Research
Ashley Curtis
About Us
The Cognition, Aging, Sleep, and Health Lab (CASH Lab) directed by Dr. Ashley Curtis studies the bidirectional relationship between sleep and cognition in healthy and pathological aging populations. The CASH Lab is specifically interested in evaluating and optimizing cognitive interventions for improving sleep, cognition, and associated functions.
The CASH Lab also examines sex-related (biological sex, menopausal transition) and other risk (e.g., pain, alcohol use, inflammation, medication) factors that alter sleep and cognitive profiles across the lifespan. The lab uses behavioral (e.g., cognitive testing, daytime functioning assessment, sleep) and physiological (e.g., polysomnography, heart rate variability, neuroimaging) methods to answer novel research questions in these areas.
Staff Recruitment
Undergraduate Students: If you would like to join our lab, send a cover letter outlining experience and research interests as well as a CV to Dr. Curtis at ashleycurtis@usf.edu. Please note that undergraduate students are expected to volunteer 4-6 hours per week in the lab.
For all other inquiries please email Dr. Curtis at ashleycurtis@usf.edu.
CASH Lab Team
Ashley F. Curtis, PhD -- Lab Director/Principal Investigator
Ashley Curtis, PhD, received her doctoral degree in Psychology (with a specialization in Brain, Behavior and Cognitive Sciences) from York University in Toronto, ON, Canada. Her dissertation work focused on developing and evaluating strategies to improve cognition in younger and older adults. She completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship at Sunnybrook Research Institute in Toronto, ON, where she studied sex differences in risk factors and outcomes of neurodegenerative disorders. She also completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship with Christina McCrae, PhD, in the Mizzou Sleep Research Lab in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Missouri. Dr. Curtis was also previously an Assistant Professor at the University of Missouri (Departments of Psychiatry and Psychological Sciences).
Dr. Curtis is currently an Assistant Professor in the College of Nursing and Director/Principal Investigator of the Cognition, Aging, Sleep, and Health (CASH) Lab. Dr. Curtis’s research focuses on the bidirectional associations between sleep and cognition in healthy and pathological aging populations. Current research investigates how cognitive training paradigms impact sleep and cognition. She is also interested in sex differences and other risk factors (e.g., pain, medication) that alter sleep and cognitive profiles across the lifespan. She employs clinical, behavioral, and neuroscience methods to examine novel research questions in these areas.
Amy N. Costa, MA -- Graduate Research Assistant
Amy is a doctoral student in the Cognition, Neuroscience, and Social Psychology program. Amy holds an M.A. in Psychology with a concentration in Cognition and Neuroscience from the University of Missouri. Her research interests involve sleep and cognition in older adulthood, such as the role sleep has in pathological aging. She also has a specific interest in better understanding the relationship between subjective experiences of cognition (i.e., metacognitive awareness) and objective cognitive functioning, and how sleep may impact this relationship.
Susan Rodriguez, BA-- Graduate Research Assistant
Susan Rodriguez is a doctoral student in the Cognition, Neuroscience, and Social (CNS) Psychology program. Susan earned a B.A. in Psychology from USF in Spring 2021. She is broadly interested in the impact of social and psychological factors on physiological responses to stress, and how these varying responses may impact physical and mental health.
Natasa Billeci, FNP, RN, MSN, BSN -- Graduate Research Assistant
Natasa is a doctoral student at the USF Health College of Nursing with a concentration in Biobehavioral Science. She holds MSN and BSN degrees and has specialized training in Functional Medicine, Women's Health, and Aging with an emerging expertise in computational biology. Her research interests center on understanding how reproductive aging moderates neuroendocrine function, sleep architecture, and biological markers across the female lifespan.
Undergraduate Research Assistants
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Manisha Katwal
Manisha KatwalManisha is a junior Public Health student minoring in Infection Control and Psychology. -
Ashlynn Gilbert
Ashlynn GilbertAshlynn is majoring in Biomedical Sciences & minoring in Psychology. -
Alvina Nguyen
Alvina NguyenShe is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Health Science and plans to attend medical school. -
Celestine Sebastian
Celestine SebastianCelestine is a third-year undergraduate student majoring in Biomedical Sciences and minoring in Psychology and Public Health. -
Mie Ribeiro
Mie RibeiroMie is an undergraduate student majoring in Psychology and pursuing a career in the medical field. -
Mary Degenhardt
Mary DegenhardtMary is a sophomore majoring in Biomedical Sciences and minoring in Creative Writing. She plans to attend medical school. -
Livia Hertel
Livia HertelLivia, a 3rd-year student from São Paulo, Brazil, is double majoring in psychology and criminology and plans to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology.