Lab Personnel
| Erin E. Hecht, Ph.D. | Associate Professor
Dr. Hecht received her B.S. in Cognitive Science from the University of California San Diego in 2006, and her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Emory University in 2013. Before moving to Harvard, she was a Research Scientist in the Center for Behavioral Neuroscience at Georgia State University, and an Affiliated Scientist at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center at Emory University. Dr. Hecht joined the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University in January 2019. Her lab studies brain-behavior evolution in dogs, primates, and humans. Outside of the lab, you'll find her gardening, reading sci-fi, and spending time with four-legged friends. |
| Katie Dabney, M.S. | Research AssistantKatie earned a B.S. in Biology with a concentration in Pre-Veterinary Medicine and a B.A. in Psychology from Shippensburg University in 2017. She subsequently earned her M.S. in Animals and Public Policy from Tufts University in 2020. She spent her undergraduate and graduate years working with isolation dogs and cats at an animal shelter, studying canine helminth parasites, assisting with human-centered equine-assisted therapy programs, and studying canine and adolescent stress behaviors in varying environments. Katie has been a research assistant with the Hecht lab since 2020. Outside of the lab she enjoys volunteering, her multitude of pets, hiking, and snowboarding. |
| Maryam (Mare) Mohebbi, M.S. | Research AssistantMare earned her M.S. in Neuroscience, building on her background in Psychology, at the State University of New York at Buffalo. During her studies she worked at the Buffalo Neuroimaging Analysis Center (BNAC), where she investigated the Tissue Pathology Surrounding different types of Multiple sclerosis lesions, specifically Paramagnetic Rim Lesions (PRLs), using a variety of neuroimaging techniques such as MRI, diffusion MRI, and Tractography. This experience sparked her passion for studying brain-wide white matter connectivity patterns and gray matter morphology, with a particular focus on their role in evolutionary neuroscience. She is now a full-time Research Assistant on the neuroimaging team at the Evolutionary Neuroscience Lab, where she continues to pursue these interests. Beyond neuroscience, Mare is a watercolorist who enjoys singing and playing the violin. You can also find her stargazing and capturing the night sky through astrophotography. |
| Sophie Barton, B.S. | Graduate StudentSophie earned her B.S. in Psychology and B.A. in Linguistics from the University of Georgia in 2019. She is a third-year PhD candidate in the Human Evolutionary Biology Department of Harvard University. Her research investigates how selection for complex behaviors shapes the brains of domestic dog breeds and other canids. Sophie began working with the Canine Brains Project as an undergraduate student researcher. She draws inspiration from her rescue dog Tamsin, an Australian Shepherd x Labrador Retriever mix, who helps pilot her studies. |
| Aidan Murphy | Graduate StudentAidan received his B.A. in neurobiology from Cornell University. He is a third-year PhD candidate in the Human Evolutionary Biology Department at Harvard University. His research focuses on spatial patterns of connectivity across mammals. |
| Mira Sinha | Graduate StudentMira obtained her B.S. in Biology at Utrecht University in The Netherlands. She is a first-year Ph.D. candidate at the Human Evolutionary Biology department at Harvard University. She compared the neural representation of social cognition in humans and non-human primates at Utrecht University and is excited to continue investigating how sociality has impacted human brain evolution during her graduate studies. You can find her playing soccer, singing jazz, and trying out local restaurants in her free time. |
| Ciara Sypherd | Graduate StudentCiara earned their B.S.E. in aerospace engineering and B.S. in astrobiology and biogeosciences from Arizona State University in 2020. Ciara is currently a 4th year graduate student in bioengineering at Harvard University School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. In their research, Ciara explores the intricate world of animal communication and cognition by leveraging machine learning techniques to decode signals. From unraveling pig vocalizations to deciphering wolf howls, their work spans species to develop common tools for understanding. Within the Harvard community, they work to promote inclusivity with LGBTQ@GSAS and the Alliance for Disability Action student group. Outside academia, you’ll find Ciara enjoying the company of their dog, exploring hiking trails, tending to their garden, and expressing creativity through textile arts. |
| Olivia Reilly, Ph.D. | Postdoctoral FellowOlivia earned her B.A. in Animal Behavior and Spanish from Bucknell University. She spent two years in the postbaccalaureate IRTA program in the Laboratory of Brain and Cognition at the National Institute of Mental Health prior to graduate school. Olivia completed her M.A. and Ph.D. in Cognitive Sciences at Georgia State University where she studied social cognition in nonhuman primates at the Language Research Center. As a postdoctoral fellow in the Hecht Lab, she uses a comparative approach to investigate the neural and hormonal correlates of social cognition and behavior. She was awarded a Ruth L. Kirschstein Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award from the National Institutes of Health to conduct this research. |