People of I-LABS
Vibrant, super-smart and caring: these are just a few of the qualities that describe the dozens of interdisciplinary researchers at I-LABS. Their innovative ideas and technological savviness help drive the Institute's reputation as a world leader in child development and brain science.
And their kindness, professionalism and sense of humor greet all of the hundreds of families that volunteer each year for studies at I-LABS.
In the "People of I-LABS" series, we get to know the research scientists, post-doctoral fellows and other researchers who make up the elite team at I-LABS.
Please tell us a little about yourself. Where do you come from? What are you doing at I-LABS?
I grew up in Southern California as a bilingual, first-generation American. I completed my graduate education in Cognitive Psychology in Berkeley, CA. and then continued my journey up North with a post-doctoral position at I-LABS in Seattle. At I-LABS I initially did research on how young children learn about cause-and-effect in a complex world. More recently, I’ve gotten the opportunity to spread my research findings and those of others more broadly as a member of the I-LABS Outreach team.
How did you get involved in your specialty?
Mostly through a series of haphazard interests. I’m generally interested in how individuals make judgments and decisions about the world around them, despite the unreliability or lack of information. This driving interest is what initially led me to the world of cognitive development research, and now to helping others make judgments and decisions using the findings from cutting-edge research.
What are you responsibilities here?
I am a member of the Outreach team. My responsibilities can vary widely from project to project. Some of my most recent experiences include project management, instructional design, content strategy, usability testing, and focus group moderation.
What's your favorite part of working at I-LABS?
I love the team I work with! It’s so great to work with a passionate, creative, and supportive group of people. Each member of our team brings with them a unique set of skills and I have had the opportunity to learn so much from each one of them.
What is your most exciting I-LABS memory?
When the directors carved two giant legs of dried ham at one of the holiday parties. ;)
How do you use I-LABS discoveries in your own life?
I get to use them all the time! I’m a mother of two young children and have greatly benefited from having direct access to all the cutting-edge research that I-LABS has to offer. I’ve learned strategies for helping my children with emotion regulation, dual language learning (they’re also growing up bilingual), and so much more.
What’s something we might not know about you? (something fun! Secret talents? Cool travels? Adorable pets?)
I have two adorable cats, one of which is clicker trained (he sits better than some dogs I know). Also, both of my children spent part of their time in utero in foreign countries (1st in Brazil, 2nd in Germany) and I’m hoping that that combined with each of them having passports by the time they were 3 months old sets the stage for many travels to come.
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