People

Faculty & Staff

Graduate Students

Milad Kassaie

I am a PhD student in the Brain and Cognitive Science area of USC Psychology program. I am interested in human motivation and decision making, and the contextual factors that influence them. I use neuroimaging, physiological measurements, and computational modeling to tackle issues of interest in these fields. I have previous experience in using non-invasive brain stimulation(TMS, tES)  and fMRI to study value-based decision making and food craving.

Shuning Wang

I am a PhD student in BCS. I am interested in self-control, addiction, motivation, decision-making, and behavioral economics. I find it both fascinating and entertaining to utilize my own human brain to study the brains of others. During my leisure time, I enjoy reading novels or philosophical books, exercising, and traveling.

Natalia “Natalie” Peraza

Natalia “Nat” Peraza is a 4th year PhD student in the Brain and Cognitive Science area of the Psychology program at the University of Southern California. Her research focuses on understanding the relationship between substance use and psychological vulnerabilities, with the goal of reducing substance use and improving mental health outcomes among underserved and vulnerable populations. Natalia is also interested in exploring the neural correlates of addiction, as well as assessing the abuse potential and therapeutic effects of drugs to inform public health policy.

Project Assistant

Jacob Aguilera

Jacob is a full-time Project Assistant in the Addiction and Self-Control Lab. In his role, he coordinates research operations, manages participant recruitment and scheduling, supports data management and quality assurance, and contributes to study design and data analysis. His research interests center on addiction among young adults, with a particular focus on the cognitive and behavioral factors that influence substance use and recovery. He plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, with the goal of conducting research on addiction and developing evidence-based interventions to improve mental health outcomes. Outside of the lab, Jacob enjoys reading, attending concerts, and exploring coffee shops throughout Los Angeles.

Undergraduate Assistants

  Madison Haaland-Ford

I am an undergraduate Human Biology student on the pre-medical track with a minor in Business Administration. As a member of the Cerebro study team, I am trained in functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to assess cortical hemodynamic responses associated with cue-reactivity. My research interests focus on the behavioral appeal of oral nicotine products (ONPs) and their potential role in craving reduction and harm reduction strategies. Outside of research, I compete as a Division I women’s water polo athlete at USC and enjoy hot yoga and Pilates in my free time.

Zachary Haywood

I am an undergraduate psychology student on a pre-med track. As part of the team for the Cerebro study, I am trained to operate functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) on participants to observe hemodynamic patterns related to cue-reactivity. My research interests include the relative appeal of oral nicotine products (ONP) and their abilities to reduce craving in smokers. In my free time, I love singing with my a cappella group and exploring cafes across Los Angeles.