Science is a necessarily collaborative endeavor. Each generation of scientists builds on the accumulation of knowledge that preceded them in order to gain knowledge about the natural world. As a group of scientists, we are committed to rigorously contributing to knowledge about the developmental origins of the human mind by studying the brain. We value integrity, collaboration, creative troubleshooting, and cutting edge research. As a team, we strive to create a respectful and fun work environment where we encourage learning about each other as we continue to commit to producing cutting-edge science. If this sounds appealing, consider joining us!
Lab Members
Atrina Abbasi
I am a first-year Psychology major at the University of Southern California. I am interested in studying brain development and neural networks in early childhood, especially through language and visuospatial function. As I continue my studies, I hope to pursue graduate work in neuroimaging and eventually earn a doctorate in psychology with a focus on neuropsychology.
I am very excited to be starting a lab at USC and to work with the many amazing people I get to work with here in sunny southern California!
Website: www.heatherkosakowski.com
Josie Ramirez
Hi there! I’m Josephine Ramirez, but feel free to call me Josie. I was born and raised in South East Los Angeles, SELA, and am proudly a daughter of Mexican immigrants. I received my B.A. in Data Science with a concentration in Social Justice from Wellesley College where I discovered my love for research. My interests revolve around utilizing statistical techniques to address various research questions and promote social change.
Kaitlyn Wong
Hello! I am a Psychology Ph.D. student joining the lab from UC Davis, where I earned a B.S. in Cognitive Science and a B.A. in Design in 2025. I am broadly interested in how the visual statistics of infants’ everyday experiences shape early learning and the neural mechanisms that support it. Before coming to USC, I worked as a lab manager in the Infant Cognition Lab with Dr. Lisa Oakes, where I studied scene perception in infancy. Outside of lab, I enjoy making ceramics and trying new cafes!
Juno
Juno is a rescue from Alabama. We call him our Alabama boy. Trained by Operation Delta Dog, Juno became part of the family in 2021.
