Jazlyn N
- Research Program Mentor
PhD at Brown University
Expertise
Cognitive Science (developmental and interdisciplinary)
Bio
I am a cognitive scientist with a PhD in Cognitive Science, trained in interdisciplinary research spanning cognition, development, neuroscience, and social context. My academic work focuses on how cognitive development is shaped by environments, institutions, and lived experience, with research experience across behavioral methods, interdisciplinary theory, and applied research settings. I have worked in academic labs, policy-adjacent research spaces, and educational institutions, and I regularly mentor students through long-form research projects that move from idea formation to polished written or applied outcomes. Beyond academic research, my work focuses on making brain science crispy clear: accessible, human, and meaningful. I am the Founder and CEO of Cognitive Horizons LLC, where I translate cognitive science research into tools, explanations, and real-world applications. I have worked with research institutions, nonprofits, and educational organizations, and I am currently a Digital Science Communication Fellow at the Museum of Science, Boston. I enjoy mentoring students who are curious about neuroscience, psychology, medicine, and research—especially those who want to understand how the brain works in real life.Project ideas
How Do Lived Experiences Shape Cognitive Development?
Design a research project exploring how lived experiences—such as environment, culture, technology use, stress, or access to resources—shape cognitive development across childhood and adolescence. Students can examine how these factors influence executive functions, attention, learning, or self-regulation using existing research, original data collection, or case-based analysis. This project may result in a research paper, presentation, or creative synthesis connecting cognitive science to real-world developmental outcomes.
Translating Brain Science Into Practice
Create a research-informed project that translates cognitive science findings into practical applications for education, health, policy, or industry. Students will identify a body of brain science research and reframe it for a real-world audience, such as educators, caregivers, policymakers, or the general public. This project could result in a paper, presentation, policy brief, or multimedia resource designed to make brain science accessible, human, and actionable.
Decision-Making in the Real World
Investigate how people make decisions under uncertainty, pressure, or limited information, drawing from cognitive science, psychology, and behavioral economics. Students can explore topics such as risk-taking, cognitive biases, emotional regulation, or adaptive decision-making in everyday contexts like school, health, or technology use. The final product could take the form of a research paper, applied analysis, or visual or multimedia project translating theory into practice.