Molly Flaherty
Come Explore The WILD Lab!
Participate in our Studies! Click here to sign up or scroll down for more information.
The WILD Lab is a developmental psychology lab at Davidson College. We study language and cognitive development by inviting children from the community to come into our lab. In our studies children play games, solve puzzles, and describe everyday events. Our studies take 20-30 minutes to complete and are fun for both children and lab members alike!
Who We Are
Dr. Molly Flaherty
Molly Flaherty is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Davidson College and the director of the WILD Lab. In her work she seeks to better understand how children learn language and how language itself comes to be structured by the child learning processes. She also examines the ways in which children learn number words and number concepts.
Flaherty received her PhD from the University of Chicago, her MSc in The Evolution of Language and Cognition at The University of Edinburgh in Scotland, and her BA at Columbia University.
In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, travel, reading, and hanging out with her family.
GOOGLE FORM
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Current Lab Members
Maggie Thrall
Tatiana Rodriguez
Hello! My name is Adele, and I am a recent graduate from Davidson College. I majored in Studio Art and Classical Studies, with an ongoing interest in language development. I joined the WILD lab my sophomore year and am currently working with Dr. Flaherty on research about Nicaraguan Sign Language, one of the world’s newest languages! My next step is pursuing the M.Phil. in Linguistics at Trinity College Dublin, where I hope to continue with academic research and work towards becoming a speech therapist. Outside of the lab, I was also a gallery intern at the Van Every/Smith Galleries on campus. I am so grateful for being able to work alongside Dr. Flaherty and the WILD lab!
Hello cool cats! My name is Michelle Alfaro (she/her), and I am from Charlotte, North Carolina. I am a senior majoring in Psychology with a minor in Anthropology. Through the wonderful opportunity of working in the WILD lab, I have developed a deeper appreciation for the ways that languages are influenced by human acquisition, interaction, and transmission. Outside of the lab, I participate in mentorship and community service initiatives such as the Augustine Literacy Project, the ADA Jenkins Center, and Futuro Lleno de Esperanza. I am excited to continue growing in my understanding of language.
Hi! I'm Tatiana Rodriguez, a senior psychology major at Davidson College. For the last few years, my clinical experience has been in developmental and behavioral therapy for children with neurodivergence. My research has focused on child development, cardinality, and ADHD. In the summer after freshman year, I worked in the WILD lab with Dr. Flaherty where we focused on children’s gesturing and cardinality. I will continue working with Dr. Flaherty on my thesis in the 2027 academic year, working on a multi-collaboration research study focused on investigating the foundations of early numeracy.
Adele Oprica
Michelle Alfaro-Sanchez
Tatiana Rodriguez
Hi! My name is Camryn and I am a psychology major and Hispanic studies minor. I am very interested in language development and cognition amongst all ages. I am considering a career in speech-language pathology, or even bilingual SLP. Besides working in the WILD Lab for two summers, I am in Dionysia Musical Theater Company, a member of Androgyny A cappella, a member of Rusk Eating House, and on the leadership committee for Catholic Campus Ministry. I am thrilled to be a research assistant, and I hope your children enjoy the WILD Lab!
Camryn Bianchi
Hi there! My name is Katie White (she/her) and I am from Raleigh, North Carolina. I have just finished my second year at Davidson College, and my interests include developmental psychology and Second Language Acquisition. I am a Psychology and Hispanic Studies double major. I am curious about the similarities and differences between monolingual and bilingual individuals. Outside of the lab, I am a Trip Leader with Davidson Outdoors, a Chidsey Leadership Fellow, and I teach Spanish to kindergartners at Davidson Elementary School. I have loved working with the WILD lab so far, and cannot wait to further develop my interests! I hope to see you soon!
Katie White
Other Current Member: Brooke Lackey
Lab Alumni
Jess Villiger
Jess Villiger graduated from Davidson College in 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a minor in Educational Studies. She later earned her Masters of Education in Human Development from the Peabody College at Vanderbilt University.
Jess currently lives in Chicago, where she worked in program evaluation and K–12 assessment before transitioning into implementation work within the fintech and travel management space. Her academic and professional interests center on human development, education, organizational systems, and how people adapt to new technologies.
Outside of work, Jess competitively plays the card game euchre and placed seventh at the 2025 Euchre World Championship. She was also featured alongside fellow Davidson College Class of 2022 graduate Carson Crochet in a PBS special released in 2025 focused on the event.
Bernice Saladin
Hi there! My name is Bernice Saladin (she/her) and I am from New Jersey. I have just finished my first year at Davidson College and I am happily working in the WILD Lab this summer. I am an intended psychology major and my interest in child/developmental psychology stems from my previous volunteer work at youth mentoring programs and daycares. I have a strong desire to understand how children learn along with the similarities and differences they have. Outside of the lab, I am the secretary of the Black Student Coalition and a Chidsey Fellowship Leader. I’m excited to meet you all and your children through the wonderful WILD Lab!
Hi everyone! My name is Maggie Thrall, and I am a senior from Windsor, Connecticut, double majoring in Psychology and Communication Studies. My academic interests center on child psychology, particularly emotional and social development in academic settings, as I plan to pursue a master's degree in School Psychology at UConn. At Davidson, I have been involved in psychology research examining overconfidence in students and child language development, as well as clinical and community-based experiences in school and mental health settings, including work at Broughton Hospital. Outside of academics, I serve as President of Psi Chi, work as a Crisis Text Line counselor and Mental Health Ambassador, participate in club volleyball, and work in the Speaking Center. I loved being a part of the WILD Lab and contributing to research on children’s language development!
Maggie Thrall
Hi everyone! My name is Yueun Jeon, and I am a senior Psychology major at Davidson College from South Korea. My research interests include child development, children’s decision-making, and how different factors influence the choices children make. I am also interested in how child development connects to crime and the broader legal system. In summer 2024, I worked with Dr. Flaherty on research about how children learn numbers and use gestures as part of their learning process. Outside of the lab, I am involved in the Korean Student Association, Dance Ensemble, and Neuroscience Club. I am very excited to be part of the lab and look forward to meeting and working with everyone!
Hi, my name is Jalen Riad! I'm a senior Psychology Major at Davidson from St. Louis, Missouri. My interests include child development and clinical psychology, especially focusing on anxiety disorders. I worked in the WILD lab during the Summer of 2024 examining the linguistic patterns in kids' gestures, and last year I was an intern for the Broughton Hospital psychology department. I'm currently working on a senior thesis examining treatment outcomes of a local therapy group for kids based around tabletop role playing games. Outside of work I love hiking, meditation, and movies!
Hi everyone! My name is Samantha Tave and I am originally from Bethesda, Maryland. I graduated from Davidson College in 2026 as a Psychology major and Public Health minor. As someone who has worked in numerous childcare settings and jobs, I am deeply interested in developmental psychology and general child development. In the WILD lab, I helped with ongoing projects about language development and volunteered at the Woodlawn School’s annual STEAMfest. I am currently pursuing a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a concentration in Play Therapy from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
Yueun Jeon
Jalen Riad
Samantha Tave
I graduated from Davidson College in 2026 with a B.S. in Psychology and English and was a member of the WILD Lab during my junior and senior years. I am originally from Denver, Colorado, and am currently working in Concord, Massachusetts, at DBT Works as a Clinical Associate for their Psychiatric Day Program. I plan to pursue a Ph.D. or Psy.D. in clinical psychology, with particular interests in mental health and therapeutic interventions for adolescents and young adults. As a member of the WILD lab, I supported senior thesis projects and participated in bi-weekly lab meetings. In my free time, I enjoy spending time outdoors, reading, and hanging out with family and friends!
Ella Sharp
