Katie Singsank joined the CANE Lab in Fall 2022 as a Clinical Psychology Graduate Student. She came to the lab with a background in clinical trials and was most recently Lab Manager of the University of Washington Department of Rehabilitation Medicine’s Research on Aging, Disability, and Resilience (RADAR) Lab under the direction of Dr. Ivan Molton. Katie's master's thesis examined the relationship between a metric of social determinants of health (SDoH) and self-efficacy on clinical trial completion among middle-aged adults aging with long-term physical disabilities. Currently, Katie is interested in aging research in the context of dementia and how SDoH and cultural factors may influence Alzheimer's neuropsychiatric symptom reporting between caregivers and care recipients and how this shapes clinical care. Katie obtained her BA with Honors in Psychology and an Interdisciplinary Emphasis in Neuroscience from the University of Puget Sound.

Myjae Maloy-Robertson joined the CANE Lab in Fall 2022 as an Interdisciplinary Neuroscience doctoral student. Myjae is co-mentored by Dr. Samantha John and Dr. Thessa Hilgenkamp in the CARE Lab. Before joining the CANE Lab, Myjae graduated with a BS in Behavioral Neuroscience from the University of Kansas, where she also became a proud member of the Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program. During her time at KU, Myjae became interested in interdisciplinary studies, being a research assistant in the labs of both Dr. Omri Gillath and Dr. Monica Biernat within social psychology and neuroscience. Myjae became a doctoral candidate in Spring 2025 and is intrigued by mechanisms of accelerated cognitive aging within diverse groups. She is interested in exploring the relationship between physiological dysregulation/Allostatic Load (AL) and cognitive function.

Cynthia Sopko joined the CANE Lab in Fall 2025 as a Neuroscience Doctoral Student. She holds master’s degrees in both Community Psychology and Data Science. Before joining the CANE Lab, Cynthia worked as the Neuroimaging Core Manager at the Michigan Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, where she oversaw imaging operations and data management. Her research focuses on how modifiable risk factors shape brain health across the lifespan, with a particular interest in sex differences in aging and neurodegenerative processes. Using MRI data, she aims to better characterize early symptoms of neurodegenerative conditions. In addition, Cynthia conducts research at the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health with Dr. Andrew Bender, investigating cognitive resilience through diffusion MRI analyses.

Kimberly Cobos joined the Cognitive Aging Neuropsychological Equity (CANE) Lab as a Community Engagement Specialist in Fall 2024. She is passionate about advancing brain health equity and cultural neuropsychology among Hispanic/Latino communities. In her role, she leads community presentations, engages in community-based participatory research (CBPR), and builds partnerships to strengthen trust in brain health research. Previously, Kimberly worked at the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, conducting research and neuropsychological assessments with older adults and helping establish a Spanish-language testing clinic. She holds a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Sociology from UNLV, an M.S. in Psychology from Grand Canyon University, and certification in Spanish Medical Interpreting. She plans to pursue graduate studies and continue serving her community.

Emma Ermakova is currently studying Neuroscience and Psychology at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), to pursue a career in medicine. She joined the CANE Lab in the Fall of 2025 due to her interest in neuropsychological assessment and neurodegenerative diseases. She has previous research experience under the Auditory Cognitive Neuroscience Lab, where she worked on EEG studies pertaining to the neural processing of natural auditory scenes and had the opportunity to present data at the UNLV Undergraduate Research Symposium. Outside the CANE Lab, Emma runs the Wellness Committee of the Association of Pre-Health Professionals (APHP), is a member of the Neuroscience Undergraduate Research Organisation (NURO), and works as a hospital volunteer.

Jackeline Gonzalez is a sophomore at UNLV pursuing a B.A. in Psychology. She is particularly interested in sleep, including how disorders such as insomnia, sleep paralysis, and narcolepsy develop, what they reveal about the brain, and how they relate to mood disorders like depression and anxiety. She joined the CANE Lab in Spring 2025 to gain research experience and explore the connections between sleep, cognitive health, and neuropsychology. By learning more about brain health, Jackeline aims to strengthen her research skills, refine her interests, and contribute to studies that enhance mental well-being and everyday life.

Sebastian Mehrzad joined the CANE Lab in Summer 2024 as a student researcher interested in exploring Alzheimer's Disease and related dementias, as well as how diagnostic tools can be improved. He is an undergraduate in Neuroscience with a minor in Global Health and Health Policy at Princeton University on the premedical track. Outside of the CANE Lab, Sebastian currently does research with the Gould Lab at the Princeton Neuroscience Institute, is a Peer Health Advisor, and is a student representative for the Princeton University Global Health Program. He enjoys traveling, golfing, and exploring new restaurants and cafes with friends. He is pursuing a career as a physician in a surgical specialty.