Meet the Lab Members

Dr. Tracey A. Knaus, Ph.D.

Education:

- B.S. in Neuroscience from Texas Christian University
- Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Tulane University
- Postdoctoral training in Cognitive Neuroscience at Boston University School of Medicine

Research Interests: My main research interests are in neurodevelopmental disorders, the relationship between brain anatomy, function, and behavior, and language and communication functions. I am also interested in minimally verbal children with ASD, as well as the intersection of music and language.

My past research has specifically focused on children with ASD and differences in brain activation, using fMRI, during language tasks and anatomical-behavioral associations, using MRI. With these we found differences in lateralization of activation and associations between cortical anatomy and behavioral changes over time and differences between children with severely impaired expressive language (> 3 standard deviations below the mean) and those without expressive language deficits.

My current studies aim to evaluate the effectiveness of cortical modulation, using transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), in improving language and to examine the neurobiological intersection between music and language, using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS).

In future studies, I plan to further explore tDCS in improving language in children with ASD, combining it with speech-language therapy, exploring it in a minimally verbal population, and conducting studies to determine in whom it may be the most effective. I also plan to further explore the intersection between music and language in ASD and the possibility of utilizing music as a means of improving language. We also plan to begin exploring the connection between gut microbiome and language in children with ASD.

Dr. Megan A. Goldfarb, Ph.D.

Graduate Alumni Member

Dr. Goldfarb graduated with her PhD from the University of New Orleans in May 2023 after successfully defending her dissertation. Prior to earning her doctorate, she received a B.S. in Psychology from Tulane University and an M.A. in Counseling from John Carroll University in Ohio in 2009. Over the last decade, she has worked in the mental health field, first in the community as a case manager and clinician, then as a community college instructor, and most recently as a drug addiction counselor at a local drug and alcohol addiction rehab. In between, she’s studied everything from mate selection in spiders to suicide in Samoa. But her main interests have always been in the brain and behavior. She began working with Dr. Knaus in 2018, where her interest in Autism has been fostered further. During her tenure at the University of New Orleans, she enjoyed teaching General Psychology and now currently serves as a professor at the University of Southern Mississippi while maintaining her research affiliation with the Autism Brain and Language Lab.

Jenny E. Gumpert, M.S., M.B.A., J.D.

Graduate Research Assistant

Jenny graduated with a Master's of Science in Psychology in May 2023 from the University of New Orleans after successfully defending her thesis. In the Spring 2023, her research on Exploring Language Center Connectivity in Children with ASD, won first place in the Privateer Choice Awards at the Innovate UNO Symposium. Prior to earning her Master's, she graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of New Orleans with a B.A. in Music and Psychology Minor in May 2020. During her undergraduate tenure at UNO, Jenny served as the President of the Psi Chi, the Psychology Honor’s Society. Jenny has worked alongside children with and without exceptionalities in a variety of contexts. In addition to teaching private music lessons, over the past decade, she has volunteered for the Mildred Osborne Charter School, Educare New Orleans, International School of Louisiana, Children's Hospital and Southeast Louisiana Families Helping Families. Jenny served as the Music Director for the PRISM project, where she used music to educate and empower children from diverse backgrounds in an inclusive environment. For her practicum she worked under Dr. Erin Skaff Vandenweghe, PsyD, MPH, MPAP and Dr. Joy T. Bui, PsyD with Southern Psychological Specialists where she was exposed to the process involved in psychometric testing. Her educational background in business and law gives her a greater understanding of the procedure and tools required for public policy change in a collaborative effort of scientifically supported research. She currently loves teaching General Psychology as an adjunct professor with the University of New Orleans and working with adolescents at JCFA, a local charter school, which provides an alternative path to earning high school diploma. In addition to spending time with her family and teaching, her passions include furthering research in Applied Biopsychology with a speficied interest in music as a therapeutic modality.

Caitlin Dyer, B.S., B.A.

Graduate Research Assistant

In 2017, Caitlin completed undergraduate degrees in psychology and creative writing with Louisiana State University. Afterwards, she spent time working in a clinic specializing in Applied Behavioral Analysis for children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. She then enlisted as one of the first behavioral health specialists with the Louisiana Air National Guard to assist service members diagnosed with various mental health disorders. Her research interests fall primarily into the realm of childhood developmental psychology, to include the development of prosocial behavior, empathy, aptitude for social learning, and mirror neurons. She hopes to work on research projects that will help further our ability to identify and provide early intervention for children at risk of developing psychopathology. In her spare time, Caitlin enjoys creating children’s picture books and tidying up after her rambunctious puppies.

Lauren Tra, B.S.

Graduate Alumni / Volunteer Research Assistant

Lauren Tra (she/they) received her B.S. in Psychology in May of 2021 and continued with the department, earning her M.S. in Applied Psychology in the Summer of 2022. During her undergraduate degree, she successfully defended her senior honors thesis concerning SES and language regions in children with ASD under Dr. Knaus, and the two are currently working on publication. After graduating with her M.S., she spent a year at LSU to complete pre-requisite courses in communication disorders and sciences to switch fields to begin obtaining her clinical doctorate in audiology, wanting to concentrate on vestibular disorders and hearing aid engineering. She is currently taking a gap year to work on applying to doctoral programs, returning the the ABL Lab as a volunteer, getting a certification in Harvard's Computer Science 50 course, and sewing and crocheting as hobbies.

Mel Martino, B.S., B.A.

Undergrad Alumni / Volunteer Research Assistant

Mel received a B.S. in Psychology and a B.A. in English from the University of New Orleans in fall 2022. Currently, Mel is investigating cerebellar anatomy and connectivity as they relate to language in neurodivergent populations. Their research interests include psycholinguistics, neuromodulation, and epigenetics. They aspire to earn an MFA in Creative Writing and Poetics and a master's degree in social work.

Alyssa Lacour

Graduate Practicum Research Assistant

Alyssa earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Southeastern Louisiana University, in May 2015. She pursued graduate study with the University of Louisiana at Lafayette where her research efforts were devoted to better understanding the cognitive mechanisms underlying recurring psychopathology. Alyssa then earned a Master of Science degree in Psychology from UL, December of 2018. Her clinical efforts consist of extensive training and practice in psychological assessment for medical and forensic evaluation as well as clinical trial coordination within pediatric oncology. Alyssa returned to graduate school in August of 2022 and is in pursuit of a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Applied Biopsychology from the University of New Orleans. Her research initiatives are broadly devoted to better understanding brain-resident immune mechanisms, their role in the formation and maintenance of neural circuits, and what causes these systems to become aberrant, ultimately lending to neurological dysfunction.

Cynthia Valdiviezo, B.S.

Graduate Practicum Research Assistant

Cynthia is a graduate student pursuing a Master of Science in Applied Psychology. Prior to graduate school, Cynthia earned a Bachelor's degree in Marketing and a minor in Management from the University of New Orleans in 2006. A passion for the field of Psychology was ignited when her daughter was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Speech Language Impairment (SLI) at 18 months old. With a diverse skill set and firsthand training, Cynthia brings exceptional leadership abilities and is dedicated to serving the autism community. Areas of interest include functional communication training, challenging behavior management, activities of daily living, and parenting training. Cynthia's ultimate goal is to raise awareness about the importance of early intervention and to advocate for change that positively impacts individuals and families affected by autism. As a native Spanish speaker from Honduras, Cynthia possesses a unique background and perspective. She cherishes spending time with her three children and enjoys outdoor sport activities, such as hiking, swimming, and marathon training during her free time.

Michelle Dinh

Michelle is an undergrad student finishing her B.S in Psychology. Originally from San Jose California, she has been living in New Orleans since 2009. She enjoys glassblowing, dancing, and surfing in her free time. Her main interests include bio psychology, developmental psychology, and psychopathology.

Maryanna Gray

Maryanna is a sophomore at UNO pursuing a major in psychology. She joined the ABL Lab as a Tolmas Scholar to pursue her interest in the connection between music throughout development stages. Upon graduation Maryanna plans to pursue a career in clinical psychology.

Lei'leh Itayem

Lei’leh is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in psychology at UNO. She loves children and has volunteered at a local headstart preschool. She has also earned her certificate in CPR and First Aid. Her interests include neuroscience, pathology, oncology, and epidemiology. She joined the Autism Brain and Language lab as a Tolmas Scholar earlier this year and plans to attend a graduate program in epidemiology.

Dalia Jones

Dalia is in her junior year at UNO and is a psychology major interested in neurodevelopmental disorders including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). After graduating, she plans to follow a career in clincal psychology or psychometrics to help those navigating neurodiversity.

Dayton McClendon

Dayton is pursuing an undergraduate degree in Psychology. He's a Louisiana native who loves seafood and classical literature. Joining the ABL Lab as a Tolmas Scholar, Dayton hopes to start a career of helping others through psychology. Upon graduation, Dayton plans to become a clinical psychologist.

Sabrina O'Quain

Sabrina is a senior at UNO with a passion for psychology with a special interest in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). She is currently working as an ABA RLT. After graduation in this Spring, Sabrina aspires to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA).

Brooke Scullark

With a deep passion for research psychology, Brooke is excited to embark on her journey in this field. Brooke is a junior at UNO pursuing a major in pre-medicine psychology. Her dedication to understanding and supporting children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) was sparked during her time as a daycare teacher. This experience has fueled her drive to make a meaningful impact in the lives of individuals with ASD.

Nadia Sommerville

Nadia is pursing her undergraduate degree in Psychology at UNO. She hails from Memphis Tennessee and is coincidentally an avid Grizzlies fan. She is fascinated with the ocean which is one of her favorite conversational pieces. Upon graduation, Nadia hopes to continue her education and ultimately become a psychiatrist with a special interest in working with children and veterans.

Olivia Holland

Olivia is a junior at UNO pursuing a major in psychology. She joined the ABL Lab as a Tolmas Scholar to broaden her horizons as a future therapist, hoping to be able to gain a better understanding of working with children with autism. She also hopes to explore other areas of counseling like addiction therapy and therapy for unhoused people. Upon graduation she plans to pursue a masters degree in counseling.

Valeria Alarcon

Leonardo Sequerra Koogan Breitman

Leo is a native of Rio de Janeiro Brazil and is currently pursuing his Master’s degree in Applied Psychology. He has an interest in the role of communication in development, both when language is and is not present. He is currently looking to continue his education by becoming a BCBA.

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