Lab Members

Principal Investigator

Adam Snyder
​
adam.snyder[AT]rochester.edu
​CV
Google Scholar
​Pubmed
As a researcher, I try to remain curious and skeptical, but also open-minded and willing to be persuaded by evidence. I also strive to be pragmatic and to identify what would be a useful level of understanding for the research question at hand, and to make continual empirical strides towards that goal, rather than to engage in reductionism for its own sake. As a mentor, I try to provide an environment that enables people with these same values to flourish and to find the unique means for success that fit their unique backgrounds and personalities.

Lab Manager

Chad Dekdebrun
[email protected]
Chad has almost 20 yrs. experience working in the field of research. His career began as technician in the Vivarium Dept here at the U of R from 1996-2003. In 2003 he took on a position as a Lab Technician for Dr. Jonathan Mink in Pediatric Neurology working his way to Lab Manager until 2012. After a 10 year interest in Law Enforcement, Chad's passion for research led him to return to the U of R in 2021 to further his knowledge in Brain and Cognitive Sciences and visual studies.

​Chad enjoys spending time with his kids and dogs. His hobbies include woodwork, music, guitar playing, trips to Cape Cod and the ADK's.

Graduate Students

John "Jay" Gonzalez-
​
​Amoretti
​
John_GonzalezAmoretti[at]URMC.Rochester.edu

Jay graduated from Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo in Puerto Rico with a B.S. in Chemistry. During his undergrad, he worked on developing electrochemical methods to detect and analyze neurotransmitters. He is now interested in studying neural mechanisms and correlates of attention and understanding how it may influence perception and memory.

Shizhao Liu

ashleyshizhaoliu[AT]126.com
​ashleyshizhaoliu[AT]gmail.com
CV​

Shizhao Liu is a PhD student in Brain and Cognitive Science program at University of Rochester. She received her bachelor degrees in Biomedical Engineering and Psychology from Tsinghua University, China.

Bikash Sahoo
​
bsahoo[AT]ur.rochester.edu
CV

Bikash is a graduate student in the Brain and Cognitive Sciences program. His background training includes a Bachelor of Technology in Electronics and Communication Engineering and a Master of Technology in Computational Science. His research questions are centered around developing a mechanistic understanding of selective attention and decision making. He aspires to be a cook and a writer.

​Alumni

Doctoral trainees

  • Dennis Jung PhD (2025) - Next: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Child Mind Institute
  • Hayden Scott PhD (2023) - Next: Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning Engineer, Foundry

Undergraduates

  • Margaret Carpenter (2022)
  • Ruitong (Larry) Jiang (2018-2021) - Next: PhD at Carnegie Mellon University (2021).
  • Pinyi Wu (2020-2021) - Next: MS at Columbia University (2021); PhD at University of Michigan (2024).
  • Remiah Sundine (2018-2021) ​- Next: Case manager at Berkshire farm Center for Youth (2021); JD at University of Illinois Chicago School of Law (2024).
  • Jacob Rozowsky (2019-2020) - Next: Research Assistant at Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School (2020); Fulbright US Student Scholar in Utrecht, Netherlands (2021); MD/PhD at New York University (2023).​

Staff

  • María Cristina "Macri" Gil-Díaz (2020-2021) - Former Lab Manager - Next: MD/PhD at Dartmouth
  • Elizabeth Sachse (2018-2020) - Former Lab Manager - Next: PhD at University of Minnesota.
  • Megan Conley (2020-2022) - Former Lab Manager - Next: Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University