coordinators & technicians
Maimouna Diagne, M.S.
Maimouna Diagne is a Study Coordinator in the Human Clinical Phenotyping Core of the Rose F Kennedy Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center (IDDRC) and the Cognitive Neurophysiology Lab (CNL). She is involved in the CNL’s project on Cystinosis, for which her responsibilities include recruitment of study participants, executing EEG protocol, and administering neuropsychological assessments to name a few. She also wears the hat of social media manager, and is responsible for community engagement and outreach, for the IDDRC.
Maimouna graduated from Barnard College in 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry and minored in Africana Studies. She has just completed a Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences with a concentration in Pharmacology at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, and intends to pursue a career as a physician. Outside of the lab, Maimouna spends much of her time volunteering at the Student Family Healthcare Clinic at Rutgers as a case manager where she ensures patients receive affordable care. She also volunteers at the Bronx Documentary Center and dabbles in film photography. On the weekends, you can typically find her playing in pick-up basketball games at Riverbank State Park.
Elizabeth O. Akinyemi, M.S CAMH
Elizabeth (aka Lizzy) is the Study Coordinator for the Autism Center of Excellence (ACE).
She has a degree in Psychology (BSc) and a Masters in Child and Adolescent Mental Health (MSc. CAMH) from the University of Ibadan in Nigeria. She is also a registered member of the Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry & Allied Profession in Nigeria (ACAPAN) and of the American Psychological Association (APA).
She has been working in the field of pediatric mental health for over a decade and has played a major role in raising awareness about ASD and other neurodevelopmental disorders in her community.
Elizabeth is very interested in understanding how the brain of children with neurodevelopmental conditions works, and to use this knowledge to inform interventions. Her goal is to pursue advanced studies in Neuropsychology.
Outside the lab, Lizzy loves to play with kids, to cook and try new dishes, and to spend time with her lovely and cute son Elliot.
Tringa Lecaj, B.S.
Tringa Lecaj is a study coordinator at the CNL. She is involved in helping with database entry, assisting clinical assessments, collecting EEG data, and recruiting participants for the different projects. She is currently an undergrad student, getting a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology at Iona College. Outside of school and work she enjoys reading literary fiction and binge watching tv shows.
Dennis is a Study Coordinator and joined the CNL in May 2022. Dennis' responsibilities include running EEG experiments, administering neuropsychological assessments, recruiting participants, and maintaining IRB protocols. Dennis graduated with a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Integrative Neuroscience from Binghamton University in 2022. While in college, he was a part of a research team that investigated illicit use of ADHD medications as study drugs among college student populations. Outside the lab, Dennis tutors at Gigi's Playhouse, a Down Syndrome achievement center, and likes to swim and read lots of books.