Dr. Elif Isbell is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences at the University of California Merced and the director of the IDEA research group. She completed her Ph.D. in Psychology (cognitive neuroscience) at the University of Oregon. Before UC Merced, she worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Oregon and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She was a National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) T32 Postdoctoral Fellow in Developmental Psychology at the University of Michigan. 

Beyond her academic endeavors, she enjoys indoor and outdoor adventures with her family, reading sci-fi & fantasy books, learning new languages, and cross-stitching.

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Amanda Peters, M.A., is a doctoral student in Developmental Psychology. She graduated from the University of Michigan in 2021 with a B.S. in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience. Her research interests broadly revolve around how, when, and why attentional control lapses. She is particularly interested in examining individual and contextual factors contributing to attentional fluctuations, the neural mechanisms underlying attentional lapses, and developmental changes in the consistency of attentional control across childhood and adolescence. She is also interested in exploring the links between attentional control consistency and academic achievement. 

Outside of her academic work, Amanda enjoys painting and golfing.

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Dylan Richardson, M.A., is a doctoral student in the Developmental Psychology program. He was a National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellow. At UC Merced, he earned a B.A. in 2021 and an M.A. in 2024 in Psychological Sciences. His research interests involve examining the development of cognitive control in children and adolescents, and how it relates to math achievement. 

In his free time, Dylan is an avid fisherman and also enjoys hiking, exploring the outdoors, and going to the beach with his Black Labrador, Milo.

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Ariah Marz is a fourth-year undergraduate student majoring in Psychology. Before attending UC Merced, she earned her A.A. in Psychology and Social Science. She is broadly interested in developmental psychology. In her free time, she enjoys reading, listening to music, and spending time with friends.

Elauria Wiggins is a forth-year undergraduate student majoring in Psychology. She is a registered behavior technician and is broadly interested in cognitive and clinical psychology. She hopes to attend a graduate program in social work post-graduation. In her free time, Elauria enjoys playing volleyball, reading, and loves concerts.

Hien Ton is a second-year undergraduate student majoring in Psychology and Sociology. She’s interested in forensic psychology and criminology. Outside of academics, Hien enjoys gaming and spending time with her cat, Toru.

Blake Silva is a fourth-year undergraduate majoring in both Psychology and Philosophy. He is broadly interested in neuropsychology and cognitive psychology. Outside of academics, he enjoys making art, listening to music, and taking long walks with his two dogs. 

Alondra Cervantes is a third-year undergraduate majoring in Human Biology and is an SJV Prime+ student. She hopes to become a pediatric oncologist in the future. She is

passionate about working with children and hopes to one day help improve the care and support

they receive during difficult medical experiences. Outside of school, Alondra loves spending

time with the people she cares about and enjoys getting creative through arts and crafts.

Josyln Conchas is a third-year undergraduate majoring in Human Biology and is an SJV Prime+ student. She hopes to pursue a career in medicine, with emphasis in working with children. Outside of academics, she enjoys going to the gym, hanging out with friends, and baking.

Edwin Gomez Linares is a third-year undergraduate student double majoring in Psychology & Critical Race and Ethnic Studies with a Cognitive Science Minor. He is interested in becoming a forensic psychologist and going into criminology/criminal justice. In his free time, he enjoys going to the gym, listening to music, hanging out with friends and coaching.

Arlette Alor Flores holds an Associate of Arts in Psychology and Behavioral Sciences from Merced Community College and is currently completing her final year of undergraduate studies in Psychology at UC Merced. Her academic interests center on the intersection of individual lived experiences and cognitive development, with a particular focus on social justice frameworks. She is interested in child and adolescent development, and how personal and cultural narratives shape attention, learning, and emotional growth. She enjoys spending time with family and engaging in creative practices such as pottery and papier-mâché.

Sahil Afzal is a 3rd year undergraduate student majoring in Psychology. He is broadly interested in

electroencephalogram (EEG) research. He hopes to pursue an MD program for post-graduation. In his free time, Sahil loves to play soccer, travel with friends, and go thrifting.

Lybia Rodriguez is a second-year undergraduate student majoring in Cognitive Science. She is

deeply interested in the effects of adverse childhood experiences on brain and cognitive development. She hopes to pursue a Master’s and PhD in neuroscience with an emphasis on neurocognitive development. In her free time, Lybia enjoys trying out coffee shops, going on walks in nature, and listening to music.

Angel Gomez is a 2nd year Honors undergraduate student pursuing a B.A. in Psychology

with a pre-medicine focus. His research interests lie in neuroscience and cognitive control,

particularly the role of attention in learning and goal-directed behaviors, and how these processes interact with environmental factors. He hopes to pursue advanced training in research and medicine while contributing to discoveries that advance our understanding of the brain, its influence on behavior, long term well-being, and overall health. Outside of academics, Angel likes listening to podcasts and music, working out, reading, and meeting new people.