Director: Jeremy I. Borjon, PhD
Meet our Lab
Dr. Jeremy I. Borjon is an Assistant Professor of Psychology in the Integrative Program in Developmental, Cognitive, & Behavioral Neuroscience at the University of Houston. As Director of the Developing Systems Laboratory, Dr. Borjon’s research aims to understand how human infants coordinate their internal states with emerging cognitive and motor systems during the first years of life. His research leverages the dense sampling and analysis of naturalistic infant and caregiver behavior using head-mounted eye-tracking, wireless cardiorespiratory sensors, motion capture sensors, and high-quality audiovisual recordings. The goal of this research is to determine how cognitive achievements such as sustained visual attention and language development emerge in the context of a growing and changing body and the surrounding social environment.
Dr. Borjon was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Indiana University, Bloomington. Dr. Borjon completed his Ph.D. in Psychology and Neuroscience at Princeton University. He was previously the Simons Fellow in Computational Neuroscience at the Yale Child Study Center in the Yale School of Medicine and the Marcus Autism Center in the Emory University School of Medicine. Dr. Borjon completed his A.B. in Psychology with a Certificate in Neuroscience at Princeton University.
Lab Manager: Katherine Rhodes
Katherine Rhodes is a Lab Manager in the Developing System’s Laboratory. She recently graduated with a B.S. in Psychology from Texas A&M University (TAMU); that degree included a Minor in Communications and certificates in the Psychology of Diversity and Applied Behavioral Health. Over her undergraduate study, Katherine participated in a myriad of social science research including Marketing, I/O Psychology, and Behavioral Neuroscience. At Texas A&M’s ‘23 Student Research Week, she placed 2nd in the undergraduate sciences category for a group oral presentation. Katherine also served as an Undergraduate Teaching Assistant, Peer Mentor, and Student Athlete Tutor. Generally, she is interested in psychological research that emphasizes the implications of social interactions on well-being and development. Outside of research, Katherine enjoys cooking, yoga, music, and fun activities like skydiving and paintball.
Graduate Student: Parsa Taheri
Parsa Taheri is a second-year student at the University of Houston's Developmental, Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience (DCBN) PhD program. She graduated from Barnard College of Columbia University in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in Women's Studies. After graduation, she became a Quality Undergraduate Education and Scholarly Training (QUEST) scholar at New York University. Later, she continued her research endeavors as a Minnesota Inclusive Neuroscience Development (MIND) scholar at the University of Minnesota. She is interested in using big data methods to uncover how distinct early experiences drive young children's cognitive and emotional development. Outside of research, Parsa enjoys olympic weightlifting at her gym, socializing with her loved ones, thrifting, traveling, spending time outdoors, and all things fashion and makeup.
Data Scientist: Manash Sahoo
Manash Sahoo is a Data Scientist in the Developing System’s Laboratory. In 2020, he graduated from Indiana University-Bloomington with a B.S. in Psychology and was the recipient of the Department’s J.R. Kantor Senior Prize. Following graduation, as a Simons Fellow in Computational Neuroscience at the Marcus Autism Center and Emory University, he investigated how low-level features of infant-directed speech and song shape the gaze patterns of both neurotypical infants and those who later develop autism. Generally, Manash is interested in using machine learning and signal processing techniques to understand how the moment-to-moment dynamics of infant-directed speech influence infant attention, emotional regulation, and components of the autonomic nervous system like heart rate and respiration. Outside of research, Manash enjoys computer science, video games, building Gundam model kits, and spending time with his dog Holly.
High School Intern: Evan White
Evan White is a high school junior at The Academy of Science and Technology in The Woodlands, Texas, seeking to pursue research at the intersection of
neuroscience and computer science. With 3 years of independent
research experience, his studies have won various awards, most
recently including the Sulochana Pattabhiraman Award for his novel
approach to Mild Cognitive Impairment therapies. Evan also continues
to explore research through developing his neuroscience analysis
platform, NeuroFour. Outside of research, Evan enjoys designing model
rockets, improving his trivia knowledge for his Quiz Bowl team, and
writing articles for his local hospital’s newsletter.
Lab Director: Jeremy I. Borjon, PhD
