The Cognitive Development Center at the University of Colorado at Boulder

Our History

This portion of the website is currently under construction. Please check back soon!

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Researchers

Director:

	Dr. Yuko Munakata

Lab coordinator:

	Julia Stadele Julia started working as the Lab Coordinator in July of 2012, however, she has been with the center since her last year of high school! She graduated magna cum laude from CU-Boulder in May of 2011 with bachelor's degrees in Psychology and Integrative Physiology and a Certificate in Behavioral Neuroscience. She is interested in all of the projects going on in the center right now, especially work to do with media and it's influence on cognitive development. In her free time, Julia enjoys lighting candles, playing guitar, skiing, yoga, and of course eating ice cream with her best friends!

Julia Stadele

Julia started working as the Lab Coordinator in July of 2012, however, she has been with the center since her last year of high school! She graduated magna cum laude from CU-Boulder in May of 2011 with bachelor's degrees in Psychology and Integrative Physiology and a Certificate in Behavioral Neuroscience. She is interested in all of the projects going on in the center right now, especially work to do with media and it's influence on cognitive development. In her free time, Julia enjoys lighting candles, playing guitar, skiing, yoga, and of course eating ice cream with her best friends!

Postdocs:

	Nic Chevalier Bio: Nic received his Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Provence (Marseille, France) in 2008, and then completed a first post-doctorate at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. His research interests involve the development of executive control in children. In particular, he is interested in how children process environmental information to determine what goals they need to reach, and ultimately how to behave adaptively. He examines the processes underlying goal representation in situations that require set-sifting or response inhibition, using behavioral, eye-tracking, and electrophysiological measures. Recently, Nic has developed a special interest in inter-individual variability in cognitive strategy and qualitative changes that drive executive control development.

Nic Chevalier

Bio: Nic received his Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Provence (Marseille, France) in 2008, and then completed a first post-doctorate at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. His research interests involve the development of executive control in children. In particular, he is interested in how children process environmental information to determine what goals they need to reach, and ultimately how to behave adaptively. He examines the processes underlying goal representation in situations that require set-sifting or response inhibition, using behavioral, eye-tracking, and electrophysiological measures. Recently, Nic has developed a special interest in inter-individual variability in cognitive strategy and qualitative changes that drive executive control development.

Graduate Students:

	Jane Barker (1st Year) Bio: Jane became interested in the influence of SES on developing executive function and the impact of symbolism/pretend play on attention while working as a researcher at Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning in Denver. Her current lab projects involve investigations into the development of abstract representation and cognitive control in infants. During her spare time, Jane can usually be found on a soccer field, a ski run, or a mountain. She has a B.A. from Rice University and an M.P.A. in policy analysis and public finance from Indiana University - Bloomington.
	Laura Michaelson (1st Year) Bio: Laura began at the Cognitive Development Center as a summer intern in 2008, graduated with Honors from the Vassar College Cognitive Science Program in 2009, then spent two years working in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania from 2009-2011. She has returned to the CDC to pursue a joint PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience, and is currently working on projects exploring the development of cognitive flexibility and cognitive control. Laura thinks that studying the development of knowledge and cognition across childhood is the best way to understand mature brain function in adults. She is interested in the impact of this basic research on a variety of applied disciplines and industries, from enhanced treatments for neurological disorders to better designed intelligent software and machinery.

Jane Barker (1st Year)

Bio: Jane became interested in the influence of SES on developing executive function and the impact of symbolism/pretend play on attention while working as a researcher at Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning in Denver. Her current lab projects involve investigations into the development of abstract representation and cognitive control in infants. During her spare time, Jane can usually be found on a soccer field, a ski run, or a mountain. She has a B.A. from Rice University and an M.P.A. in policy analysis and public finance from Indiana University - Bloomington.

Laura Michaelson (1st Year)

Bio: Laura began at the Cognitive Development Center as a summer intern in 2008, graduated with Honors from the Vassar College Cognitive Science Program in 2009, then spent two years working in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania from 2009-2011. She has returned to the CDC to pursue a joint PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience, and is currently working on projects exploring the development of cognitive flexibility and cognitive control. Laura thinks that studying the development of knowledge and cognition across childhood is the best way to understand mature brain function in adults. She is interested in the impact of this basic research on a variety of applied disciplines and industries, from enhanced treatments for neurological disorders to better designed intelligent software and machinery.

Undergraduate Students/Community Volunteers:

	Abby Cher (Community Volunteer) Abby joined the Cognitive Development Center in the Spring of 2013. She plans to graduate in May 2013 with a dual degree in vocal music and psychology, but she'll be sticking around at CU for at least another year to get ready to apply to medical school. Eventually, she'd like to pursue a career in psychiatry or neurology. Abby knows that working in the CDC will be an excellent experience because it is such a friendly research community. She also thinks kids are silly and lots of fun. Outside of the lab, Abby loves reading, hiking and cooking and is almost constantly singing.
	Adam Nastars (Junior) Adam began working for the Cognitive Development Center in the Fall of 2012. He is majoring in Neuroscience and plans on continuing his education in either medical or graduate school. Adam hopes that by working in this lab he will gain valuable research experience and a better understanding of cognitive psychology.
	Andrei Semenov (Community Volunteer) Andrei started working at the Cognitive Development Center in the Spring of 2010. Andrei graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder in Spring of 2013 with degrees in both Psychology and Philosophy. He plans on going to graduate school in the future and focusing on child development psychology. When Andrei is not in the lab he enjoys spending his time in Boulder by going on hikes, bike rides and community events. He also enjoys the local hockey team, the Colorado Avalanche and tries to go to as many games as possible.
	Danny San Filippo (Community Volunteer) Danny began working at the Cognitive Development Center in February of 2013. He graduated from CU-Boulder in May 2012 with a major in psychology. He plans to go back to school for his Ph.D but he is still not sure which area of psychology he would like to focus on. When Danny is not at the CDC he is working his other job as a direct care counselor at Attention Homes. With his time off, Danny likes to snowboard, play sports, and play some music.
	Emma Stadele (Community Volunteer) Emma joined the Cognitive Development Center in the Fall of 2012. She is a senior at the University of Colorado majoring in psychology. After she graduates, she plans on becoming a participant in the J.E.T. program (Japanese Exchange Teacher). She also would love to further her education in Clinical Psychology. Emma is interested in eventually working with women who have eating disorders. In her free time, Emma enjoys running, hiking, volleyball, anything to do with elephants, eating Nutella, and the sunshine.
	Kathleen Peoples (Senior) Kathleen joined the Cognitive Development Center in September 2012. She is currently a junior double majoring in molecular cellular and developmental biology (MCDB) and neuroscience. After graduating from CU she plans to take a year off and travel, possibly doing some research in the UK. Kathleen has not decided whether she wants to go to graduate school, medical school or both! In her free time she enjoys eating, traveling, hanging out, and listening to music.
	Kristen Gray (Senior) Kristen joined the Cognitive Development Center in October 2011. She is currently a sophomore majoring in psychology, hoping to graduate early in 2013. She is very interested in the developmental and cognitive fields of psychology and aspires to become a Child Psychologist later in life. In her free time, Kristen enjoys reading, working with children at YMCA, hiking and spending time with friends and family.
	Laura Meyer (Junior) Laura joined the Cognitive Development Center in the Spring of 2013. She is a sophomore honors student at the University of Colorado with a double major in psychology and economics. She has always had interest in cognitive development and hopes to gain experience that will help peak her interest in psychology and give her insight into future careers. After finishing her undergraduate degree, Laura plans to attend graduate school for psychology. Laura also enjoys skiing, snowboarding, hiking and Zen meditation.
	Layne Hubbard (Senior) Layne is a junior studying neuroscience at CU-Boulder. She is a former preschool teacher, and has collaborated with parents, children, educators, and therapists to advance the understanding of Early Childhood in Boulder, Colorado. She is passionate about improving the neurological and behavioral outcomes for children who have experienced traumas including poverty, war, abuse, and neglect. Detroit, Michigan is LayneÕs cultural hometown and she draws inspiration from the underground struggle of using creativity to transform chaos into beauty. She is happiest when submerged in a sea, swimming.
	Lena Lazar (Community Volunteer) My name is Lena and I have been working at the CDC since late May 2012. I am a senior and majoring in psychology. I am interested in studying cognitive development in children as well as investigating how children process information in different ways and how that changes, as they get older. I plan to attend graduate school, possibly for social work. I am from Chicago but love Boulder, especially the mountains. I have been working with kids for years and hope to pursue a career that lets me work with children in some way.
	Lindsay Provan (Research Assistant) Lindsay first joined the CDC in the spring of 2009. As an undergrad, she did an honors thesis on memory in 5- and 6-year olds and stuck around after graduation as a volunteer because the CDC is just that awesome. Lindsay hopes to be able to make a decision one day about what to go to graduate school for but in the mean time, she enjoys hanging out in Boulder hiking, biking, climbing, doing yoga, reading, and adventuring.
	Rachel Lahoda (Community Volunteer) Rachel began working with CDC in spring 2012. She graduated in 2011 from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a B.A. in psychology. She also has training in antiviolence and oppression and works at the Boulder Safehouse. Rachel plans to pursue an advanced degree in psychology. By working in this lab she hopes to gain valuable research experience in the field of psychology and learn more about cognitive development. In her free time she enjoys playing soccer, hanging out with friends and pretty much anything to do with sports.
	Ryan Guild (Research Assistant) Ryan began working at the CDC in spring 2011. He graduated in 2010 from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a B.A. in psychology. He also received his certificate in Peace and Conflict Studies during which he studied conflict mediation. By working in the lab he hopes to gain meaningful research experience in the field of cognitive developmental psychology, and has plans to pursue graduate school in the future. In his free time he enjoys reading, art and music.

Lab Alumni:

Previous Lab Coordinators

Eden Davis (now in a PhD program at UT-Austin)

Hiromi Sumiya (now working with the IRB at CU-Boulder)

Lauren Gindin (now in graduate program at University of Connecticut)

Amanda Bowles (now at UCHSC Medical School)

Previous Postdocs

Dr. Melanie Stollstorff
Dr. Nicholas Cepeda (now an associate professor at York University)
Dr. Sarina Chien (now an assistant professor at China Medical University, Taiwan)
Dr. Bruce Morton (now an associate professor at Western Ontario)
Dr. Jeanne Shinskey (now an assistant professor at University of South Carolina)

Previous Graduate Students

-Hannah Snyder (now a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Colorado Denver & University of Denver)
-Chris Chatham (now a postdoctoral researcher at Brown University in David Badre's lab)
-Maria Kharitonova (now a postdoctoral researcher at Children's Hospital Boston in Margaret Sheridan's Lab)
-Katye Blackwell (now an Assistant Professor at Hartwick University)
-Jennifer M. Stedron (now a Program Director at the National Conference of State Legislatures, a bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staffs of the nation's 50 states, its commonwealths and territories. She manages policy work in the areas of early childhood development and education, special education, extended learning opportunities, and education finance.)
-Ben Yerys (now an assistant professor at Children's National.)

Previous Undergraduate Students

-Allison Donmeyer
-Arielle Jensen
-Catherine Waymel
-Shaina Martis
-Nicole Axalan
-Caitlyn Henry
-Regina Shrestha
-Jordan Nardy
-Kristyn Corby
-Ashley Kulik
-Kali Becher
-Amanda Kemphues
-Yetunde Akinde
-Amy Turner: Now a PRA for Marie Banich
-Kelly Brennan: Now in the Master's nursing program at Marquette University
-Ingo Albrecht
-Amanda Bennett
-Jennifer Brace: Now in the PhD program in Neuroscience at UCLA
-Cheslea Cerny
-Daniel Cashmore: Now in an M.S. program in Industrial/Organizational Psychology at Cal State San Bernardino; also a part-time Performance Assessment Consultant for Southern California Edison.
-Anna Cejka (Morgenthaler): Completed her masters in clinical psychology at CU-Boulder in 2008. Currently she is in the third year of her doctorate in clinical health psychology at CU Denver. She is currently working on research with childhood cancer survivors at the University Hospital on the Anschutz medical campus.
-Char Coombs
-Meghan Cronk (Wright)
-Sean De Paula
-Teesa Dutta
-Nichelle Francavilla
-Melissa Gilstrap (Hamline): Received M.S. in Biophysics and Genetics with an emphasis in Genetic Counseling from CU Health Sciences Center in May 2009. She is currently working as a cancer genetic counselor at Porter Adventist Hospital in Denver.
-Hannah Harman
-Rebecca Hassman
-Garrett Hedman
-Joedy Hulings
-Amanda Hutchison (Bowles), M.D.: Graduated from University of Colorado School of Medicine in May 2010; now in residency (2010-2015) in Adult and Child & Adolescent Psychiatry at University of Colorado School of Medicine and is pursuing research in child psychiatry.
-Natalie Hutchison
-Dr. Eric Johnston: PhD in Information at University of Michigan, now an Associate Professor and Director of the Center for Policy Informatics at Arizona State University
-Patrick Keane
-Kristin Lavelle
-Grant Leitheiser, MS, MFTi, PPSC: Graduated from San Francisco State University in May 2010 with M.S. in marriage and family with a side emphasis in school counseling; He specializes in adolescent individual and family therapy and love experiential learning based initiatives.
-Deidre Lichty
-Emily Little
-Cara Miller: Pursuing PhD program in Psychology at the University of Denver
-Jessica Miltenberger
-Melissa Morgan
-Yura Oh
-Meghan Pearson: Now in a MA Counseling program at Regis University
-Libby Pelican: Now in a MA program in speech-language pathology at CU
-Sarah Perzow
-Chelsea Pierotti (Glasscock): Graduated with MA from DU in 2007; now in the 2nd year of PhD program at UNC in Sport Psychology
-Lindsay Provan
-CoLeen Pruisner
-Kelly Reid
-Sara Reid (McQuiston): Graduated with a master's in Forensic Psychology from DU in June 2008; now a professional research assistant at CU Health Sciences Center with the Schizophrenia Research Center.
-Danielle Robinson
-Julia Scott: Graduated from University of Denver Sturm College of Law in May, 2010 and have received an attorney position with the Colorado Public Defender's office pending successful passage of the Colorado Bar exam at the end of July, 2010.
-Kristin Stupiansky
-Christina Trevino

Summer Internship Students

-Michelle Shu (Darmouth University)
-Christina Lacerenze (University of Central Florida)
-Laura Michaelson (Vassar College, 2008): now a graduate student at the CDC!
-Alex White (Yale University, 2005 - now in the PhD program in Psychology at New York University)
-Katye Blackwell (University of Rochester, 2004 - now in the PhD program in Psychology at CU Boulder)
-Kieran O'Connor (Stanford University, 2003 - now in the PhD program in the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University)
- Sarah Sahni (Carnegie Mellon University - now a graduate student in the PhD program in Psychology at University of Wisconsin, Madison)
-Ellen Pepper (University of Michigan)

Community Volunteers

Kate Schild (Community Volunteer)
Donna Fisher (Community Volunteer)
Juan Quezada (Community volunteer, 2007 & 2008)

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Grants and Awards

The following grants have been awarded to CDC lab members:

Grant from the National Institute of Mental Health
-Dr. Yuko Munakata

Grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
-Dr. Yuko Munakata

University Summer Undergraduate Research Fund (University SURF)
-Amanda Bowles (2004, 2005)
-Jennifer Brace (2003)

Psychology Summer Undergraduate Research Fund (Psychology SURF)
-Kristen Gray, Kathleen Peoples (2013)
-Arielle Jensen (2011)
-Amy Turner & Kelly Brennan (2010)
-Garrett Hedman, Julia Stadele, Teesa Dutta (2009)
-Kelly Reid, Amanda Bennet, Meghan Cronk (2008)
-Jessica Miltenberger & Meghan Wright (2006)
-Sara McQuiston & Kristin Stupiansky (2005)
-Julia Scott (2004)
-Meg Ryan (2003)

Bioscience Undergraduate Research Skill and Training (BURST) Award
-Jessica Miltenberger (2006)

Science of Learning Center (SLC) Award
-Deidre Lichty (2006)

University Undergraduate Research Opportunities (University UROP)
-Arielle Jensen, Andrei Semenov, Lena Lazar, Kristen Gray (2012)
-Kelly Brennan (2010, 2011)
-Andrei Semenov(2010, 2011)
-Amy Turner(2010, 2011)
-Lindsay Provan (2010)
-Amanda Bennett & Meghan Cronk (2008)
-Sara McQuiston & Kristin Stupiansky (2005)

Assistantship UROP:
-Allison Donmyer (2012)
-Catherine Waymel (2012)
-Emma Stadele(2012)
-Kathleen Peoples (2012)
-Nicole Axalan (2012)
-Amy Turner (2009, 2010)
-Sean Burns (2008)
-Julia Stadele (2008)

Psi Chi (psychology National Honor Society) Summer Research Grant
-Jennifer Brace (2003)

CDC Lab Members have received the following awards:
-Laura Michaelson (graduate), 2013-2014 Sheryl Young Award for being an outstanding female graduate student in the sciences.
-Kristen Gray (undergraduate), 2013 Imogene Jacobs Award for excellence in the academic, and research world as shown by samples of previous work, future plans, and faculty recommendations.
-Layne Hubbard (undergraduate), 2013 Van Ek Award for excellence in the academic, extracurricular and volunteer realms.
-Chris Chatham (graduate), 2011 Dosier Award for outstanding graduate student, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado, Boulder
-Hannah Snyder (graduate), 2011 Society for the Neurobiology of Language Abstract Merit Award
-Chris Chatham (graduate), 2010 "Outstanding Trainee Poster" at the 20th Annual Rotman Research Institute Conference on The Frontal Lobes
-Hannah Snyder (graduate), 2009 Sheryl Young Award for being an outstanding female graduate student in the sciences
-Amanda Bennett and Meghan Wright (undergraduate), 2008 Provost Achievement and Convocation Award for being one of 10 undergraduate students campus wide for their academic achievement and community services, nominated by faculty members
-Meghan Cronk (undergraduate), 2008 Imogene Jacobs Award for one rising senior Psychology major exhibiting exceptional promise in research
-Yetunde Akinde (undergraduate), 2009-2011 NIH HHMI Diversity in BioScience
-Annie Grotheer (undergraduate), NIH HHMI Diversity in BioScience
-Developing Intelligence, a web log by Chris Chatham (graduate), was selected by Nature as one of the top 50 popular science blogs, and was featured in the Dec/Jan '07 issue of Scientific American Mind
-Maria Kharitonova (graduate), 2006 Sheryl Young Award for being an outstanding female graduate student in the sciences
-Amanda Bowles (undergraduate), 2005 Imogene Jacobs Award for one rising senior Psychology major exhibiting exceptional promise in research
-Dr. Yuko Munakata, 2005 Top Professor Award, Mortar Board National Honor Society
-Jennifer Brace (undergraduate), 2004 Psi Chi Allyn & Bacon 3rd Place Award for the best empirical research

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Press About the CDC

Why toddlers don't do what they're told (March 2009)
LiveScience Article, as reproduced on the MSN front page, US News and World Report, Yahoo! News, Slate, Slashdot, der Spiegel, la Repubblica, Baranya Ma, Epoch Times, Babr.ru and around the blogosphere

Scientific American (July 2005)
Reaching in the dark: How babies learn that unseen toys don't just vanish

Daily Camera (7/13/05)
Peek-a-boo more than a game: Study suggests babies need to learn concept of object permanence
pdf version (It's free to register w/the Daily Camera to see the article on their website, or you can just view the pdf without registering.)

Colorado Matters, Colorado Public Radio Interview (3/4/05, 8/22/05)
Research on Infant Intelligence: Yuko Munakata, director of the Cognitive Development Center at the University of Colorado at Boulder, tells about a recent study, involving hundreds of babies, designed to assess infant intelligence.

Denver Post (12/13/04)
A middle ground on babies' smarts

Daily Camera (6/9/04)
Babies', children's brain power studied at CU: Researchers in center are exploring the foundations of knowledge
pdf version (It's free to register w/the Daily Camera to see the article on their website, or you can just view the pdf without registering.)

CU Press release (6/24/03)
CU Prof Works With Children To Understand How Knowledge Develops In Humans

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