Principal Investigator: Dr. Caitlin Hudac (she/her)

Education: 

• University of Chicago, A.B. (2005, Human Development)
• University of Nebraska, Ph.D. (2014, Developmental Psychology)

Current Positions:

• Director, Brain Research Across Development (B-RAD) Lab
• Associate Professor, Department of Psychology 
• Director of the Steering Committee, Carolina Autism and Neurodevelopment (CAN) Research Center
• Executive Committee Member of the Institute for Mind and Brain (IMB)

Research interests: I study how factors within early infancy and childhood affect brain development and may have consequences for developmental trajectories. It is critical to characterize brain correlates of healthy (or "normative") development in order to  accelerate our understanding of mechanisms of atypical development. Our lab seeks to capture patterns of learning and cognition associated with neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD),  intellectual disability (ID), and social anxiety disorder (SAD). We evaluate possible factors -- including genetic etiology with a focus on deleterious mutations and specific connections to individual (behavioral) differences.

• Prospective postdoctoral scholars: I am looking to hire postdoctoral scholars across a variety of areas. Contact me for more information!
• Prospective graduate students for Fall 2023: Yes, I am taking graduate applicants! I am specifically looking for students interested in the Cognitive and Neural Sciences program at UofSC.  However, I may be able to take students in the Clinical & Community area.

Fun facts: You often will find me at a coffee shop or out in the woods with my bike. 

Graduate student: Rebecca Revilla, M.A. ​(she/her)

Current Position: Clinical-Community Psychology Ph.D. student
Education: ​

• University of Texas at San Antonio, B.A. (2018, Psychology)
• University of Alabama, M.A. (2022, Clinical Psychology)

Research interests: Rebecca is interested in using a multi-method, multi-level approach to understand developmental trajectories of antisocial and prosocial behavior from infancy until emerging adulthood. Her ultimate goal is to inform community-based prevention and early intervention efforts.
​Fun facts:  Rebecca enjoys outdoor activities in nature (e.g., hiking, kayaking), live music, thrift shopping, and trying/cooking new food!
​
LinkedIn      Email

Project Coordinator: Mariana Uvalle, B.A.

Education: ​ University of South Carolina, B.A. Public Health (2022) 
Research interests: Mariana is interested in promoting social and emotional well-being  in low income and minoritized communities. She is exploring related career options and eager to learn more about mental health and developmental disorders in children and adolescents.
​Fun facts:  Mariana has played the violin for seven years and loves dancing! She enjoys a good game of Sudoku and will challenge anyone!​

Undergraduate Interns

​Josh Estrada
Fun facts: ​I’ve lived on a farm my whole life. I love animals, music, and I have a twin sister!

Matthew McCall
Fun facts: I play the piano and only have three heart valves technically.

Cecilia Thomas
Fun fact: I run a small quilting business.

​​Janae Hersey
Fun fact: ​I have held an adult human brain.

Danielle Raynor
Fun facts: ​I play piccolo in The Carolina Band and I have three dogs!

Mariana Orihuela
Fun facts: ​I'm learning to speak Japanese. I love running. I write poetry.

​Maggie Johnson
Fun facts: ​I was classically trained in ballet for 13 years and can tap dance. Also, I have over 30 plants in my room.

Jackson McFadden
Fun facts: ​I am left handed! I play the electric guitar (started this year!) I can speak German after living abroad in high school!

Ashlan Cheever
Fun fact: ​I'm currently writing a novel for fun in my freetime!