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
Alexa Mogan
Alexa is a second-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 dancing, doing puzzles, and playing sports. Through her research, Alexa hopes to help make math as accessible as possible to all students, and help everyone see how fun math can be!
CV | alexa.d.mogan@vanderbilt.edu
Omair Khan
Omair Khan is a Ph.D. student in Educational Neuroscience 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.
Siyu Liu
Siyu is a Master's student in the Cognitive Psychology in Context program at Vanderbilt. She is interested in understanding the cognitive mechanisms that underly mathematical development. Siyu hopes to pursue a Ph.D. degree in the future. In her free time, Siyu enjoys practicing popping dance, reading books and playing video games.
siyu.liu.1@vanderbilt.edu
LAB MANAGER
Alison Rubin
Alison graduated from William & Mary with a B.S in Neuroscience and a minor in Hispanic Studies. She is passionate about combining child development research with neuroimaging, and is excited to do so in the Number Lab. Alison plans to pursue a PhD in Developmental Neuroscience. In her free time, she loves to go on walks, explore thrift stores, and spend time with her pets.
alison.rubin@vanderbilt.edu
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANTS
Eliza Brennan ‘26
Eliza is 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!
Alondra Moya ‘26
Alondra is from San Diego majoring in Child Development and Cognitive Studies with a Data Science minor. She has a passion for working with children and solving math problems. She is interested in pursuing a career in counseling or clinical psychology. Outside of the classroom, you can find her spending time outside, watching stand-up comedy, or photographing anything that catches her eye.
Chloe Berg ‘26
Chloe is from Boston majoring in neuroscience on the pre-health track at Vanderbilt. She enjoys teaching/working with children and learning about their neurological development. She is interested in pursing a career in pediatrics in the future. In her free time, she enjoys dancing, exploring new places and playing any and all NYT puzzle games!
Chi Luo ‘26
Chi is an Undergraduate Research Assistant in Peabody College majoring in Cognitive Studies and minoring in Child Development. She is interested in how children learn and the effects on brain development. She is excited to learn more about MRI neuroimaging. For fun, she likes drawing, calligraphy, and traveling.
Sasha Bandler ‘27
Sasha Bandler is 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 ‘27
Dan Han (he/him) is 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.
Sophie Hochberg ‘27
Sophie is majoring in Psychology and Child Development. Sophie tutors children with Down Syndrome in math. She is interested in exploring the cognitive mechanisms involved in learning math with learning disabilities in the Number Lab. Sophie hopes to become a clinical psychologist in the future. Outside of school, Sophie likes to go to the beach, hike, and spend time with friends.
For more information about previous lab members, please visit our Lab Alumni page.