Kristen Kennedy, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator | kristen.kennedy1@utdallas.edu
Associate Professor of Behavioral and Brain Sciences
Center for Vital Longevity
The University of Texas at Dallas
Associate Professor of Advanced Imaging Research Center
The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Jessica Kraft, Ph.D.
Post-Doctoral Scientist | jessica.kraft@utdallas.edu

Jessica received her Ph.D. in Neuroscience in May 2023 from the University of Florida in the lab of Dr. Adam Woods. Her dissertation work focused on the effects of a mild form of brain stimulation, called transcranial direct current stimulation, combined with cognitive training on improving cognition in older adults. Prior to that, she received her master’s at Penn State in August 2016, and was the neuropsychological testing coordinator at Hershey Medical Center. Her neuropsychometrist position involved administering neuropsychological batteries to assess for frontotemporal dementia. In her free time, Jessica enjoys sleeping, trying out new restaurants, doing jiu-jitsu and playing with other people’s dogs.

Tzu-Chen (Jane) Lung, M.S.
Doctoral Student | Tzu-Chen.Lung@utdallas.edu
Jane graduated from the National Central University in Taiwan with an MS in Cognitive Neuroscience. Her master’s thesis focused on training and transfer effects of executive functions in both young and older adults in Dr. Erik Chang’s lab. After graduating, Jane worked as a research assistant in projects relating to older adults or MRI, which included: improvement of sleep quality in institutionalized elderly; investigation of well-being in older cancer survivors; and arithmetical word problem-solving ability of children using MRI, where she worked with Dr. Ting-Ting Chang at the National Cheng-Chi University. Jane is interested in the relationship between functional and structural changes in the brain, and how these changes accompany the decline of cognitive functions. Outside of lab, Jane enjoys reading, watching movies, running, and traveling.

Naewoo (Neo) Shin, BSE
Doctoral Student | naewoo.shin@utdallas.edu

Neo graduated from Underwood International College – Yonsei University in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering in Bio-Convergence. Neo worked as an undergraduate research assistant for Dr. YoungSoo Kim focusing on development of chemical compounds for diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to Alzheimer’s biomarkers. Neo also interned for Dr. Byeong Seok Ye at Yonsei Severance Hospital and assisted in identifying biomarkers of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s mouse and rat models. Neo is interested in the relationship between health and environmental factors, structural brain changes, and decline of cognitive functions in the healthy and neurodegenerative elderly brains. Neo enjoys watching sports and anime, and eating at new places.

Anna Thompson, B.S.
Doctoral Student | anna.thompson@utdallas.edu

Anna is a doctoral student in the cognition and cognitive neuroscience program at The University of Texas at Dallas. She works in the Kennedy Neuroimaging of Aging and Cognition Lab and the Cognitive Neuroscience of Aging Lab lead by Dr. Kristen Kennedy and Dr. Karen Rodrigue. She received her BS in psychology and a minor in French in the spring of 2019 at the University of Iowa. Anna’s research interests are in how genetic and environmental factors influence changes in brain structure and cognition in older populations.

Leziga Gimah, B.S.
Lab Manager | lxg230016@utdallas.edu
Leziga graduated with a BS in Behavior and Health from Boston University. During her undergraduate studies, she worked on various research projects from public health to molecular scientific research. Her journey began as a research assistant for a social-behavioral study focused on identifying social supports for autistic individuals. She then interned at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, conducting molecular scientific research to discover alternative treatments for triple-negative breast cancer. Later, she delved into the impact of nutrition on aging at Harvard School of Public Health. Leziga hopes to gain valuable experience working alongside Dr. Kennedy, aiming to pursue a future career in research or medicine.