About Us

Aisha Nefise Bazlamatci

Aisha Bazlamatci is a fourth-year Business Management and Pre-Med student at the University of South Florida. She is on a pre-medical track and aspires to be a neurologist. Aisha is the current Vice President external of Asian Students in America (ASiA) at USF. Some of her interests include drawing, reading and listening to music. Aisha is previously trained in Russian Ballet and has some experience with many different instruments ranging from piano, flute, melodica and drums. Through joining Dr. Bugos’s lab, she hopes to reconnect with her musical side and combine it with neurology and psychology.

Christopher Dang

Christopher Dang is a second-year undergraduate student at the University of South Florida majoring in Biomedical Sciences with a minor in Nutrition. He is on the pre-medical track to pursue a career in pediatric care. Christopher is the Co-Social Chair of Asia Students in America (ASiA) at USF and works to coordinate charity banquets and plan general body meetings. In addition, he is a camp counselor for Camp Kesem, an organization dedicated to providing a camp experience to children whose parents suffer from cancer. He enjoys listening to music during his free time and has prior training as a violinist.

Lilly Dang

Lilly Dang is a third-year undergraduate student in the College of Public Health at the University of South Florida. She is majoring in Health Sciences and is currently on the pre-medical track working to pursue a career in medicine. In secondary school, she had some experience with music with instruments such as the violin, flute, and piano. Lilly’s extracurriculars include Asian Students in America’s co-social chair and volunteering at medical clinics during breaks. She hopes to learn more about the impacts of music cognition through research with Dr. Bugos.

Ken Dao

Ken Dao is a first-year undergraduate student in the Honors College at the University of South Florida majoring in Biomedical Sciences. He is currently on a pre-med track toward medical school and plans to become an ophthalmologist. His assists o the Cognition and Coordination Across the Lifespan in Music (CALM) Study. During his free time, he likes to spend time with his dog Kobe, exercising, and paddling. He hopes to learn more about the psychological benefits of music cognition.

Aurora DeVore

Aurora DeVore is a first-year student at the University of South Florida majoring in Biomedical Sciences. She is currently on a 7-year B.S./MD track and plans to pursue a career in surgery. Aurora has been playing piano for fourteen years and also plays acoustic and electric guitar. Outside of school and music, she enjoys traveling, exercising, and playing volleyball with friends. Aurora is currently combining her interests in music and psychology by working on the CALM study to further her understanding about the effects of music interventions.

Jairus Gonzales

Jairus Gonzales is a third-year student at the University of South Florida majoring in Biomedical Health Sciences as a pre-med and aspires to be an emergency medicine physician. Jairus is a certified Emergency Medical Technician. Jairus is currently an officer and volunteering as an EMT in the Medical Response Unit (MRU) in UEMSA (University Emergency Medicine Student Association) at USF. Some of his interests include lacrosse, fitness, and playing guitar. Jairus has some experience with different experiments ranging from piano, guitar, and ukulele. He is currently working on the CALM study with Dr. Bugos in hopes to learn and better understand about the correlation between individuals with cognitive deficits and music.

Amber Jani

Amber Jani is a second-year undergraduate student at the University of South Florida. She is majoring in Cell and Molecular Biology with a minor in Entrepreneurship to pursue a career in medicine as a pediatrician. Music has been a major part of her life. She has been playing the flute for six years. Music was a way to express her feelings, to escape, but also was a second home.  She hopes to combine both her passion for music and medicine by working on studies with children and adults.

Joelynn Jung

Joelynn Jung is a first-year undergraduate student in the Honors College at the University of South Florida majoring in Biomedical Sciences. She is currently on a pre-dental track and aspires to be an oral surgeon. Her interests outside of her studies include playing the piano, trying new food, reading, and volunteering in her community. She is currently assisting with the Cognition and Coordination Across the Lifespan in Music (CALM) Study and a study with patients with cancer diagnosis.

Madison Rivera

Madison Rivera is a 2nd-year undergraduate student at USF. She majors in Sociology and Biomedical Sciences and is planning a career in medicine. She joined the CALM study to reconnect with her interest in music, as well as work with a dedicated and supportive team. She also carries out her duties as the Philanthropy Chair for the Association of Filipino Students by organizing fundraisers and serving communities in need. Outside of school, she enjoys singing and cooking for her friends. She aspires to become a physician to positively impact the lives of others and her peers.

Jason Schmidt Avendaño (He/Him/His)

Jason Schmidt Avendaño is a second-year University Graduate Fellow (UGF) in the Cognitive Neuroscience Social (CNS) program at The University of South Florida studying Cognitive Neuroscience. He earned his bachelor's degree in Psychology and Vocal Performance from Stetson University. His research interests lie at the crossroads between music cognition and psycholinguistics. He is specifically interested in studying the neuro-cognitive overlap of prediction for musicians and non-musicians using EEG-ERP methodology across language and music domains. He enjoys playing with his dogs, playing volleyball, paddle boarding, or working as a professional singer in his free time!

Jazmin Ghent

Jazmin Ghent is an international smooth jazz and gospel recording artist as well as an accomplished music educator. She was awarded the prestigious 2019 "NAACP Image Award" for Outstanding Jazz Album, "The Story of Jazz". She was nominated for 2019 Smooth Jazz Network's Best Artist of the Year and was voted 2017's Best New Smooth Jazz Artist.  Jazmin is also an accomplished music educator. She taught music to students in grades K-5 for five years. In 2020, Jazmin was invited by the US Embassy in Haiti to spend present music workshops to adults and children. She worked with musicians demonstrating the origin of jazz from standards to jazz of today.  Jazmin received a bachelor's degree from Florida State University and a Master's Degree from Tennessee State University. She is currently a PhD student at the University of South Florida. Her latest CD, "Forever...Jazz" was released January 2021.

Hoang Ngo

Hoang (Tommy) Ngo is currently a 1st year medical student at USF Morsani COM. He previously completed his undergraduate at UC Santa Barbara where he studied Biochemistry and Molecular Biology with a minor in Music. Tommy is interested in looking into the different ways that music can have a therapeutic effect in clinical populations. Outside of his studies, he enjoys playing piano, cooking, and playing volleyball.

Wenxin Song

Wenxin Song is a medical student at the University of South Florida. She also has a certification in Music in Medicine from the University of Florida. She is helping with a pilot study entitled, Piano Training on Memory and Quality of Life in Patients with a Cancer Diagnosis.Her research interests include the humanities, medical education, and biopsychosocial outcomes in healthcare.