People
Principal Investigator
Brady DeCouto, PhD
Principal Investigator
Brady is broadly fascinated in all things neuroscience, with a current emphasis on the interaction between technologies and human cognition. Brady has applied his research background concerning the science of expertise (e.g., attention in high-level athletes, skill learning, talent identification) to technological domains, including AI, exoskeletons, health wearables, and brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), to uncover how to best measure and optimize complex cognitive and emotional processes at play during learning and performance. Brady is also highly interested in using neuroscience to study attention during movement and movement planning.
PhD & Thesis Students
Daniel Biancamano, B.S.
Daniel is a master’s student in the Sport Psychology program completing a thesis investigating the effects of acute stress on performance. He previously attended the University of Pittsburgh where he worked as a research assistant with Drs. Peter Gianaros and Mark Scudder studying biopsychosocial influences on brain and heart health. He is interested in how protective factors like coping, emotion regulation, and other psychosocial and behavioral factors buffer associations between stress and poor health. Daniel plans to pursue a PhD after graduating from FSU. Outside of the lab, he enjoys hiking, traveling, music, and photography.
Heather DiGregorio, M.L.A
Heather is a first-year doctoral student in Sports Psychology under the supervision of Dr. DeCouto. With an educational background in psychology and experience in sports medicine research, she is interested in studying the biopsychosocial correlates of concussion in athletes as well as the impact of injury on mental performance in sport. Her aim is to uncover objective measures of concussion and mentally rehabilitate elite athletes after injury so they can continue to pursue peak performance and find enjoyment in their sport. In her free time, Heather likes to read, take her corgi, Wes, to the beach, go to concerts, and watch football.
Johanna Glaaser, M.S.
Johanna is a doctoral candidate whose research investigates the convergence of sport psychology and technology, specifically studying how coaches implement neurofeedback training to enhance athlete performance. She prioritizes an interdisciplinary approach in her work and is pursuing graduate certificates in Measurement & Statistics and Athletic Coaching. Her aim is to translate data and empirical research into actionable coaching tools for supporting athlete development and cultivating high-performance environments.
Arfa Mubeen, M.Phil.
Arfa is currently a second-year PhD student in Sport Psychology under the supervision of Dr. DeCouto, with a background in Psychology. Her research interests include motor learning, with a particular focus on the effectiveness of different types of assistance in the acquisition of motor skills. Her M.Phil. research focused on elite athletes, and in her PhD, she plans to work with novice athletes. She is interested in applying her research to optimize skill learning and performance in sport and physical activity contexts.
Trey Wood, M.S.
Trey is a first-year PhD student in the Sport Psychology program. His Master's thesis investigated the relationship between personality, self-talk, and quiet eye duration in target performance. By integrating eye tracking technology into his research, Trey adopts a more holistic approach to understanding attention and motor learning. He intends to provide empirical evidence supporting mental skills that enhance and elevate athletic performance.
Research Assistants
Cooper Garrard
Edgar Mora
Jarred Kirk
Alumni
Michael Avola, M.S.
Research Assistant, 2025–2026
Janos Bjoernvig, M.S.
Research Assistant, 2025–2026
Kara Cousino, M.S.
Research Assistant, 2025–2026
Allison Cox, B.S.
Research Assistant, 2024–2025
Moonjeong Kang, M.S.
Research Assistant, 2024–2025
Anjali Kapadia, M.S.
Research Assistant, 2025–2026
Elita Odartei, M.S.
Research Assistant, 2025–2026
Keanu Parsa
Research Assistant, 2024–2025
Jakob Tweedel, M.S.
Research Assistant, 2024–2025
Alec Treacy, Ph.D.
Research Assistant, 2025–2026
Taylor Yanchuk, M.S.
Research Assistant, 2024–2025
Eli Zemach, M.S.
Research Assistant, 2025–2026