People
Faculty
Dr. Roland Benoit
Principle Investigator
Dr. Benoit is the Principle Investigator of the Adaptive Memory Lab at the Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØ. He is an Associate Professor at CU’s Department of Psychology and Neuroscience and Institute of Cognitive Science. Before joining CU, Dr. Benoit was the head of the research group Adaptive Memory at the Max Planck Institute of Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Leipzig, Germany. Prior to starting his own lab, he received his Ph.D. from University College London under the supervision of Paul W. Burgess and conducted research as a postdoctoral fellow with Michael C. Anderson at the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit in Cambridge, UK, and with Daniel L. Schacter at Harvard University.Ìý
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Contact Information:
Email:Ìýroland.benoit@colorado.edu
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Post Doctoral Researcher
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Frederik Bergmann
Post Doctoral Researcher
Frederik completed his PhD in the UK, where he worked at the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit at the University of Cambridge with Mike Anderson. In his PhD work, he used fMRI and multivariate methods to investigate the attentional mechanisms that underlie the intrusion of unwanted memories into awareness as well as the mechanisms that allow us to suppress and eventually forget them. After his PhD, Frederik continued research with Dr. Benoit in the Adaptive Memory Lab. Currently, he is interested in understanding how our brain suppresses and transforms memories and how memory interplays with attention, and emotion regulation. He also possesses a keen interest in how large language models can assist experimental psychologists, particularly in the generation, validation and selection of the optimal words and pictures for our experiments.
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Contact Information:
Email: frederik.bergmann@colorado.eduÌý
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Doctoral Researchers
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Alexander Barone
Graduate Student
Alex is a second year doctoral student in the Psychology and Neuroscience department. He graduated with a B.A in Psychology and a minor in Statistics and Data Science at Temple University in 2024. Currently, Alex's work centers around understanding how past episodic memories can shape future experiences. Additionally, he is interested in the neural systems supporting episodic and semantic memory. In his free time, Alex enjoys hiking around Boulder, reading a good book, and spending time outdoors with friends.
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Contact Information:
Email: alex.barone@colorado.eduÌý
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Olivia Stine
Graduate Student
Olivia is a second year doctoral student in the Psychology and Neuroscience department. They graduated with a B.S. In Neurobiology from UW-Madison in 2021. From 2021-2024, Olivia was a research assistant at Butler Hospital's Center for Biomedical Research Excellence in Rhode Island; they were on a study researching transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on the inhibitory control network and, later on, a pilot study looking at an at-home brain stimulation device in firefighters. At Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder, Olivia is excited to continue their interest in executive functioning, brain stimulation, and brain mapping within the Benoit Lab. In Olivia's free time, you'll find them reading a mystery, crocheting or knitting a gift, or outside learning to longboard.
Contact Information:
Email: olivia.stine@colorado.eduÌý
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Research Coordinator
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Jesse TemesÌý
Lab Manager
Jesse is the lab manager of the Adaptive Memory Lab. He graduated with a B.S. in Cognitive Science at UC-San Diego in 2022. Since graduating, he has spent time away from science to manage restaurant beverage programs, but is returning to the field to study how mental representations are stored in memory. He spends his free time reading fantasy novels, playing DnD, and exploring different cultural scenes with friends.Ìý
Contact Information:
Email: jesse.temes@colorado.edu Ìý
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Undergraduate Researchers
Elise Gallentine
Elise is a student in CU's Post-Baccalaureate Health Professions Program currently completing her pre-med coursework. In the lab, she is interested in discussing real-world implications, interacting with participants, and analyzing fMRI data. Outside of the lab, Elise enjoys hiking the trails around Boulder, reading mystery novels, and spending time with her friends and family.Ìý
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Contact Information:
Email: elise.gallentine@colorado.eduÌý
Gabriella Macarelli
Gabriella is a neuroscience and psychology double major on the pre-health track. She is interested in learning more about the mechanics of how memory functions. Outside of the lab, Gabriella loves to rock climb, mountain bike, lift, and go backpacking!
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Contact Information:
Email: gabriella.macarelli@colorado.eduÌý
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Kira Wilhelmi
Kira is a Psychology major with a minor in business and leadership. Some of her research interests include memory and brain research, environmental impacts on mental health, and childhood development. Outside of school, Kira loves to ski, sail, hike, be outdoors, and spend time with her friends and family.
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Contact Information:
Email: kira.wilhelmi@colorado.eduÌý
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Brooke Porter
Brooke is a Psychology major with a minor in Business. She is interested in the cognitive and neural mechanisms of memory, particularly how people regulate unwanted thoughts and suppress memories. Outside of the lab, Brooke enjoys hiking, sailing, and spending time outdoors.Ìý
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Contact Information:
Email: brooke.porter@colorado.eduÌý
Adam Weller
Adam is a Neuroscience and Violin Performance double major. He is interested in cognitive neuroscience, specifically the mechanisms of learning and memory. In his free time, Adam likes to play violin, snowboard, produce film music, and swim.
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Contact Information:
Email: adam.weller@colorado.eduÌý
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Vasudev PatelÌý
Vasu is a Psychology major. His research interests include learning and memory, brain damage with a focus on neurodegenerative disorders, and nervous system and brain development. In his free time, Vasu enjoys playing and watching various sports, reading, spending time with friends and family, and attending live music.
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Contact Information:
Email: vasudev.patel@colorado.eduÌý
Maya DeitrickÌý
Maya is a Psychology and Neuroscience double major on the pre-health track. Her main research interests focus on memory and neurological disorders, with an emphasis on women’s health and childhood development. In her free time, Maya enjoys reading, hiking, traveling, and spending time with friends.
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Contact Information:
Email: maya.deitrick@colorado.eduÌý
Ashlyn McGregor
Ashlyn is a Neuroscience and Psychology double major. She is interested in the neural mechanisms of learning and memory along with neural plasticity. Outside the lab, Ashlyn enjoys spending time with friends and family, reading, and working on all kinds of crafts. She hopes to continue in the path of research.
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Contact Information:
Email: ashlyn.mcgregor@colorado.eduÌý
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Lauren Brams
Lauren is a psychology major with an interest in clinical work. In the lab, she is particularly interested in both memory suppression and episodic simulation. In her free time, she loves to sing and write songs, go for walks, and spend time with her family.
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Contact Information:
Email: lauren.brams@colorado.eduÌý
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Elias Santamaria
Elias is a psychology and neuroscience double major. His research interests include understanding the mechanics of learning and memory, as well as reading about novel treatments to disorders such as PTSD or ADHD. In his free time, you can find him at the gym, outside exploring nature, or inside playing video games with his friends.Ìý
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Contact Information:
Email: elias.santamaria@colorado.eduÌý
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