Lab Research Assistants

Jennifer Barbosa (Fall 2021-Present)

Jennifer is a 6th-year doctoral candidate in the Clinical Psychology program. Jennifer graduated from Seton Hall University in 2017 with her B.S. in Psychology and from Montclair State University in 2019 with her M.A. in Clinical Psychology. Her research interests include the interplay between parent stress, parent-child interactions, and infant/child development. Her clinical interests include dyadic therapy and parent-infant/child attachment. For her master’s thesis, Jennifer explored the effect of exposure to gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) on child language development and how other factors like maternal mental health and socioeconomic status may be implicated. 

Tali Filstein (Summer 2023-Present)

Tali is currently the Cognitive and Language Development Lab Manager. She is a 4th-year doctoral candidate in the Clinical Psychology program. Tali graduated from Colgate University in 2021 with a B.A. in Neuroscience. She is interested in studying the development of social cognition, including theory of mind, communicative language processing, and emotional intelligence, and in examining the factors influencing communication between autistic and non-autistic individuals. Her clinical interests include evidence-based interventions for anxiety in adults and for youth with ASD and their families to improve quality of life and family relationships. 

Diego Leon (Fall 2025-Present)

Diego is a 2nd-year doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology program. He is currently the Cognitive and Language Development Co-Lab Manager. He graduated with an A.A. in Psychology from Santa Rosa Junior College and earned a B.A. in psychology, with an emphasis in Neuroscience, from San Diego State University in 2025. His research interests focus on the intersection of language and cognition, particularly how bilingual children process and manage two languages as they develop. Clinically, he is interested in assessments and treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders in young children, focusing on early detection of these disorders.

Sophia Carter (Fall 2026-Present)

Sophia is a 1st-year doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology program. She graduated with a B.A. in Psychology from Rutgers University – New Brunswick in 2026. Her research interests center on learning differences in children with neurodevelopmental disorders, especially social, numerical, and language development. Her clinical interests include assessment and treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders and facilitating learning in children.

Alyssa Dermer (Fall 2025-Present)

Alyssa is a 2nd-year master’s student in the Clinical Psychology program with a focus on children and adolescents. She graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 2023 with a B.A. in Psychology. Her research interests are centered on early childhood development, parent-child interactions, trauma-informed care, and early identification and intervention for children and families impacted by adverse experiences. In the future, Alyssa would like to pursue her PhD in Clinical Psychology and eventually work as a researcher specializing in parent-child interactions and child and adolescent trauma.

Alexia Cervantes (Summer 2025-Present)

Alexia is a fourth-year undergraduate student at Montclair State University. She is majoring in Psychology with double minors in Child Advocacy and Policy and Family Science and Human Development. She joined the lab to study how parent-child interactions influence children’s cognitive abilities. In the future, Alexia would like to pursue either her PsyD or PhD in Clinical Psychology.

Matthew Amaya (Summer 2026-Present)

Matthew is a junior undergraduate student at Montclair State University, majoring in Psychology. He joined the Cognitive and Language Development Lab to gain hands-on research experience. He hopes to develop an understanding of psychological research by working within the lab and to strengthen his ability to work with participants and families within each study. In the future, Matthew hopes to finish his BA, get his MA, and become a clinical counselor, helping people improve their mental health.

Emily Santos (Summer 2026-Present)

Emily is a senior undergraduate student at Montclair State University, majoring in Psychology and Public and Professional Writing. She joined the Cognitive and Language Development Lab to gain research experience and further her passion for understanding how children learn, develop, and interact with the world around them. Emily enjoys working with children and families and is particularly interested in developmental and clinical psychology. After completing her undergraduate studies, Emily plans to pursue a PsyD or a master’s degree in counseling and aspires to become a psychologist helping individuals lead healthier, more fulfilling lives.

Lea Biele (Summer 2026-Present)

Lea is a senior undergraduate student at Montclair State University, majoring in Psychology and minoring in Justice Studies. She joined the Cognitive and Language Development Lab to gain research experience and further her passion for understanding how children learn, and interact with the world around them. Lea is particularly interested in developmental and forensic psychology, especially as they relate to children and adolescents within the justice system. After completing her undergraduate studies, Lea plans to pursue a PsyD in Forensic Psychology with a focus on child and adolescent populations. She aspires to work within the justice system as a psychologist, providing counseling for underserved youth who are often overlooked.

Jizette Bayron (Summer 2022-Present)

Jizette was an undergraduate student at Montclair and graduated with a BA/MA in Psychological Research. She joined the lab in Summer 2022 due to her interests in early childhood development and cognitive science. Jizette plans on pursuing her PhD or PsyD in Clinical Psychology after her Master’s. She aims to get more involved with psychological research throughout her time at the lab.