Lucas joined the lab as a graduate student from the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Genetics in 2021, after previously working in the lab as a clinical research assistant. He is broadly interested in the genetic variation that makes us all so unique. As a result, his research projects focus on: language ability, risk for psychiatric conditions, and their shared biological underpinnings. He graduated from Cornell College with a BA in Psychology and Behavioral Neuroscience. Much of his free time is spent watching sci-fi movies and exploring the Midwest.

Muhammad's journey in the lab began with a deep-seated interest in mental health conditions. As he immersed himself in the research environment, he realized the importance of understanding neurodiversity more deeply. This newfound awareness fueled his dedication to understanding the links between genetics, cognition, and mental health. Although Muhammad’s background was focused on computational biology and genomics, he’s interested in learning different methods and techniques. He’s currently working towards an expanded knowledge in linguistics, computer vision, neuroimaging, genetic analyses, and data science. In the lab, Muhammad's focus crystallized around the notion of using language as a metric for aspects of human experience that defy easy measurement. Whether it's cognition or mental health problems, he envisions language as a powerful tool for decoding the ineffable. Driven by a desire to bridge the gap between science and accessibility, Muhammad aims to develop tools and assessments that harness the power of language. His ultimate goal? To create a more inclusive and understanding world where everyone's voice is heard, regardless of their neurodiversity or background. P.S. Muhammad believes in the importance of our lab mission and its impact on individuals. After spending 3 years in lab, he realized how much he “fits in” with the populations we study and got diagnosed with autism at the age of 25!

Ashton joined the lab as an undergraduate student volunteer in 2021. He graduated from the University of Iowa in 2022 with a BA in Psychology and a BA in English, then began working full time in the lab in 2023. He is interested in the intersection between sex/gender and neurodevelopmental disorders, including ADHD and Autism. In his free time, Ashton enjoys longboarding, watching TV, and cooking.