Team

Dan Hyde, PhD

dchyde [at] illinois.edu

Nydia Vurdah, PhD

Postdoctoral Researcher

nvurdah [at] illinois.edu

Nydia is a postdoctoral researcher in the BCD Lab. She received her Ph.D. from Université Paris Cité (France) in 2023 under the supervision of Dr. Arnaud Viarouge and Prof. Grégoire Borst. Her research examines the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying the development of numeracy and math abilities, with a focus on how early numerical abilities, attention to number, and executive functions relate. She uses a combination of behavioral and neuroimaging methods (EEG and fNIRS).  

Ellen Tong

Research Coordinator

etong [at] illinois.edu

Ellen joined the BCD Lab as a Lab Coordinator in June 2026. She received her B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Education from UC Berkeley in 2025 and her Ed.M. in Human Development and Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education in 2026. She is interested in how children reason about uncertainty. In her free time, she loves exploring the town and is an avid perfume collector!

CC Chen

Graduate Student

ccchen7 [at] illinois.edu

Michaela Haig

Graduate Student

haig3 [at] illinois.edu

Fernando Sánchez Hernández, PhD

Teaching Assistant Professor

fs8 [at] illinois.edu

Fernando is a Teaching Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at UIUC. In addition to coordinating the delivery of instruction for PSYC 100, Fernando maintains an active research program as an affiliate of the BCD Lab. In his work, he and his collaborators examine the social and cognitive mechanisms that support the development of fairness, agency attribution, and numeracy. He has extensive expertise in behavioral and neuroscientific methodologies with young children and adults!

Bailey Dunsmore

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Bailey is a third-year majoring in Psychology. She has been working in the BCD Lab since May 2026, and also works as a Recruitment Coordinator for a group of Developmental Psychology labs where she connects with families and share opportunities to participate in research! Academically, Bailey is interested in child development in educational contexts, particularly the development of career aspirations. Outside of the lab, she enjoys going to the movies, discovering new music, and exploring the C-U area with friends.

Maera Jimenez

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Maera is a third-year studying Psychology and Human Development and Family Studies on the pre-medicine track. She is interested in understanding the development for numerical knowledge in children. She was born and raised in Ottawa IL., which is around 15 minutes from Starved Rock, and went to Marquette Academy High School where she had a graduating class of 39! In her limited free time, she loves spending time with friends, drinking lots and lots of coffee, and playing on intramural volleyball teams!

Erin Kim

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Erin is a Junior majoring in Brain & Cognitive Science, and has been working as a research assistant in the BCD Lab since Fall 2025. Her research interests are in child development and cognitive neuroscience, with a particular interest in memory processing. She is also interested in clinical psychology. In her free time, she enjoys playing music, crafting, and watching documentaries!

Kk Phunratanamala

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Kk is a third-year majoring in developmental psychology and neuroscience, who joined the lab in Fall 2025. She is deeply interested in how early neurodevelopment and environmental inputs shape numerical learning and cognitive processing. Looking ahead, she plans to continue working in human developmental neuroscience and clinical research. Outside the lab, she enjoys creating art, reading, and fashion design. She has also contributed illustrations and animations to our lab website!

Luna Piccioni

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Luna is a fourth-year majoring in Interdisciplinary Psychology with a Chemistry minor on the premed track. She joined the lab during the summer of 2026 and is interested in the developmental aspects of children’s mathematical learning. She is interested in going to medical school and has a passion for disability health and advocacy. In her off time, she likes to train service dogs and learn different languages!

Rishi Shah

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Rishi is a second-year student studying Chemistry and Brain & Cognitive Science. His research interests lie in understanding the mechanisms of the brain through behavioral and electrophysiological approaches. Born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago, Rishi grew up surrounded by a strong sports culture and is a lifelong sports fanatic. In his free time, he loves hiking, going to the gym, and exploring new restaurants whenever he gets the chance.