Team

Lab director

Monica Thieu, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neuroscience, Cognition, & Behavior at the University of San Diego. She uses behavioral, computational modeling, and neuroimaging methods to quantify the contributions of perceptual information to emotional experience. She also contributes to community maintenance for open-source scientific computing software.

Monica earned her B.A. in psychology from Stanford University under Drs. Melina Uncapher and Anthony Wagner, where she also worked as a lab manager, and her Ph.D. in psychology from Columbia University under Dr. Kevin Ochsner. She then completed postdoctoral training as an NIH IRACDA FIRST fellow at Emory University, both in research under Dr. Philip Kragel, and in teaching at Spelman College under Dr. Jimmeka Wright.

CV

Post-baccalaureate research assistants

Chiara Cossio is a post-baccalaureate research assistant in the Department of Neuroscience, Cognition, and Behavior at the University of San Diego. She earned her B.S. in Biology with minors in Psychology and Chemistry from St. Mary’s University. Her academic and research interests center on memory, cognition, and the neural mechanisms underlying human behavior.

Her research experience includes computational neuroscience, genetics, cell and molecular biology, and food biochemistry. She is particularly interested in understanding how different memory systems interact and how experiences influence memory over time. Chiara plans to pursue graduate study in psychology or neuroscience and ultimately hopes to conduct research investigating the neural mechanisms underlying memory and cognition.

Undergraduate research assistants

Alyssa Arjona-Gonzaga, ’27 is an undergraduate student at the University of San Diego pursuing a degree in Neuroscience with a double minor in Chemistry and Biomedical Ethics. She is interested in gaining a deeper understanding in how different emotions may be stimulated, and how these emotions can be measured accurately and precisely. In the future, Alyssa plans to apply to graduate school to pursue a doctorate degree in occupational therapy. Alyssa believes that her experiences at the University of San Diego and in this lab will give her the guidance and knowledge needed to pursue any future career path.

Sophie Johnston,’29 is a Neuroscience student at the University of San Diego with a focused interest in the future of biopharmaceutical development. Her academic work centers on translating complex biological systems into practical therapeutic applications that improve patient outcomes. She is particularly drawn to the intersection of scientific research, regulatory strategy, and clinical development within large pharmaceutical organizations.

Ashanthy Pardilla, ’28 is an undergraduate student at the University of San Diego pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Cognition and Behavior with a minor in Biomedical Ethics. Her academic interests center on the relationship between cognition, emotion, and behavior, with a particular interest in understanding the cognitive and emotional processes that influence human behavior. Her research interests include cognitive and emotional responses, perception, and the ways in which individuals process and respond to experiences. She plans to pursue a career in healthcare and continue applying her background in cognition and behavior to better understand and support individuals’ cognitive and emotional well-being.

Sonya Patel, ’29 will graduate from the University of San Diego ’29 with a B.A. in Psychology and minor in Cognitive Science. She is interested in understanding the structures of the brain and how they relate to our internal beliefs and behaviors. She plans on pursuing her PhD in clinical psychology. Her current studies include childhood adolescence & development and neuroscience statistics.

Finley Sasena, ’27 is an undergraduate student at the University of San Diego pursuing a degree in Neuroscience. Her research interests center on the relationship between brain function, behavior, and health, with a particular focus on cognition, emotion, stress, and individual differences in psychological and physiological responses. She is interested in exploring how a deeper understanding of these processes can contribute to improving health and patient care. Following graduation, Finley plans to pursue a career in medicine, where she hopes to integrate her scientific background with compassionate, patient-centered care.

If you are an interested USD student, please contact Dr. Thieu to submit a statement of interest! I recruit research assistants on a rolling basis before each semester depending on project needs and fit.

Former lab members

Ari Bradford, ’26

Annelyse Basha, ’26

Valentina Alvarado, ’28

Lucy Cook, ’28

Clara Geuzaine, ’28

Abraham Funk, ’29