Meet the Pediatric NeuroCog Lab Team
Donald J. Bearden, PhD
Dr. Bearden is a behavioral neuroscientist dedicated to improving children’s lives through research and clinical work. He is an assistant professor of pediatrics in the Division of Neurology within the Emory University School of Medicine and a Neuropsychologist at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. His primary research interests include th
Dr. Bearden is a behavioral neuroscientist dedicated to improving children’s lives through research and clinical work. He is an assistant professor of pediatrics in the Division of Neurology within the Emory University School of Medicine and a Neuropsychologist at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. His primary research interests include the neuropsychology of epilepsy, epilepsy surgery, and pediatric pain.
Coralie Bergeron
Zachary Bernstein
Zachary Bernstein
Coralie graduated with a bachelor's in neuroscience from Georgia State University. Her research interests include neuropsychology and neuroimaging, epilepsy, ADHD and ASD, abnormal psychology, and psychopathology. She started working at CHOA in 2021, and since has done research on epilepsy surgery, language lateralization, and sickle cell
Coralie graduated with a bachelor's in neuroscience from Georgia State University. Her research interests include neuropsychology and neuroimaging, epilepsy, ADHD and ASD, abnormal psychology, and psychopathology. She started working at CHOA in 2021, and since has done research on epilepsy surgery, language lateralization, and sickle cell disease. When Coralie grows up, she wants to be a clinical neuropsychologist.
Zachary Bernstein
Zachary Bernstein
Zachary Bernstein
Zach is a fourth-year medical student at Emory applying into Neurosurgery for residency. Before medical school, Zach graduated with a degree in Neuroscience from the honors college at the University of Michigan. In our lab Zach will be pursuing his project via the NIH TL1 grant mechanism and the Masters of Science in Clinical Research (MS
Zach is a fourth-year medical student at Emory applying into Neurosurgery for residency. Before medical school, Zach graduated with a degree in Neuroscience from the honors college at the University of Michigan. In our lab Zach will be pursuing his project via the NIH TL1 grant mechanism and the Masters of Science in Clinical Research (MSCR) degree at Emory. His project is titled “Social Determinants of Neuropsychological Outcomes and Quality of Life Following Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery“ with Dr. Bearden as a lead mentor. Zach is passionate about clinical neuroscience and using research to improve patient outcomes.
Ivana Cernokova
Zachary Bernstein
Ivana Cernokova
Ivana is a fourth-year Ph.D. student in clinical psychology with a specialty in neuropsychology at the University of North Texas. Her research interests include epilepsy, epilepsy pre-surgical evaluations, TBI, and complex neurological disorders. She is also interested in functional imagining and neural connectivity in DRE patients. She h
Ivana is a fourth-year Ph.D. student in clinical psychology with a specialty in neuropsychology at the University of North Texas. Her research interests include epilepsy, epilepsy pre-surgical evaluations, TBI, and complex neurological disorders. She is also interested in functional imagining and neural connectivity in DRE patients. She has been working with Dr. Bearden since 2019. When Ivana grows up she wants to be a pediatric neuropsychologist.
Nina Fujii
Zachary Bernstein
Ivana Cernokova
Nina graduated from Purdue University with a B.S. in neurobiology and physiology and a minor in psychology. Her past research was in spinal cord injury regeneration modeled in zebrafish. She also has done research on autism spectrum disorder. Nina’s research interests are in pediatric neurodevelopment and further understanding the links between neuroscience and public health.
Sarah Maddox
Samali Wijetunga
Ronnise Owens
Sarah graduated from Millsaps College with a B.A. in psychology and a minor in anthropology. Her research interests include neurocognitive profiles of pediatric epilepsy patients, social and adaptive functioning for post-TBI patients, and comparison of pre-surgical and post-surgical neuropsychological testing. She has worked with Drs. Bea
Sarah graduated from Millsaps College with a B.A. in psychology and a minor in anthropology. Her research interests include neurocognitive profiles of pediatric epilepsy patients, social and adaptive functioning for post-TBI patients, and comparison of pre-surgical and post-surgical neuropsychological testing. She has worked with Drs. Bearden and Ono since 2020 and is currently a neurosciences research coordinator focusing on neuropsychology and neurology.
Ronnise Owens
Samali Wijetunga
Ronnise Owens
Ronnise is a fifth-year doctoral student in the Mercer University College of Health Profession’s Clinical Psychology PsyD program and a neuropsychology intern at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. She is an alumna of Spelman College and received her Master of Public Health degree from Mercer University College of Health Professions. Her rese
Ronnise is a fifth-year doctoral student in the Mercer University College of Health Profession’s Clinical Psychology PsyD program and a neuropsychology intern at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. She is an alumna of Spelman College and received her Master of Public Health degree from Mercer University College of Health Professions. Her research interests include neurodevelopment and cognitive functioning in pediatric epilepsy, long COVID cognitive changes, and health disparities.
When Ronnise grows up, she wants to be a neuropsychologist.
Samali Wijetunga
Samali Wijetunga
Samali Wijetunga
Samali is an Emory undergraduate student double-majoring in neuroscience and behavioral biology and psychology. She is most interested in child developmental neuropsychology, specifically in the areas of memory development and autism. When Samali grows up, she hopes to work in developmental-behavioral pediatrics.
Lab Alumni - Where are they now?
Nicole Semaan
Evie Davalbhakta
Evie Davalbhakta
Nicole was a lab member from 2022-2024. She is currently a first-year medical student at Emory University School of Medicine. Her research interests include pediatric neuropsychology and neurology.
Evie Davalbhakta
Evie Davalbhakta
Evie Davalbhakta
Evie was a lab member from 2023-2024. She completed her Bachelor degree in 2024 at Georgia Tech, majoring in neuroscience and minoring in psychology and Spanish. In the future, she plans to attend an MD/PhD program that focuses on neuropsychiatric research.