Our Research Team

Julia Marshall, Ph.D.

Lab Director

Dr. Julia Marshall (she/her) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Cognitive and Psychological Sciences. Her research focuses on the foundations of human moral and social cognition, with a particular emphasis on how these processes develop in childhood. Her work explores questions such as: Do children have an early-emerging sense of morality, fairness, and justice? How do these moral concepts develop and evolve across different cultures and social contexts? In her free-time, Julia enjoys hot yoga, hanging out with her cat, and watching football. For more information, check out Julia’s personal website.

Fiametta Boffey

Lab Manager

Fia Boffey (she/her) is the manager of the Mind & Morality Lab. She received her Bachelor of Science in linguistics and linguistic anthropology from Brown University in May 2024. During her time as an undergrad at Brown, she worked as a senior research assistant in the Computational Cognitive Development Lab with Dr. Daphna Buchsbaum. She is broadly interested in questions related to the intersection of language, culture, and cognitive development. When she is not in the lab, Fia can be found playing quadball (AKA quidditch) and beginning elaborate crochet projects that she very rarely finishes.

Amy Lu

Graduate Student

Amy is a first year Ph.D. student in the Mind & Morality Lab. She graduated from Boston College, where she earned bachelor’s degrees in psychology and communication. Amy’s research interests are broadly focused on understanding how cooperation manifests and is maintained in different communities and cultures. She is also interested in the motives that underlie cooperative mechanisms such as punishment.

Research Assistants

Tatsuya King

Undergraduate Teaching and Research Awardee

Tatsuya (he/him) is a sophomore at Brown University pursuing a double concentration in Modern Culture and Media and Cognitive Neuroscience. He is interested in the role of culture and media in children’s development of morality and behavior. Outside of the lab, Tatsuya enjoys drawing, decorating cookies with his family, and digging holes at the beach.

Kimmy Cover

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Kimmy (she/her) is a senior at Brown University concentrating in psychology and pursuing a certificate in entrepreneurship. She is interested in early child development and how morality plays a role in shaping it. In her free time, Kimberly loves to babysit, read, and spend time with her cat, Goose.

Brianna Seaborn

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Brianna (she/her) is a sophomore at Brown University pursuing an ScB in Cognitive Neuroscience. She is fascinated by the study of innate vs culturally influenced conceptions of morality. She is curious about the degree to which environment shapes children’s moral values. Outside of the lab, Brianna enjoys ballroom dancing, musical theater, and creative writing although she spends most of her free time napping.

Victoria Liu

Stimulus Designer

Victoria is a freshman at Brown interested in Philosophy, English, and Psychology. She is interested in the early development of children and how outside factors can change their trajectory of growth. In her free time, Victoria loves wheel throwing, thrifting, watching 2000s movies, and eating with her friends.

Farah Yahaya

Independent Study Student

Farah (she/her) is a senior at Brown University pursuing a double concentration in cognitive neuroscience and literary arts. She is curious about how culture, environment, and race may inform children’s moral development in the context of bias and prejudice. In her free time Farah enjoys reading, watching movies, and spending time in nature.

Salina-Mari Mentor

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Salina (she/her) is a junior at Brown University studying Cognitive Science. She is interested in early childhood development and understanding how children’s morality impacts their emotional development. In her free time, Salina loves spending time with friends/family, watching movies, and baking.

Jenna Lowrey

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Jenna is a junior at Brown studying neuroscience. She is interested in early child development and how technology and research can provide insights into innovation and understanding of intellectual development in adolescents. Outside of the classroom, Jenna loves running, hanging out with friends, and walking her dog Milly.

Aiyana Lewis

Volunteer Research Assistant

Aiyana (she/her) is a senior at East Providence High School who wants to study behavioral psychology and child development after graduation. During her time at the M&M Lab, she hopes to learn more about how children’s concepts of morality are shaped by their environments. In her free time Aiyana enjoys baking, painting, and walking around the city.

Carter Paterson

Undergraduate Teaching and Research Awardee

Carter (he/him) is a junior at Brown University studying sociology and data fluency. He is excited to work in the Mind and Morality Lab because it provides him with the opportunity to think sociologically about how the minds of children may be affected by their environments and decision making processes.

Ben Herdeg

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Ben (he/him) is a sophomore at Brown University pursuing a double concentration in Psychology and Comparative Literature in English, Spanish, and Chinese. He is curious about how children’s linguistic expression is reflective of their emotional maturity and understanding of social relationships. Outside of the lab, Ben loves to read, write, and drive to places he hasn’t been to before.

Allyson Panzloff

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Ally (she/her) is a sophomore at Brown studying psychology. While at the Mind and Morality Lab, Ally hopes to learn as much as she can about conducting research in a lab setting. Outside the lab, she enjoys working with children and playing volleyball.