LAB DIRECTOR
Thad Polk, Ph.D.
Professor Thad A. Polk is an Arthur F. Thurnau Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Michigan. He also chairs Michigan’s Institutional Review Board for Health Sciences and Behavioral Sciences and serves as an Associate Chair in the Psychology Department. His research combines functional imaging of the human brain with computational modeling and behavioral methods to investigate the neural architecture underlying cognition. Some of his major projects have investigated changes in neural representations as we age, contributions of nature versus nurture to neural organization, and differences in the brains of smokers who quit compared with those who do not. Dr. Polk has taught well over 6,000 UM students over the past 20 years. In 2006, he was named an Arthur F. Thurnau Professor in recognition of outstanding contributions to undergraduate education, and in 2012 Princeton Review included him on its list of the Best 300 Professors in the US. In 2020, Dr. Polk was named the Samuel D. Epstein Collegiate Professor of Psychology in recognition of his work as an inspiring teacher, outstanding researcher and selfless administrator.
POSTDOC
Molly Simmonite
Molly is an Assistant Research Scientist at the University of Michigan, affiliated with both the Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry. She holds a PhD in Psychiatry from the University of Nottingham, UK where she worked with Professor Peter Liddle. Molly joined the Computational & Cognitive Neuroscience Lab in 2016 to work on the MiND project. Her research focuses on understanding brain alterations over the course of aging and in psychosis spectrum disorders, using imaging techniques including functional MRI, MR spectroscopy and EEG.
GRADUATE STUDENTS
Shreya Rajagopal
Shreya Rajagopal is a Ph.D. candidate in Cognition and Cognitive Neuroscience in the Department of Psychology at the University of Michigan, where she joined the Polk lab in 2020. She holds a degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Manipal Institute of Technology, India (2018). Shreya’s current research focuses on the context-dependent mechanisms of fear extinction in the brain, using computational and experimental approaches to examine how spatial and temporal contexts influence the return of fear after extinction. Her prior work involved applying machine learning techniques to large-scale neuroimaging data to predict the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Shreya’s research interests include leveraging novel computational approaches to explore how the brain generates cognition and behavior, and using computational psychiatry to understand how mental health disorders affect brain mechanisms.
Violet Zhou
Violet had joined the Polk Lab in Fall 2021 as a lab manager. Now she has joined the lab as a new graduate student! She received a Master’s degree in Education Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin in August 2021 and earned a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering in 2013 from Tongji University in Shanghai, China. After she graduated from college, she worked as an engineer and project manager for developing the Internet-of-Vehicles and actively joined a research project on aging and memory and the effectiveness of certain interventions on Alzheimer’s Disease. She worked as a research assistant at Legare Lab at UT Austin on a cross-cultural study of children’s cognitive development and social learning. Led by her interests and passion in Neuroscience and Clinical Psychology, she wants to explore the neural mechanism of cognitive impairment and to contribute to novel interventions and therapies for psychopathology in the clinical field. She will be working with the MiND Study!
LAB MANAGERS
Noah Reardon
Noah joined the Polk Lab in the summer of 2023. He graduated from The Ohio State University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. He plans to pursue a PhD in cognitive developmental psychology and use a combination of behavioral, neuroimaging, and computational methods to explore how early experiences shape perception and learning.
Kayla Wyatt
Kayla joined the Polk Lab in the Fall of 2023. She graduated from
Temple University with a bachelor’s in psychology. She is interested in
understanding the interplay between life experiences and the neural
workings of emotional and cognitive processes. She is exploring
different graduate disciplines and hopes to expand and refine her
research interests.
Bingjie Liu
Bingjie joined the Polk Lab in the Fall of 2024. She graduated from Cornell University with a master’s degree in Developmental Psychology. She has a broad interest in psychology including clinical, developmental, social, and cognitive areas by using behavioral and neuroscience methods. She hopes to learn more neuroimaging and computational methods and refine her interests.
RESEARCH ASSISTANTS
Zhuo (Zoe) Li
Zhuo is a senior planning to major in BCN and Economics. She joined the Polk Lab in Winter 2023 and she is excited to learn about the aging brain and interventions for Alzheimer’s Disease. In her free time, Zhuo enjoys playing basketball, cooking, and singing.
Milena Stepanova
Milena is a graduating senior in the BCN and UX Design programs, currently writing her Honors Thesis in Psychology and planning to stay in the lab as a graduate researcher through the Accelerated Master’s Program. Since her first year of undergraduate study, she has been involved in the Person-Specific Imaging Project and is excited to continue exploring neuroimaging and cognitive neuroscience in graduate school. Passionate about research, Milena aspires to become an academic researcher or applied behavioral scientist.
Oreen Morag
Oreen is a junior majoring in Cognitive Science. She joined the Polk Lab in Winter 2023, and is excited to learn more about the mechanisms of human fear extinction and how virtual reality can be used to explore this topic. In her free time, she enjoys being outside and baking.
Silvia Abbasi
Silvia is a sophomore majoring in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience (BCN) with a minor in Data Science. She joined the Polk Lab in the Summer of 2022 and aspires to pursue a career in psychiatry. Silvia is extremely interested in neuroimaging, particularly in research on the default mode network. Outside of academics, she enjoys singing, traveling, and spending time with friends.
Echo Cao
Echo joined the Polk Lab in the Fall of 2024 and is currently pursuing the Cognitive Science Computation Track at the University of Michigan. With a broad interest in both Computer Science and Cognitive Science, Echo focuses on areas such as Human-Computer Interaction, Brain-Machine Interfaces, and cognitive processes through behavioral and neuroscience methodologies. He is eager to expand his knowledge in neuroimaging and computational techniques.”
Brian Hsu
Brian is a sophomore majoring in Computer Science and Cognitive Science. He joined the Polk Lab in the Summer of 2024 and is interested in exploring the intersection of artificial intelligence and neuroscience, particularly in applying computational modeling to understand neural processes. Brian is also interested in the Human-Computer Interface and is excited to experiment with data processing techniques. In his free time, he likes to play volleyball, skateboard around campus, and play various instruments.
Manishika Balamurugan
Manishika is a sophomore majoring in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience with a minor in Computer Science. She joined the Polk Lab in Fall 2024 and is interested in the application of brain-imaging techniques alongside computational modeling methods to understand neuropsychiatric disorders as they develop through an individuals lifetime. In her free time, Manishika enjoys being outside, trying new restaurants, and spending time with friends.
Isabel Bruce
Isabel is a sophomore majoring in Neuroscience on the pre-med track, and minoring in Spanish. She’s excited to work in the Polk Lab, and particularly to learn about age-related changes in neural structures. In her free time, Isabel enjoys playing soccer with the Michigan club team, drinking coffee, and spending time with friends.
Alexis Cornett
Alexis is a sophomore majoring in Economics with interests in attending law school. She joined the Polk lab in Winter 2025 and is excited to learn more about neuroscience and its connection to aging through the lens of research. Alexis enjoys dancing, reading, Culvers, and traveling to Disney World.
PICTURES OF THE TEAM