People

Faculty

Dr. Angela C. Incollingo Rodriguez

Director

The SEED lab is run by Dr. Angela C. Incollingo Rodriguez, who is an Assistant Professor of Psychological & Cognitive Sciences at WPI. Her humanitarian roots and global travels inspired her research interests. Before joining the faculty at WPI, she received her PhD in Health Psychology from UCLA. Dr. R. uses research as a vehicle to both investigate pressing social issues and to provide training to budding scientists.

Lab Managers

Mira Kirschner

Graduate Student Researcher

Mira is an M.S. student in Neuroscience. Outside of the lab, she manages the SWEET Center, TAs for the Psychological & Cognitive Sciences department, is a part of the Graduate Advisory Council, and is also a member of the Psychological Society and Psi Chi. In her free time, she enjoys baking, thrifting, playing The Sims 4, and spending quality time with her friends. She is also a huge fan of Taylor Swift and Harry Styles.

    Lorena Nunes

    Graduate Student Researcher

    Lorena is a graduate student in the Neuroscience program. She is also a recipient of the prestigious Kasparian Scholarship. Outside of the lab, she is a research assistant for the Social Neuroscience of Affective Processes (SNAP) Lab, and a TA for the Psychological & Cognitive Sciences department. Her hobbies include reading, running and crocheting!

      Students

      Gretchen Ames

      Student Researcher

      Gretchen is a biology/biotechnology major with a minor in business. She is a part of the class of 2026 and involved in Phi Sig. She is a community advisor and in percussion ensemble. Outside of the lab, she loves animals, reading, and going swimming.

        Victoria Corcoran

        Student Researcher

        Victoria is a junior double majoring in psychological science and biology/biotechnology. Outside of the lab, she is involved in Alpha Xi Delta, the Psychological Science Society, the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and the Biotechnology Club. Outside of school, she enjoys swimming and baking!

          Sophia Kouznetsov

          Student Researcher

          Sophia is a junior pursuing a double major in Psychological Sciences and Bioinformatics & Computational Biology. On campus, she is a Peer Learning Assistant in the Mathematical Sciences department, Research Associate for the Social Neuroscience of Affective Processes (SNAP) Lab, and a Dance Mentor on the ballroom dance team. Outside of campus, she is an academic tutor and ballroom dance coach. She loves traveling, dancing, and health and fitness!

            Jessica Duda

            Student Researcher

            Jessica is a sophomore Biology/Biotechnology major on the pre-med track. On campus, she is a member of Alpha Gamma Delta, Mu Sigma Delta, and the URISE Program. She loves Taylor Swift, country music, and the beach!

              Mya Lesieur

              Student Researcher

              Mya is a member of the class of 2026, majoring in psychology with a concentration in psychobiology. Outside of the lab, she is a member of Alpha Phi and club basketball. She is a lab manager for the Social Neuroscience of Affective Processes (SNAP) Lab, and serves as the vice president of the Psychology Society. Beyond school, she enjoys traveling, ice cream, animals, and watching movies.

                Affiliated Scholars

                Taniya Singh Nagpal

                Affiliate Investigator

                Dr. Nagpal began collaborating with the SEED Lab as a post-doc and is now an Assistant Professor at The University of Alberta. She received her PhD from The University of Western Ontario where she studied adherence to exercise and nutrition interventions during pregnancy and effects on maternal and fetal anthropometry. Her research takes a person-oriented approach to understand weight stigma and internalized weight bias during pregnancy, design and test inclusive prenatal exercise interventions and measure the downstream effect on maternal and newborn health outcomes. Dr. Nagpal serves as co-PI on a SEED Lab grant to investigate pregnancy-related weight stigma from close relations.

                  Lab Alumni

                  • Jessica Greenleaf – Psychological Science / Humanities & Arts (BS) – 2019
                  • Stephanie Smieszek – Biomedical Engineering (BS) – 2019
                  • Siearah Robles – Psychological Science (BS) – 2020
                  • Alisionna (Alis) Iannacchione – Psychological Science (BS) – 2021
                  • Despina Tomboulides – Biomedical Engineering (BS) – 2021
                  • Kathryn Nippert – Psychological Science / Biochemistry (BS) – 2021, Neuroscience (MS) – 2022
                  • Mia Velletri – Biomedical Engineering (BS) – 2022
                  • Isadora Sorpol – Biomedical Engineering (BS) – 2022
                  • Alexis Rock – Biology and Biotechnology (BS) – 2022
                  • Hannah Brooks – Biomedical Engineering (BS) – 2022
                  • Karen Ho – Psychological Science/ Professional Writing (BS) – 2022
                  • Constantina Gatsonis – Psychological Science (BS) – 2022
                  • Emily Bendremer – Psychological Science (BS) – 2023
                  • Christina Tsillas – Psychological Science / Biochemistry (BS) – 2023
                  • Gillian Ebeling – Biomedical Engineering (BS) – 2023
                  • Taylor Johnson – Psychological Science (BS) – 2023
                  • Kellie Bushe – Biomedical Engineering (BS) – 2024
                  • Vanessa Cenkollari – Biology and Biotechnology (BS) – 2024
                  • Grace Solod – Biology and Biotechnology (BS) – 2024