Social Developmental Neuroscience Laboratory

Dr. Jarcho’s research program bridges the areas of social, developmental, and cognitive neuroscience to study how social processes evolve during adolescence and change across the lifespan. She uses developmental psychopathology as a theoretical framework to examine how such processes manifest in typically developing adolescents and adults, and those with, or at risk for, psychopathology. She tests the effects of learning, attention, and affective states on pro- and anti-social behavior, and how this behavior relates to brain function during positive and negative social experiences. She is also interested in disentangling the neural mechanisms implicated in reward and threat processing during positive and negative social and non-social experiences.

Camille is a sixth-year doctoral candidate and Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Predoctoral Fellow. She graduated from UCLA in 2018 with a BS in Neuroscience. Camille's current projects investigate how we remember social feedback, and how experiencing childhood adversity impacts our memory for social interactions. Additionally, Camille co-founded the Trauma Discussion Group, which is currently conducting a study using text analysis to generate a data-driven operational definition of "gaslighting." In her free time, Camille enjoys reading, playing video games, and crowdsourcing restaurant recommendations.

Ronan is a third-year PhD Student in the Social Developmental Neuroscience Laboratory who is generally interested in how interpersonal influence and social networks are related to development and well-being. He is currently exploring the neural networks and the underlying relationship between neuromelanin and aggression. He graduated from Loyola University Maryland in 2014 and spent time as a research coordinator in the Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit at Johns Hopkins, and in the Psychiatry Department at Temple University. Ronan is regularly assisted by his two dogs and 3 cats who are working on a proposal for him to feed and play with them them twice as much. In his spare time he enjoys writing, painting sloppily, and playing Dungeons and Dragons.

Chloe Savage | PhD Student

Chloe is a first-year student in the Clinical Psychology PhD program. She is interested in the neural networks associated with social dysfunction especially in clinical populations. She graduated from Swarthmore college with a BA in neuroscience in 2022. Outside of research, Chloe enjoys pottery, crocheting, and board games.

Katie graduated from Temple University in with her B.A. in Psychology and a minor in English. After working for the SDN Lab as an undergraduate research assistant since 2021, she has since made the transition to working for the lab full-time as lab coordinator! Outside of the SDN Lab, Katie is also the lab coordinator for Temple's Social and Affective Neuroscience Lab! When she's not working, Katie can be found enjoying live music, playing with her cat, Moose, and spending time with her friends and family.

Lauren is a recent Temple University graduate with a B.A in psychology. Broadly, she is interested in emotional regulation, the dynamics of brain function, and social-cognitive processes during adolescence, as well as exploring and implementing early childhood interventions aimed at fostering optimal social and cognitive development

Ali is an undergraduate neuroscience major and dance minor. Her research interests include the intersections of music/dance and neuroscience as well as the neurobiology of emotion. In her free time she enjoys reading, drawing, and dancing.

Melody graduated from University of Washington with a B.S in psychology. She is currently working at the social developmental lab at UPenn and in the process of finishing her master degree in developmental psychology. She is interested in developmental psychopathology and plans to apply for a PhD in clinical developmental psychology. During free time, she enjoys city walking and exploring coffee and bakery shops around the city!

Kathryn is a senior psychology major with an anthropology minor at Widener University. She is interested in getting her PhD in social psychology. Her interests are social and developmental research. In her free time, she likes to play tennis, travel, and hang out with friends and family.

Emilie is a sophomore Psychology major on the pre-medical track; upon graduation she plans to attend medical school. She is especially interested in research that is centered around anxiety. Outside of the lab, Emilie is involved in clubs including AMSA, PMA, and Tri-Alpha Honor Society. In her free time she enjoys practicing yoga, being with friends and family, and spending time outside.

Kenna is an undergraduate psychology major who hopes to pursue a career in clinical psychology. She is interested in all thing's psychopathology, victim services and public health. Besides psychology, Kenna is the soon to be president of Temples Diamond Dogs, she takes ceramics classes and loves thrifting or anything secondhand!

Rachell is an undergraduate psychology major and pre-med student. She has a particular interest in trauma and its subsequent toll on development. She likes to read and write in her free time as well as visit and learn about different languages and cultures.

Sierra is a Senior with a Psychology major and a Cognitive Neuroscience minor. She is very interested in understanding the intersection between psychology and neuroscience. Sierra is involved in organizations such as the Association of Black Psychologists (ABPSI) and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. She currently works at Temple University's Wellness Resource Center as the Mental Well-Being Program Assistant. Outside of school, she enjoys listening to music along with spending time with her friends and family. In the future, she plans to go onto become a Pediatric Neuropsychologist.

Abby O’Keeffe | Research Assistant

Abby is a sophomore pre-medical neuroscience student hoping to pursue a career in pediatric neuropsychology. She is especially interested in neurocognitive development from infancy to adolescence. Outside of brain sciences, Abby can be found reading, Irish dancing, or running on various trails around Philadelphia!