COGNITIVE AFFECTIVE
NEURODEVELOPMENT IN YOUTH
(CANDY) LABORATORY
Giorgia Picci, PhD
Susan & George Haddix Endowed Chair in Developmental Neuroscience Director, CANDY Laboratory, Boys Town National Research Hospital
Assistant Clinical Professor, Creighton UniversityPostdoctoral Fellow – Boys Town National Research Hospital (2023)
Postdoctoral Fellow – Pennsylvania State University (2021)
PhD – Developmental Psychology, Pennsylvania State University (2018)
BA – Psychology, George Mason University (2012)
Giorgia Picci, PhD, is the Director of the Cognitive Affective Neurodevelopment in Youth (CANDY) Laboratory in the Institute for Human Neuroscience. Dr. Picci is a developmental neuroscientist broadly interested in how early life adversity and neurodevelopmental disorders (i.e., autism) shape brain development, puberty, and mental health outcomes. She has authored over 40 peer-reviewed publications, featured in premier outlets such as PNAS, Psychological Science, Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, and Neuroimage. Her work emphasizes examining multiple levels of biology to answer her research questions, including hormones, s/fMRI, and MEG.
During her PhD at Penn State University, Dr. Picci’s work focused on the impacts of pubertal development on the visuoperceptual system and how youth with autism may be particularly affected by the biological and social changes occurring during the pubertal window. As a post-doc, Dr. Picci’s research focused on 1) normative patterns of neurodevelopment, including effects of pubertal hormones and 2) how early life stress may modify neurodevelopmental trajectories and risk for psychopathology. Her research lab is currently focused on integrating these questions to understand how the confluence of childhood stress and pubertal development impacts adolescents’ neural structure and function as well as adaptation to life. In addition, her team also investigates the effects of puberty on autistic adolescents’ brain development and mental health functioning.
Publications: 40+
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Quantifying associations between pubertal and neural factors influencing symptom severity in autistic adolescents (BTNRH Innovation Accelerator Pilor Project)
Center for Pediatric Brain Health Research Project Leader: Biological embedding of dimensional adversity: Developmental pathways toward psychopathology (NIH P20 GM144641)
Amelia Holt, BA
Research Study Coordinator
CANDY LabBA – Psychology & Graphic Design, Northwestern College
Amelia Holt is in the CANDY Lab. Her role entails participant recruitment, data acquisition, and data analysis for a study examining the effects of early life adversity on puberty, neurodevelopment, and mental health symptoms. Her research interests include cognitive neurodevelopment related to emotional regulation and caretaker methods in response to early childhood adversity. Amelia is considering a long-term pursuit of neuropsychological research to develop empirically based art therapy methods. Outside of the lab, she enjoys attending concerts, traveling, and creating art.
Sumedha Mishra, MA
Research Assistant I
CANDY LabMA – Psychology, Columbia University
Sumedha is a Research Assistant in the CANDY Lab, working under the mentorship of Dr. Picci. Her work focuses on coordinating research projects that examine the impact of early-life adversity on brain development and mental health in youth, as well as the role of pubertal timing in neurodevelopment among adolescents with autism. Her responsibilities include participant recruitment, data acquisition, and data analysis. Sumedha's research interests center on understanding the neural mechanisms that link early-life adversity to psychopathology in youth, and identifying the factors that may buffer this association. She plans to pursue doctoral studies in psychology to further explore these questions. Outside the lab, Sumedha enjoys discovering new cafes, finding the best sunset spots, and trying cuisines from around the world.
Jordan Strack, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
CANDY LabPhD – Cognitive Neuroscience, Colorado State University
Jordan is a postdoctoral fellow in the CANDY Lab. Her research focuses on the impact of adversity on child brain development. Her work examines how dimensions of adversity in childhood may uniquely impact important aspects of neural development, and how such alterations may be associated with psychopathology later in life. Her goal is to contribute to intervention strategies that address the varied dimensions of childhood adversity, improving long term mental health outcomes. Outside of the lab, Jordan enjoys playing board games, lifting weights, and hanging out at home with her partner and her cat.
Izzy Vargas, BS BA
Research Assistant I
CANDY LabBS – Neuroscience, Sociology, & Medical Humanities, University of Nebraska - Omaha
BA – Psychology, University of Nebraska - Omaha
Izzy Vargas is a Research Assistant in the CANDY Lab. Her role involves participant recruitment, data acquisition, and data analysis for studies examining the effects of early-life adversity on pubertal development, neurodevelopment, and mental health outcomes in youth. Her research interests focus on understanding how childhood adversity influences brain development and risk for psychopathology across the lifespan, with particular interests in trauma, mood disorders, and resilience. Izzy plans to pursue doctoral training in neuroscience and conduct research focused on the neurobiological effects of early-life adversity and severe mental illness. Outside of the lab, she enjoys playing the cello, exploring creative hobbies, and engaging in community advocacy informed by lived experience.