OUR TEAM

Angie Johnston is an assistant professor at Boston College where she directs the Canine Cognition Center and Social Learning Laboratory. She received her Ph.D. in Psychology from Yale University and her B.S. in Child Development from the University of Texas at Dallas. Her research on canine cognition and child development has received numerous awards from sources such as the National Science Foundation, and her work has been featured on NBC Nightly News, the Today Show, and Scientific American. When she’s not in the lab investigating how dogs and children learn about the world around them, you can find her at home getting new study ideas from her dog, Vader. You can find more information at her personal website. 

People, animals, and how they work together – Karen has been fascinated by the animals around us and what they can tell us about ourselves since she was a child. A graduate from Canisius University where she received a B.S. in Animal Behavior, also studying communication, psychology, and anthrozoology, her interests lie in the cognitive perception of social others, learning mechanisms, and social interactions between people and dogs. Karen aims to continue contributing to canine social cognition in her career as a researcher and professor, teaching future scientists about animal behavior. She also enjoys baking, board games, raising future service dogs, and playing fetch with her cat, Phoebe!

Anna Carey (‘28) is a student at Boston College studying Biology with a minor in Medical Humanities. As a Pre-Veterinary student, she is interested in how the bonds between humans and dogs can be harnessed to alleviate stress in unfamiliar settings. She is also curious to explore the cognitive differences between service dogs and pet dogs. Outside of the lab, Anna dances with BC On Tap, sings with the Chorale, and loves exploring the city!

Chloe is a student (‘27) at Boston College majoring in Psychology and minoring in Biology on the pre-physician assistant track. She is interested in exploring the memory capacity of dogs and the extent to which they can understand human communication. In addition to working in the lab, Chloe is a spin instructor at the plex and enjoys watching hockey and basketball.

Becky is a student at Boston College majoring in Neuroscience and a research assistant for the Canine Cognition Center. She is interested in how animals may impact stress reduction in human lives, especially those with mental health struggles. She plans to explore and delve deeper into the field of clinical psychology. Outside of the lab, she loves to crochet, read, and bake. She also enjoys exploring different genres of music for her show with WZBC, BC’s student radio station.

Julia Vasan (’27) is a senior at Boston College studying Neuroscience on the Pre-Veterinary track. She is particularly fascinated by emotional contagion between dogs and their owners and is interested in exploring how veterinary and cognitive science can intersect to improve animal welfare, especially in shelter environments, to provide the most supportive care possible. Outside of the lab, Julia loves to bake, play drums and bass, cheer on the Yankees and Knicks, and crochet Amigurumi animal figurines!