Lab
Lab Team
Dr. Brian Rivera
Principal Investigator
I’m originally from northern Mexico (Chihuahua), I then moved to Los Angeles where I attended high school before completing my undergraduate degree at Franklin and Marshall College. There, I competed in Track and Field while majoring in Scientific and Philosophical Studies of the Mind.
I earned my PhD in Educational Psychology from the University of Alabama, with a concentration in Educational Neuroscience, where I used EEG and fMRI to investigate the development of numerical cognition. I subsequently worked on the Baby’s First Years study at the University of Nebraska Lincoln, researching how poverty affects brain development in early childhood.
This diverse background—spanning philosophical inquiry, neuroscientific research, educational psychology, and developmental studies—provides me with a unique interdisciplinary perspective on neuroscience, learning and development. My research interests focus on numerical cognition, and I bring this integrative approach to my teaching, to help students understand the brain through multiple lenses.
When not in the classroom or lab, I enjoy thinking about the brain, playing chess, watching movies, and spending time with my English Bulldog (Gus). A long time ago, I used to be a magician, although I am retired now, it continues to influence how I think about attention, perception, and the unexpected!
Current Members
Ava Sticka-Jacobs Undergraduate Researcher
Ava Sticka-Jacobs is an undergraduate student at St. Olaf College double majoring in Psychology and Biology with concentrations in Neuroscience and Race and Ethnic Studies. Ava is preparing herself for a career in neuroscience research, with special interests in cognitive neuroscience and the neuroscience of addiction. In her free time, she enjoys reading, writing, practicing guitar, exercising, and collaging. She currently volunteers as an advocate for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence.
Kaitlyn Casselman Undergraduate Research Assistant
Kaitlyn Casselman is a current Psychology major at St. Olaf College. She enjoys studying the overlap of neuroscience and psychology and is interested in going to graduate school to become a neuropsychologist. She hopes to become the first person in her family to hold a PhD.
Rubi Herrera Zelaya Undergraduate Research Assistant
Rubi Herrera Zelaya is an undergraduate student at St. Olaf College majoring in Psychology with a concentration in Neuroscience. Her research interests are in cognitive psychology, especially the effect trauma has on the brain. Her hobbies include reading, watching movies, writing, and spending time with friends and family. She is a McNair Scholar and works as a Writing Tutor at the Writing Desk.
Hall of Fame
Previous members of the Root Lab. Their contributions helped build the lab and its research.
Mary Hendrickson Former Undergraduate Researcher
Mary Hendrickson ‘26 was an undergraduate researcher in the Root Lab and a Spring 2026 CURI Research Assistant. She worked on the FAVE project, presenting her work at the Minnesota Undergraduate Psychology Conference (MUPC) in April 2026.
Lab Resources
Lab Meetings
Meeting schedule and materials will be posted for lab members.
Join the Lab
We welcome undergraduate students interested in gaining research experience in cognitive neuroscience and numerical cognition.
This page is regularly updated with current lab activities and team member information.