension hypothesis for the Seli Study on how different types of environmental noise affects attention, specifically environmental noise consisting of stimuli that are semantically similar and dissimilar to those presented in the SART Task. She hopes to continue doing research in cognitive psychology.

Jamilyn Carpenter

CUBB Lab Assistant Research Scientist since Fall 2023

Undergraduate Student (Psychology)

Jamilyn is a junior attending Saint Louis University, majoring in Psychology. She hopes to continue on to graduate school to obtain a PhD in Clinical Psychology. Jamilyn hopes to expand her skills through every step of the research process and contribute to research replication efforts in the CUBB lab. 

Emily Carril

CUBB Lab Assistant Research Scientist since Fall 2023

Undergraduate Student (Psychology)

Emily is a senior at St. Louis University majoring in Psychology. After graduating, she plans to continue her education by obtaining her masters in Counseling Psychology. She hopes to learn new skills and gain experience during her time at the CUBB lab.

Ben Bahtic

CUBB Lab Assistant Research Scientist since Fall 2023

Undergraduate Student (Psychology)

Ben Bahtic, a St. Louis native at SLU, is pursuing a B.S. in Psychology on a Pre-Med track. His passion lies in bridging psychology and medicine, aspiring to become a psychiatrist. In our replication lab, Ben sharpens his research skills, preparing for his future journey in healthcare.

Kiersten Watson

CUBB Lab Assistant Research Scientist since Spring 2024

Undergraduate Student (Psychology & Communications)

Kiersten is a fourth-year student at SLU with a major in Psychology and a minor in Communications. This is their second semester in the CUBB Lab. Kiersten's post-undergrad plans include attending an experimental psychology graduate program to understand applied research better. 

Anissah Groark

CUBB Lab Assistant Research Scientist since Spring 2024

Undergraduate Student (Psychology)

Anissah is a senior majoring in Psychology with minors in French and Women’s and Gender Studies. She has interests in neuropsychology and gender development, and hopes to research these topics after graduation. In her second semester of the CUBB Lab, she hopes to gain more experience with research and developing studies.  

Carolyn Dugal

CUBB Lab Assistant Research Scientist Fall 2024

Undergraduate Student (Psychology)

Carolyn Dugal is a junior undergraduate student at Saint Louis university majoring in Psychology and minoring in Education and Criminology. She is hoping to pursue a graduate degree in mental health counseling or family therapy. Carolyn is excited to experience her first semester in the CUBB lab and learn more about the research process. 

Jessica Quinn

CUBB Lab Assistant Research Scientist Fall 2024

Undergraduate Student (Psychology & Political Science)

Jessica is a junior at SLU studying Psychology and Political Science. In her future career (which is certainly up in the air), she hopes to work within the fields of psychology and law--currently, she aspires to be a psychologist in the FBI! Regardless of where she ends up, she intends to first pursue a Masters in Clinical Psychology. In her free time, she enjoys reading, working out, and eating (not cooking, though). 

Miles Wilbourn

CUBB Lab Assistant Research Scientist Fall 2024

Undergraduate Student (Psychology)

Miles Wilbourn is a Junior at Saint Louis University majoring in Psychology. This is his first semester doing research in the CUBB Lab, and he hopes to apply research experience from this lab to future opportunities in psychology. His interests are substance abuse disorders and mental health, and after graduation he plans to pursue a masters degree.

Kendall Conboy 

CUBB Lab Assistant Research Scientist Fall 2024

Undergraduate Student (Psychology)

Kendall is a senior psychology major at Saint Louis University. This is her first semester as a member of the CUBB Lab and is excited to be a part of the research process. She has interests in socialization, social justice, and hopes to purse a Masters in Social Work after graduation.

Rayna Walker

CUBB Lab Assistant Research Scientist since Spring 2025

Undergraduate Student (Psychology)

Rayna is a sophomore here at SLU, majoring in Psychology with minors in French and Education. This is her first semester as a member of the CUBB lab, where she hopes to gain some great insight and experience in the realm of research. She plans to either become a School Psychologist or Board-Certified Behavior Analyst, specifically working with youth who are neurodivergent and come from underserved backgrounds, following her undergraduate studies.

April Mitchell

CUBB Lab Assistant Research Scientist since Fall 2024

Undergraduate Student (Psychology)

April is a 4th year student at SLU, studying Psychology with a minor in Healthcare Ethics. This is her second semester working in the CUBB lab and she hopes that her experience will help her prepare for work relating to data analysis and extractions in the future.

Aysha Hossain

CUBB Lab Assistant Research Scientist since Spring 2025

Undergraduate Student (Public Health & Psychology)

Aysha is a Junior at Saint Louis University majoring in Public Health and Psychology. This is her first semester in the CUBB Lab and hopes to apply what she learns to potential future opportunities in Psychology. She is interested in the social and behavioral fields of both Psychology and Public Health. She wishes to pursue Counseling Psychology in the future. 

Emma Brooner

CUBB Lab Assistant Research Scientist Spring 2025

Undergraduate Student (Psychology & Spanish)

Emma is a senior at Saint Louis University studying Psychology and Spanish. After graduation, she hopes to obtain her masters in sport and performance psychology. She hopes to gain valuable research experience from the CUBB lab that she can carry with her in further education and her career. 

Paige Dzierzak

CUBB Lab Assistant Research Scientist Spring 2025

Undergraduate Student (Psychology)

Paige is a junior at Saint Louis University majoring in Psychology and minoring in Biology. This is her first semester in the CUBB Lab, and she is excited to learn more about the research process and gain valuable experience and skills that will be relevant in her intended career as a physician.

Ella Yang

CUBB Lab Assistant Research Scientist since Spring 2025

Undergraduate Student (Psychology)

Ella is a junior majoring in Psychology with minors in Nutrition, Health and Wellness and Sports Business. This is her first semester in the CUBB lab and she is excited to learn more about the different procedures and practice that come with hands-on research. Outside of lab, Ella enjoys playing ultimate frisbee, baking, and running. Her (hopeful) future endeavors include finishing a master's in counseling psychology and pursuing a career in sport and performance psychology.

Michael Le

CUBB Lab Assistant Research Scientist since Spring 2025

Undergraduate Student

Lisa Willoughby, Ph.D. 

CUBB Lab Faculty Supervisor (lisa.willoughby@health.slu.edu)

Associate Professor of Psychology & Undergraduate Program Coordinator. 

Dr. Willoughby previously earned an undergraduate degree in Psychology at the University of California, Irvine, a master's degree in Academic Research (Psychology) at Humboldt State University, a doctoral degree in Applied-Experimental Psychology at SLU. Dr. Willoughby's academic career includes diverse areas of study. For the CUBB Lab, she is delighted to bring her expertise in research methodology and interests in diversity methodologies used in psychological research, especially in the area of cognitive psychology.