The B-RAD Lab

Our team

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​Studying autism, neurodiversity, social connections, and emotional wellbeing to enhance understanding of brain development and its impact on cognition and behavior.

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)

Email Dr. Hudac

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) and  intellectual disability (ID). 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 2024: Yes, I am taking graduate applicants! I am specifically looking for students interested in the Cognitive and Neural Sciences program at UofSC. I may take students in the Clinical & Community area, but know that priority will be given to strong CNS applicants .

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, Child Psychology)

Research interests: Rebecca is interested in using multiple methods (e.g., EEG/ERP, ECG, behavioral, subjective) to examine how environmental systems and life experiences (e.g., trauma) shape prosocial development, particularly during adolescence. Her ultimate goal is to contribute to developmentally informed, community-based prevention and early intervention efforts.
​Fun facts:  Rebecca enjoys activities in nature (e.g., hiking, kayaking), live music, thrifting, and trying/cooking new food!
LinkedIn      Email

Post-doc: Dr. Cailee M Nelson, Ph.D. (she/her)

Education: 

• New Mexico State University, B.A. (2018, Psychology & Human Resources Management)
• University of Alabama, M.A. (2022, Educational Psychology & Neuroscience)
• University of Alabama, Ph.D., (2023, Educational Psychology & Neuroscience)

Research Interests: Cailee is interested in better understanding how brain development contributes to people’s abilities to understand and engage with other people. More specifically, she is interested in understanding how brain development varies among individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., autism spectrum disorder) and how differences in brain development contribute to different social and motivational outcomes.
Fun Facts: Cailee loves sports! You can often find her on the pickleball and volleyball court or watching football and basketball in her spare time!

Graduate Student: Kalyn Prothro, B.A. (she/her)

Current Position: Clinical-Community Psychology Ph.D. Student
Education:

• University of North Texas, B.A. (2021, Psychology)

Research Interests: Kalyn is interested in using community-engaged methods to study how family, peer, and community contexts can promote resiliency, specifically in African American youth who have experienced adversity and trauma. 
Fun Facts: Kalyn wants to buy land to own farm animals and grow her own fruits and vegetables one day.

Graduate Student: Sophie Cramer-Benjamin (she/they)

Current Position: Clinical-Community Psychology Ph.D. Student
Education:

• Skidmore College, B.A. (2022, Neuroscience and Psychology)

Research Interests: Sophie is interested in using physiological measurement tools (e.g., EEG, heart rate) to better understand cognitive processes in autistic individuals who are non-speaking and/or have intellectual disability. Many of these people have rare monogenic mutations (genetic syndromes) and have been underrepresented in research. They are specifically interested in accurate and reliable measurement of processes associated with emotion and behavioral regulation. Sophie is ultimately curious about the interplay between genetics, physiology, and environment on cognition and behavior. 
Fun Facts: Sophie loves anything crafty! They have kept a bullet journal for over 5 years and love to crochet, paint, collage, and work with clay!

Mind Matters Coordinator: Jackson McFadden, B.A. (he/him)

Education: University of South Carolina, B.A. (2024, Psychology)
Research interests: Jackson is interested in the intersection of cultural/racial identity and adverse social experiences and mental health outcomes. Having lived abroad in Germany and Japan, he is particularly interested in how cultural context impacts one’s perception of adversity, and one’s resilience against those experiences.
Fun facts: ​Jackson is left-handed, loves a good underground rock show, and likes to play guitar or go on hikes in his free time!

SC-WB Coordinator: Ezra Wingard, B.A (he/him)

Education: ​ State University Of New York at Oswego, B.A. (2023, Psychology, Cognitive Science) 
Research interests: Ezra is interested in the intersections between personal identity and social experiences. Specifically, how different identities (LGBTQ+, socioeconomic status, gender, race, and ethnicity) can impact perceptions of ostracization in social experiences. 
​Fun facts: Ezra enjoys drawing portraits and volunteering at community-based organizations in his free time. 

BioGENE Coordinator: Ashlan Cheever, B.S. (she/her)

Education: University of South Carolina, B.S. (2024, Psychology, Business )
Research interests: Ashlan is interested in exploring the complexities of the biopsychosocial model, believing that no system operates on its own. She is particularly interested in how traumatic experiences of various nature affects one's development physically, mentally, and socially. 
Fun facts: ​Ashlan enjoys traveling to explore different cities' art museums and is writing a novel for fun in her free time!

Social Media Coordinator: Ashley Lopez-Hernandez, B.A. (she/her)

Education: University of California Merced, B.A. (2023, Psychology)
Research interests: Ashley is interested in using neural and physiological methods (e.g., fMRI, EEG, HRV) to understand how prolonged exposure to trauma in high-conflict homes influence neurobiological processes and social-emotional and self-regulatory skills in children from immigrant families. Additionally, Ashley aims to investigate the long-term effects of such exposure on future interpersonal relationships.
Fun facts: ​Ashley loves traveling up and down California with her Siberian Husky, Snoopy.

Undergraduate Interns

​​Janae Hersey 
Year: Senior
Major/Minor: Psychology / Counseling Edu.
Fun fact: ​I have held a human brain.

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

Lucia Vidal 
Year: Senior
Major/Minor: Neuroscience / Business
Fun facts: ​I am a dual citizen, fluent in Spanish and love to travel. 

Liv Mace 
Year: Senior
Major/Minor: Psychology / Neuroscience
Fun Fact: I hope to attend graduate school at USC for the CNS program and I love cats!

Mitt Patel
Year: Senior
Major/Minor: Biology / Medical Humanities and Culture
Fun Fact: I am the tallest person in both sides of my family. ​

Jake Arcement
Year: Junior
Major/Minor: Neuroscience / Spanish
Fun Fact: I've played piano since I was young, and I play guitar in my free time!​

Marina Kondrikova
Year: Sophomore 
Major/Minor: Neuroscience
Fun Fact: I am bilingual and a first generation American!​

Shelby Cox
​Year: Freshman
Major/Minor: Neuroscience & English
Fun Fact: I love going to concerts and being involved with local music in South Carolina!​

Veronica Du Plessis
​Year: Junior
Major/Minor: Psychology / Counselor Education
Fun Fact: I am from South Africa!

Wae Man Chan
Year: Sophomore 
Major/Minor: Neuroscience/Biological Sciences​
Fun Fact: I love to travel, and I have been to almost 20 countries!

Isabelle Sutherland
Year: Junior 
Major/Minor: Neuroscience
Fun Fact: I do a little bit of boxing!