Psychometrist
Educational History:
B.S., Biology (Specialization in Neuroscience) and Psychology, Stony Brook University
M.A., Psychology, New York University
Brief Narrative:
Virja’s education focused on neuropsychology, cognitive rehabilitation, and the assessment of brain-behavior relationships. Her professional experience includes research and clinical roles at the NYU Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuropsychology Lab, where she served as a graduate research assistant and lab manager, administering neuropsychological assessments for adults with traumatic brain injuries, managing participant visits, and overseeing REDCap data collection. She also worked as an undergraduate research assistant in Stony Brook University’s Clinical Affective Neuroscience Lab, where she processed EEG, EMG, and fMRI data for studies on affect, attention, and reward processing.
Her interest in psychometry emerged during graduate school, which led to her work in the Cognitive Neurology Unit. There, her understanding of neurocognitive and neurodegenerative disorders deepened, alongside her appreciation for clinical applications of neuropsychological assessments. Building on these experiences, Virja plans to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology to become a clinician-scientist specializing in neuropsychology, with the goal of advancing research and improving cognitive care for individuals with neurological conditions.
Personal Interests/Hobbies:
Reading, going on long walks, discovering new places around Boston, and stopping to say hello to every animal she meets.