SCAMPI Team

Primary Investigator

Dr. Samantha Fede

Dr. Fede came to Auburn University in 2021. Before that, she conducted research at NIAAA, University of New Mexico, Virginia Tech, and George Mason University. She has expertise in clinical cognitive neuroscience, including fMRI neuroimaging techniques, neurofeedback, and quantitative analysis. Dr. Fede has previously worked with populations including undergraduate students, incarcerated adults, community-based substance users, and treatment seeking individuals with alcohol use disorder. Dr. Fede’s overall research goals are to use neuroscience to understand and improve trajectories associated with psychopathology and high risk behaviors, such as substance use. See publications for specific work done by Dr. Fede prior to and since founding the SCAMPI lab. 

https://twitter.com/samantha_fede

sjfede (at) auburn.edu

Graduate Student

Yonni Jefferson, BA

Yonni Jefferson graduated from Spelman College with a Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology and a concentration in Mental Health. She completed her post-bacc internship as a research assistant for the OCD Neurosurgery Program at Butler Hospital and The Alpert Medical School of Brown University. Yonni is an incoming CaBS PhD student working under the guidance of Dr. Samantha Fede. Her research interests include psychopathy, antisocial behavior, violent behavior, altruism, apathy, and morality. 

Graduate Student

Anna Pusser, MS

Anna received her B.S. in Psychology with a concentration in Cognitive Science from the University of Memphis. In addition, she received her M.S. in Psychological Sciences at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Anna is currently a CaBS PhD student working under the guidance of Dr. Susan Teubner-Rhodes and Dr. Samantha Fede. Anna has research experience in prospective memory, visual attention, eye tracking, cognitive offloading, and applying cognition to education. Currently, she is interested in visual attention, memory, aging, and neuroscience. 

Lab Coordinator

Olly Davis, BS

Olly Davis received their Bachelor of Science degree in Neuroscience from Auburn University in 2023. They are interested in neurodiversity, morality, bias, and pro- and antisocial behavior. They joined the lab in Spring 2024 and plan to pursue a PhD in the field.

Taylor Watson

Taylor joined the lab in January of 2024. She is a senior at Auburn University studying psychology with a minor in business with plans to pursue a post graduate degree in Clinical Psychology. Her research interests include substance use and its effects on decision making and emotional processes.

Sarah Frazier

Sarah joined the lab in May of 2023. She is a junior at Auburn University majoring in neuroscience. She plans to pursue either dental school post-graduation, and is involved in the International Buddy program, Neuroscience Club, Pre-Dental Association at Auburn, and Volunteer AO.

Denisen Justice

Denisen joined the lab in August 2024. He is a sophomore at Auburn University, double majoring in biomedical sciences – pre medicine and neuroscience. He is involved in The Auburn Circle Magazine, The Auburn Plainsman, and Campus Kitchen at Auburn University. His research interests include the sensation and perception of music and related neural pathways.