Lab Director

Brianna Devlin, Ph.D.

Dr. Devlin is the director of the PaLM Lab. She is an assistant professor in the Department of Learning and Instruction at UB. She received her Ph.D. in Education, Learning Sciences from the University of Delaware and completed postdoctoral training at Purdue University and the University of Oregon. Outside of the lab, you will probably find her on a hike or learning to play the piano!

Graduate Student Collaborators

Oluwabunmi Alao

Oluwabunmi is a graduate student assistant in the PaLM Lab. Her research interests include teacher professional development, multilingual education, and equitable, evidence-based literacy instruction. Outside of research, Oluwabunmi enjoys volunteering and exploring new places.

Shana Liu

Shana served as an interventionist on the Kindergarten Number Project and continues to collaborate on PaLM Lab projects. Her research interests include Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and its relationships with school engagement, mathematics achievement, and student well-being, particularly at the K–12 level.  Outside of research, music is a big part of Shana’s life. She plays the piano, clarinet, and ukulele. She is also a proud cat person who loves spending time with her kitties. Finally, she can’t imagine her life without cheese, it is absolutely essential to her happiness!

Melissa Elliott

Melissa served as an interventionist on the Kindergarten Number Project and continues to collaborate on PaLM Lab projects. Her research interests focus on K–12 STEM education, with an emphasis on elementary science and teacher education. Outside of research, she loves to play frisbee with her dog, Venture!

Undergraduate Research Assistants

Roba Elmoudi

Roba is an undergraduate research assistant in the PaLM Lab. Her research interests include early childhood development, including math and social skills. Outside of school, she likes to watch movies, watercolor, and crochet.

Doralis Garmon

Doralis is an undergraduate research assistant in the PaLM Lab. Her research interests include how students develop skills inside the school context and understanding children’s interactions. Outside of school she enjoys travelling and reading, especially in the mystery genre.

Faraain Muhammad Salim

Faraain is an undergraduate research assistant in the PaLM Lab. Her research interests include children’s environments and experiences influence brain development, learning, and behavior as they grow. She is especially interested in how both positive and challenging environments can shape children and their development over time. Outside of school she enjoys reading thriller novels, finding new cafes, and going on walks. 

Kaylie Mo

Kaylie is an undergraduate research assistant in the PaLM Lab, assisting with multiple projects. Her research interests are in early childhood education, educational psychology, and math and literacy development in children. Outside of research, she likes to listen to music and spend time with friends.

Zaara Malik

Zaara is an undergraduate research assistant in the PaLM Lab, assisting with multiple projects. Zaara is interested in children’s behavior in social settings, as well as developmental and behavioral psychology. Outside of research, she enjoys traveling and exploring new places and experiencing new things.

PaLM Lab Alumni

These former PaLM Lab Affiliates have gone on to do great things!

Samantha Didrichsen, Ph.D. (Graduate Research Assistant 2024-2026). Assistant Professor, SUNY Geneseo.

Mary DiCioccio, Ph.D. (Graduate Student Collaborator 2025-2026). Assistant Professor, Wingate University.