Meet our team!
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Dr. Wilkey is an Assistant Professor in Vanderbilt University’s department of Psychology and Human Development and is affiliated with the Vanderbilt Brain Institute and the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center. Dr. Wilkey earned his M. Ed. in Mind, Brain and Education at Harvard University, his Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Vanderbilt University, and did a postdoctoral fellowship at Western University’s Brain and Mind Institute in London, Ontario. Dr. Wilkey’s research focuses on the development of mathematical skills and the neurocognitive mechanisms that enable mathematical cognition. In his free time, Dr. Wilkey likes to run, bike, and walk through Shelby-Bottoms Forest, garden indoors and out, and one day hopes to be a glass blower (he has not taken his first class).
CV | eric.d.wilkey@vanderbilt.edu | Google Scholar
POSTDOCTORAL SCHOLAR
Bella Starling-Alves, Ph.D.
Dr. Starling-Alves is a postdoc scholar at The Number Lab. She is interested in integrating neuroscience and developmental psychology to solve problems from education. In her research, she has used both behavioral and neuroimaging methods to examine the integration of nonsymbolic and symbolic number processing, as well as how these processes relate to integers and rational number knowledge. In addition to investigating typically developing populations, she has also investigated number processing in children with developmental dyscalculia and genetic syndromes and adults with low literacy. During her free time, Dr. Starling-Alves indulges in arts and crafts, cooking, baking, and exploring national and state parks.
CV | isabella.starling.alves@vanderbilt.edu | Google Scholar
GRADUATE STUDENTS
Omair Khan
Omair Khan is a Ph.D. student in Educational Neuroscience currently doing a rotation in the Number Lab. They hold a BS in Biochemistry from Southern Methodist University and a masters degree in Applied Statistics from The Pennsylvania State University. Prior to starting their Ph.D., Omair had been practicing as a biostatistician for the past seven years at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Their research interests include language, orthography, and numerical cognition, especially among neurodiverse populations. In their free time, Omair enjoys playing video games, swing dancing, and learning languages.
omair.khan@vanderbilt.edu | Google Scholar
Alexa Mogan
Alexa is a first-year Ph.D. student in the Psychological Sciences program. She is interested in studying mathematical problem solving and the connection between conceptual and procedural understanding in mathematics. Alexa graduated from the University of Notre Dame, double majoring in Theoretical Math and Psychology. In her free time, she loves playing sports, dancing, and doing puzzles. Through her research, Alexa hopes to help make math as accessible as possible to all students, and help everyone see how interesting math can be!
CV | alexa.d.mogan@vanderbilt.edu
LAB MANAGER
Monica Bashir
Monica recently graduated from Auburn University with a B.S. in Neuroscience and a B.A. in Spanish. She is interested in the effects that second- and heritage- language learning have on the cognition of children. Monica is excited to learn more about the ways that children learn math, which is a language in itself! In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family, baking, and learning to crochet.
monica.s.bashir@vanderbilt.edu
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANTS
Kanoe Bonilla
Kanoe Bonilla is a junior at Vanderbilt double majoring in Child Development and Medicine, Health, & Society with a minor in History of Art. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, going to the beach, and surfing with friends. Through the Number Lab, she is excited to uncover the neurological mechanisms that influence math difficulties in children. After her time at Vanderbilt, Kanoe aspires to go to medical school to become a developmental behavioral pediatrician.
Amelia Murray
Amelia Murray is an honors student in The Number Lab this year. She is a junior from Boston majoring in Child Development and Cognitive Studies with a Data Science minor. Her main research interests are math learning disabilities and school-based interventions. She hopes to create equitable educational environments for all students. Outside of school, she loves to hike, bake, and explore the city.
Ryan Zix
Ryan is a third year pre-med student here at Vanderbilt where he is double majoring in Medicine, Health, & Society and Mathematics. Ryan finds number cognition fascinating, given that it combines his passion for physiology with his interest in math. He plans on pursuing a career in pediatrics. In his free time, you can find Ryan relaxing in a hammock on campus, playing/watching sports, or struggling to solve the daily Connections puzzle.
Eliza Brennan
Eliza is a sophomore at Vanderbilt majoring in Cognitive Studies and Economics with minors in education and data science. She has been interested in children’s development in math since early high school and hopes to work in education technology down the line. Outside of school she loves singing and playing guitar and is currently training for a marathon!
Sasha Bandler
Sasha Bandler is a freshman majoring in Cognitive Studies. She became interested in research through her high school’s Social Science Research program and hopes to pursue a research-related career, potentially in cognitive neuroscience. Sasha is a part of Vanderbilt’s Brain Exercise Initiative, a program aimed to help slow the cognitive decline of Alzheimer’s patients. Outside of school, she enjoys hiking, listening to Taylor Swift, doing puzzles, and playing with her dog, Frankie.
Dan Han
Dan Han (he/him) is a first-year undergraduate at Vanderbilt double majoring in Neuroscience and Human and Organizational Development with a business minor. He is interested in the neurological basis for cognitive development, its underlying mechanisms, and the applications of such knowledge in the real world! He is currently pursuing medical school. In his free time, he enjoys singing, dancing, and reading books.