John Duffy
John received his Ph.D. in Cognitive Neuroscience from Colorado State University in 2024. During his time with the NM Lab, he specialized in functional and effective connectivity in aging and psychosis. He also researched how mindfulness affects brain connectivity and the effectiveness used to treat and augment mental health, along with performance. Dr. Duffy’s work involves years of experience in information technology and software development.
Max Henneke
Max received his B.S. in Neuroscience with a concentration in Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience at Colorado State University in 2022. He is now a medical student at Long School of Medicine at the UTHealth Sciences Center San Antonio. His research interests include functional brain connectivity and how it relates to white matter structure, particularly in psychosis spectrum disorders. He is passionate about improving medical treatments and interventions through translational and clinical research.
Dr. Andrea Mendez Colmenares
Andrea is a medical doctor from Maracaibo, Venezuela, with a Ph.D. in Cognitive Neuroscience from Colorado State University. Her Ph.D. research utilized advanced MRI techniques to study the decline and plasticity of white matter in aging populations. She is currently a neurology resident at Duke University in Durham, NC. Andrea aspires to become a physician-scientist specializing in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, while continuing to advocate for underrepresented minorities in science and medicine.
Maiele Mignard
Maiele received her B.S. in Psychology at Colorado State University in 2022. She served as lab manager of the NM Lab from 2022-2025. Within the context of cognitive functioning she is most interested in the domain of cognitive effort: what motivates individuals to put in effort, how rewards impact effort, and if effort changes across the lifespan or in different clinical groups.
Kenyon Perkins
Kenyon earned a B.S. in Neuroscience with a concentration in cognitive and behavioral neuroscience from Colorado State University. She is now at Indiana University Indianapolis pursuing a Masters and Ph.D. in Addiction Neuroscience. Her research examines how a novel VR intervention provides early recovery substance and/or alcohol use disorder patients a future self experience.
Rafaella Workman
Rafaella earned her B.S. in Psychology from CSU in 2024. She has spent her time at Colorado State University gaining hands-on experience with data analysis software, psychological task programming, neurocognitve measurement methods, and other research-based tools to broaden her framework of knowledge in the realms of psychology and neuroscience. In the lab, Rafaella is involved in the Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation pilot project.
Witlie Leslie
Witlie graduated from Colorado State University in 2025 as a double-major in Neuroscience and Data Science. She volunteered as an undergraduate research assistant, assisting with the Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Pilot study. She also investigated TMS coil placement consistency for her Honors Thesis. Her goal is to strengthen her data analysis skillset with hands-on experience to bring into the workforce.
Anna Capels
Anna received a B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Applied Data Science at Colorado State University. Her research interests are Neuropsychology (specifically schizophrenia) and other aging health-related cognitive issues (such as dementia). She hopes to obtain a PhD in Clinical Psychology.
Annika Johnson
Annika graduated from Colorado State University with a B.S. in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience. She assisted in the Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Pilot study and conducted an Honors Thesis examining ADHD and memory-related synaptic pruning. She plans to work in psychiatry, with specific interest in abnormal psychology and interventions.
Other Former Lab Members
Elise Robb
Lauren Sarabia
Reed Kellam
Madison Musich
Tayler Wilcken
Tessa Mitchell
Kate McCain
Samantha Reed
Deirdre Thornton
Haley Pyscher
Eve Delao
Connor Pehlke
Tristan Nyman
Colton Castro
