Dana is a research scientist and professor, whose primary research focuses on the cognitive processes surrounding human memory and language, particularly within the domain of multilingualism.
Dana is a cognitive scientist whose primary research focuses on the cognitive processes surrounding human memory, emotion, and language, particularly within the domain of multilingual communities. For over a decade, she served as an Associate Professor at the United States International University – Africa (USIU), located in Nairobi, Kenya. She established the first research laboratory dedicated to the study of human cognition in East Africa (Centre for Cognitive and Developmental Research). Dana has worked as a consultant on several research projects within the medical community, as well as those conducted by elite international (K-12) schools in the Sub-Saharan African region. She has served on the board of several non-profit organizations both within Africa and North America. Currently, she is also an Associate Editor at Memory and Cognition.
Dana earned a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biology (minor in Psychology) and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in French (minor in Spanish), followed by MA and PhD degrees in Cognitive and Developmental Psychology. During her time at the University at Albany, State University of New York, she worked under the supervision of Dr. Jeanette Altarriba in the Language and Cognition Laboratory. She also had the opportunity to work with Dr. Laurie Feldman in the Cognition Laboratory and as a research consultant for Haskins Laboratories (Yale University), as well as gaining knowledge and mentorship from those who served on her dissertation committee (Dr. James Neely, University at Albany and Dr. Viorica Marian, Northwestern University).
While in graduate school, Dana was the 2008 Recipient of the Excellence in Teaching Award, and the 2010 Recipient of the Distinguished Doctoral Dissertation Award. Dana’s impact globally was recognized by being the 2014 recipient of the APA International Psychology Division Early Career Professional Award (for “outstanding contributions to International Psychology”) and the APA Early Career Achievement Award (based on “scientific achievement and leadership in the field of psychology” from the international division). Her research experience also allowed her to be a recipient of a Mentor Fellowship for Early Career Scientists (funded through the National Science Foundation – Perception, Action and Cognition Program). More recently, she was awarded the 2022 Excellence in Education Alumni Award.
Dana is a founding board member and former Associate Director of the Psychological Science Accelerator (PSA), one of the largest team science initiatives in the behavior sciences worldwide. This grassroots research effort currently consists of several thousand researchers representing labs in 70+ countries. The PSA has been recognized by various international outlets and received the Einstein Foundation Award for Promoting Quality in Research. All these experiences have allowed Dana to have a strong interest in cross-cultural cognitive science and in issues that have a global influence. She has been invited to present her research in spoken sessions internationally, including on five continents and in more than one dozen countries. She is passionate about open scholarship in African research and in the research ethics surrounding multi-country research collaborations. This interest led her to recently complete a Master of Science (MS) in Research Administration from Johns Hopkins University. These opportunities have provided Dana with diverse cultural experiences and a proven ability to work with students, faculty, and scientists from many different backgrounds.
Research Interests
Translation and Emotion: Translation and perception of emotion in multilingual populations; processing of emotional stimuli across cultures; the relationship between emotion and memory
Brain and Language: Neurological components of bilingualism/multilingualism; second language acquisition and development; cognition and culture, cognition in non-WEIRD populations; interaction between language and culture; the effects of poverty on social and cognitive development
International Research Development: Team Science; research ethics in multi-country collaborations