Director
Nicholas A. Hubbard, Ph.D.
Dr. Hubbard is the Director of the NeuroCognitive Translation Lab, Assistant Professor of Psychology, and Resident Faculty at the Center for Brain, Biology, and Behavior. He joined the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2019, after completing an NIMH-funded fellowship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dr. Hubbard completed his Ph.D. in Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Texas at Dallas, and his B.S. in Psychology at Michigan State University.
His research is at the intersection of cognitive neuroscience, clinical psychology, and biomedical engineering. His work focuses on the application of novel neuroimaging, behavioral, and statistical techniques to better understand the continuum of mental abilities as they manifest throughout development and in clinical populations. Dr. Hubbard’s research also strives to answer basic questions furthering our understanding of human memory.
Lab Coordinator
Saurabh Chandra
Saurabh joined the lab in August, 2023 as an undergraduate research assistant. He has been the lab coordinator since January, 2024. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in December, 2023 with majors in both Neuroscience and Biology. He is incredibly fascinated by neural mechanisms that govern aspects of human experience - particularly the intricate sentiment of nostalgia. Saurabh is currently planning on attending medical school with aspirations of becoming a neurologist.
Graduate Students
Robert Roy
Rob joined the lab in August, 2023 as a Graduate Research Assistant in the Neuroscience and Behavior PhD program. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and English from Saint Joseph’s University in May 2019, and his M.S. in experimental psychology from the same university in May 2020 for which he defended his thesis on factors leading to the formation of monogamous relationships in the California mouse. After graduating Rob went on to be a research coordinator on the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, and helped build a research program for a first episode psychosis clinic. Now, Rob is investigating changes in neurobiology in psychiatric disorders with emphasis on methamphetamine addiction and psychosis.
Emily Reid
Emily joined the lab in May, 2024 as a Graduate Research Assistant. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Mississippi in May, 2023. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Audiology degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. After obtaining her degree, Emily would like to move further South and become an audiologist.
Undergraduate Research Assistants
Kennedy Kadlec
Kennedy joined the lab in July 2022. She is a junior studying Psychology. She is interested in the different areas of the brain and how those specific areas impact our behavioral and cognitive abilities. After graduation, Kennedy plans to pursue graduate school in hopes of becoming a neuropsychologist.
Jordyn Oliver
Jordyn joined the lab in Spring 2023. She is a junior majoring in Psychology and Neuroscience with minors in Mathematics and Biology. She is interested in Cognitive Neuroscience and neuroimaging. After graduation, Jordyn plans to a Ph.D. degree in Neuroscience.
James Jura
James joined the lab in August 2023. He is a junior majoring Biochemistry with minors in Chemistry and Humanities in Medicine. He is interested in the reward pathways of the brain and how they are altered by addiction. After graduation, James plans to pursue medical school.
Liz Nelson
Liz joined the lab in June, 2024. She is a senior majoring in Neuroscience with a minor in Biology. She is interested in pain processing and neurological conditions that cause chronic pain. After graduation, Liz plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Neuropsychology.
Jess Li
Jess joined the lab in June, 2024. She is currently an undergraduate student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and is set to graduate in May, 2025. Upon receiving her degree, she hopes to attend graduate school to obtain her Master's degree and then pursue professional school to become a Physician's Assistant. Afterwards, she hopes to engage in a mixture of clinical work and research/teaching.
Justin Hernandez
Justin joined the lab in June, 2024. He is currently a sophomore at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and is majoring in Psychology. Upon receiving his degree, Justin hopes to attend graduate school with a specific emphasis in Clinical Psychology.
Ankitha Turangi
Ankitha joined the lab in August, 2024. She is currently a junior at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and is majoring in Biochemistry with minors in both Psychology and Humanities in Medicine. She is interested in Neurophysiology and the effects of mental illnesses and traumatic brain injuries upon the brain and human behavior. After graduation, Ankitha plans on pursuing medical school to become a neurologist.
Lab Alumni
Lab Managers and Staff
Danielle Clark
Joelle Sanger
Liv O'Clair
Mai Pham
Makenna Weddle
Victoria Mundorf
Karina Pedroza Sotelo
Scientific Programmer
Matt Semin
Post Doctoral Fellows
Jacy VerMaas, Ph.D., M.A., OTR/L, BCP
Graduate Students
Kevin Miller
Visiting Graduate Students
Vamsi Manthena
Research Assistants
Matthew Lowry
Andrea Martinez
Jennifer Rolfe
Lucas Wilkinson
Emily Helmer
Nathan Miller
Spencer Schroeder
Alexander M. Vera
Audrey Denning
Meklit Aga
Lauren Lintner
Jessica Stump
Lucille Crum
Cady Murphy
Abbie Bartmess
Brandon Zywiec
Bryn Lang
Kyle Sextro