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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Alondra Cervantes is a forth-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 forth-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.

Angel Gomez is a 3rd 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.