People
Principal investigator
Judy Sein Kim
Assistant Professor, Psychology
Judy (she/they) is an Assistant Professor in the Psychology Department at American University. Previously, she was a postdoc at Princeton and Yale in the Crockett Lab. She received her PhD in Experiment Psychology at Johns Hopkins University in the Neuroplasticity & Development Lab. Outside the lab, Judy is passionate about community organizing, crafts, foraging for mushrooms, and BTS.
Undegraduate students
Jake Isolda
Senior, Psychology & Neuroscience
Jake (he/him) is a senior studying psychology and neuroscience. He is interested in the psychological and neurobiological underpinnings of thought and memory. He enjoys going to concerts and spending time outdoors as well as working with kids when he can. Jake will be joining the CAT lab as a PhD student in the Behavior, Cognition, and Neuroscience PhD program in fall of 2026.
Ciera Thacker
Junior, Psychology & Neuroscience minor
Ciera (she/her) is a junior majoring in Psychology with a minor in Neuroscience at American University. Her interests include internal cognitive processes related to communication and thought, as well as memory and executive functioning and their relationships to behavior and daily functioning. More broadly, she is interested in how changes in cognitive systems across neurological conditions affect independence and quality of life. Outside the lab, Ciera is a Division I student-athlete and serves as President and Director of Mental Health Initiatives for the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and Health Chair of the NAACP chapter. Ciera plans to pursue doctoral training in clinical psychology focused on brain-behavior relationships.
Devon Beyonara
Senior, Psychology
Devon (they/them) is a senior majoring in Psychology. They are interested in identity research, creative therapies, and the interaction between nature and child development. Outside the lab, they rock climb, make zines, and are on an improv troupe! They hope to spread love and do cool science.
Bakhit Alktebi
Junior, Psychology & Data science minor
Bakhit (he/him) is a junior majoring in Psychology with a minor in Data science. He is interested in how different communication styles change people's perception of others. Outside the lab, he enjoys jiu jitsu, biking, and reading interesting non-fiction books. He aspires to open a social/cognitive psychology lab of his own and teach as well.