Lab Members

Anastasia Chouvalova (she/her)

email: achouval [at] ttu.edu | View Anastasia's CV

I hail from a small suburban community in the Greater Toronto Area in Canada and yes, if you’re wondering, one of my motivations to relocate to Texas was for the warmer and drier weather! Having gone through the rigorous and competitive academic curriculum of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Guelph, I realized that while I had a profound interest in human health and cognition, my core passion lies in improving the quality and outcomes of higher education. As an undergraduate student, I was involved in a collegiate committee aiming to improving biological undergraduate education and I was exposed to many challenges faced by the biological education field. Through my graduate studies, I plan to focus on the study of mindset in both STEM undergraduate instructors and students, and my greatest hope is that this will help formulate some powerful solutions to the challenges of undergraduate biology education. The field of psychometrics and research instruments always intrigued me, but also posed an enigma: How are valid and reliable tools developed for use in both research and in industries? 

Frankly, I always regarded methods research as a very challenging endeavor, but one that I had a growth mindset for! I am excited to weave my doctoral studies with my prior experience in neuroscience, cognitive psychology, social psychology, interdisciplinary research, and qualitative research to develop effective mindset interventions for STEM faculty and students. I could not be happier with my decision to join the Limeri Lab and to embark on my post-graduate journey under the guidance of Doctor Limeri. 

In my spare time, I enjoy cross-country running, hiking, watching rhythmic gymnastics, and catching up on political news. As you can see from my not-so-professional profile photo, I am a naturalist and I love indulging in the Japanese-inspired art of “forest-bathing”! 

If you ever wish to chat with me, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at achouval [at] ttu.edu

Mason Tedeschi (he/they)

mtedesch [at] ttu.edu

I grew up near Boston, Massachusetts, went to high school in the Berkshire area, and then college in Sarasota, Florida, so Lubbock seems to be my next stop as I continue to move around the country. 

As an undergraduate at New College of Florida, I pursued biology and biopsychology coursework. Meanwhile, I explored my interest in education through undergraduate research projects, as well as my time serving as a Student Writing Assistant, Peer Leader, and member of the college’s Education Policy Committee. I officially joined the Discipline-Based Education Research community through a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) at Rochester Institute of Technology, where I helped develop novel statistical analyses of student persistence, retention, and success. That project gave me the hands-on experience that motivated me to continue to pursue science education research. I’m incredibly grateful to have found my way to the Limeri Lab as a doctoral student, and to work with the other lovely people you see on this page. 

I am interested in strength-based approaches to understanding students’ experiences and identities, and particularly how we can better support the success of students who identify as neurodivergent or as having learning disabilities. I also would like to learn more about how academic cultures and environments shape students’ beliefs about their abilities, and how students draw from their beliefs to pursue success. 

When I’m not in the lab, I enjoy taking walks outdoors, rock climbing, reading (mainly fantasy and science fiction), and cooking.

Noah A. Courtney (he/him)

noah.a.courtney [at] ttu.edu | View Noah's CV

I am from Forest Hill, Maryland (Go Ravens!), but my non-traditional academic journey has taken me all over the globe! Following an active duty career in the US Coast Guard, I returned to my hometown to pursue the life sciences at Harford Community College. Community college is where I found my passion and curiosity for biological research, which I fueled through an opportunity to research kelp forest ecology while scientific diving at the University of Alaska Southeast! After graduating with A.S. degrees, I transferred and completed my undergraduate degree at Cornell University. While attending Cornell, I discovered biology education research and my interest in community college biology education. While I do miss the cold weather of upstate New York, I’m excited to be a Post-Bac Researcher in the Limeri Lab at TTU! I hope to continue building my skills and knowledge in discipline-based education research, with the goal of exploring the intersection between mindset and non-traditional and community college biology students! 

Outside the lab, you can find me searching for the best coffee shop in town, playing chess at a mediocre level, or shooting pool! I also enjoy advocating for student-veterans, writing music, and perfecting the best salmon dish from my kitchen. If you ever wish to chat, I’d love to hear from you at noah.a.courtney [at] ttu.edu!

Dr. Rosario Marroquín-Flores (she/her)

Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, James Madison University

email: marroqra [at] jmu.edu | View Dr. Marroquín-Flores' CV

Dr. Marroquín-Flores was a postdoctoral associate in the lab from 2022-2024 and is now an Assistant Professor at James Madison University. Dr. Marroquín-Flores' research applies a critical lens to teaching and learning in STEM, with the goal of creating more equitable learning environments that better support diverse learners. Current projects include developing a measure of Community Cultural Wealth, the wealth of knowledge and cultural assets that diverse students use to be successful in educational contexts, and exploring service-learning as an alternative form of STEM learning where students can bring their values and sociocultural experiences into the classroom.

Dr. Anisha Navlekar (she/her)

Assistant Professor of Practice, Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University

email: anisha.navlekar [at] ttu.edu | View Dr. Navlekar's CV  |  Faculty webpage: 

Dr. Navlekar was a postdoctoral associate in the lab from 2022-2023 and is now an Assistant Professor of Practice in the Department of Biological Sciences at Texas Tech University. Drs. Navlekar and Limeri still collaborate together on research projects, mentoring students in research, and teaching the introductory biology course sequence for majors at TTU.