People
Involved Faculty
Dr. Nachi (Michael) Felt, Ph.D., is an ADHD & Executive Functioning specialist who has lectured at Yale University School of Medicine and is a professor at Columbia University, where he teaches Psychopathology and helps direct the Cognitive Neuropsychology Lab. Dr. Felt is renowned for the Felt Method, which utilizes his revolutionary “Cycles of Clarity” technique and has empowered hundreds of people to create their own clarity, confidence, and control.
Dr. Nachi (Michael) Felt, Ph.D., is an ADHD & Executive Functioning specialist who has lectured at Yale University School of Medicine and is a professor at Columbia University, where he teaches Psychopathology and helps direct the Cognitive Neuropsychology Lab. Dr. Felt is renowned for the Felt Method, which utilizes his revolutionary “Cycles of Clarity” technique and has empowered hundreds of people to create their own clarity, confidence, and control.
Lab Managers
Bree Foster (she/her) graduated from Teachers College, Columbia University with a Master's in Clinical Psychology (concentration: Spirituality, Mind, Body program). She received her bachelor's degree in Psychology, her master's in Social Anthropology at the University of Oxford, and taught English in Taiwan as a Fulbright Scholar before coming to Columbia. Her research interests include the intersection of the therapeutic benefits of psychedelics, psychopathology, and intimate relationships. Additionally, she is a huge reader of Pulitzer fiction finalists, would eat sushi every day, and loves to explore new countries.
Annie Berkowitz is a second-year master’s student in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in neuropsychology at Teachers College, Columbia University. Annie graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from Villanova University in May 2024. Annie brings extensive research experience from both clinical and experimental neuroscience settings, including work on personality assessment, time perception, cognition, and neurodegenerative conditions. Her research interests lie in identifying individual differences in severe mental illness, specifically schizophrenia and psychosis, as well as neurodegenerative disease and acquired brain injury, and utilizing this information to create personalized cognitive rehabilitation and interventions. Furthermore, she hopes to work with families and caregivers of these populations.
I am currently in my second year of the Post Baccalaureate Psychology program at Columbia University. I worked in Finance for several years before transitioning into the field of Psychology and returning to school. I am interested in researching the neurocognitive mechanisms that influence emotional regulation and executive functioning, as well as the relationship between the functional connectivity of different brain networks and disposition towards psychological disorders and maladaptive cognition. My goal is to get my PhD and contribute to the development of new therapeutic treatments.
Project Leads
Christie Cantor is a second-year master’s student in the Mental Health Counseling program at Teachers College, Columbia University. While getting her B.S. in Psychology at Northeastern, Christie worked as a research assistant in the Lazar Lab at MGH studying mindfulness meditation and cognitive function. Currently, she is a member of the Cognitive Neuropsychology Lab at Teachers College, where she studies resilience and executive function. Her academic interests center on the intersection of cognitive processes and emotional well-being.
Christie Cantor is a second-year master’s student in the Mental Health Counseling program at Teachers College, Columbia University. While getting her B.S. in Psychology at Northeastern, Christie worked as a research assistant in the Lazar Lab at MGH studying mindfulness meditation and cognitive function. Currently, she is a member of the Cognitive Neuropsychology Lab at Teachers College, where she studies resilience and executive function. Her academic interests center on the intersection of cognitive processes and emotional well-being.
Alex Ward is a first-year master's candidate in the Clinical Psychology program at Teachers College, Columbia University. He brings over a decade of experience in EdTech, non-profit leadership, and academic administration, most recently serving as Director of Academic Administration at American University’s School of Education. His research interests include perinatal mental health, suicide prevention, emotional regulation, and the development of technology-enhanced interventions. As both a researcher and new father, Alex is deeply invested in advancing evidence-based strategies to support maternal and paternal well-being during the perinatal period. Alex is particularly interested in how cognitive and affective processes are shaped by the perinatal experience. His work explores the neural mechanisms underlying emotion regulation, executive functioning, and parent-infant bonding, seeking to better understand how early caregiving environments influence long-term cognitive and psychological outcomes.
Alex Ward is a first-year master's candidate in the Clinical Psychology program at Teachers College, Columbia University. He brings over a decade of experience in EdTech, non-profit leadership, and academic administration, most recently serving as Director of Academic Administration at American University’s School of Education. His research interests include perinatal mental health, suicide prevention, emotional regulation, and the development of technology-enhanced interventions. As both a researcher and new father, Alex is deeply invested in advancing evidence-based strategies to support maternal and paternal well-being during the perinatal period. Alex is particularly interested in how cognitive and affective processes are shaped by the perinatal experience. His work explores the neural mechanisms underlying emotion regulation, executive functioning, and parent-infant bonding, seeking to better understand how early caregiving environments influence long-term cognitive and psychological outcomes.
Tyler Ulch is a second-year master’s student in the Clinical Psychology program at Teachers College, Columbia University. He leads the Route Learning Navigation Project in the Cognitive Neuropsychology Lab. Tyler has experience administering neuropsychological assessments to psychiatric inpatients and is currently investigating cognitive impairment in relation to the Suicide Crisis Syndrome. His interdisciplinary research and academic interests span cognition, acquired brain injury, suicide prevention, ecopsychology, the clinical implementation of emerging technologies, and outcomes with direct clinical relevance.
Tyler Ulch is a second-year master’s student in the Clinical Psychology program at Teachers College, Columbia University. He leads the Route Learning Navigation Project in the Cognitive Neuropsychology Lab. Tyler has experience administering neuropsychological assessments to psychiatric inpatients and is currently investigating cognitive impairment in relation to the Suicide Crisis Syndrome. His interdisciplinary research and academic interests span cognition, acquired brain injury, suicide prevention, ecopsychology, the clinical implementation of emerging technologies, and outcomes with direct clinical relevance.
Zhijiao Gao is a second-year Master’s student in the Clinical Psychology program. She is the Project Lead for the Event Segmentation, where her team investigates the mechanisms of event segmentation and memory performance. Zhijiao brings extensive research experience, such as work on attentional biases in mood disorders and computational modeling. She is particularly interested in the cognitive and neural aspects of depression and anxiety, especially within the context of neurodegenerative disorders.
Zhijiao Gao is a second-year Master’s student in the Clinical Psychology program. She is the Project Lead for the Event Segmentation, where her team investigates the mechanisms of event segmentation and memory performance. Zhijiao brings extensive research experience, such as work on attentional biases in mood disorders and computational modeling. She is particularly interested in the cognitive and neural aspects of depression and anxiety, especially within the context of neurodegenerative disorders.