Meghan Puglia - Assessing Neurobiological Markers of Social Developmental Variability – Clinical Research Assistant Role

Social relationships are critical for human health and happiness. These relationships are so important that we enter the world seemingly primed to take in social information; within the first few hours of life, newborns already show a perceptual bias to social stimuli like faces and voices. These early perceptual biases are thought to set the stage for subsequent social-cognitive abilities – such as the ability to understand the thoughts and emotions of others – that ultimately facilitate the formation of critical social relationships. However, the degree to which different individuals show these perceptual biases and are ultimately successful at advanced social-cognitive processes varies, and in some cases may be indicative of disorders like autism. Research in the Developmental Neuroanalytics Lab aims to identify and characterize the neurobiological and developmental factors that drive individual differences in social, cognitive, and behavioral outcomes across the lifespan. 

The lab provides a multidimensional and interdisciplinary training environment, spanning the fields of cognitive neuroscience, developmental psychology, and molecular epigenetics. Trainees are provided with hands-on experience in developmental cognitive neuroscience collection techniques, including infant longitudinal electroencephalography (EEG), functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), eye-tracking, cognitive, behavioral, and diagnostic, assessments, and biological sample collection. Our studies take place both in our lab at Fontaine Research Park and in the UVA Neonatal Intensive Care Unit where preterm babies, who have an increased risk of developmental disorder, are receiving care. 

You will be responsible for working directly with participating families to obtain informed consent and collect study measures. You will also assist with recruiting participants, screening for study eligibility, scheduling study appointments, maintaining study records, and managing day-to-day lab operations. You will gain an in-depth understanding of the research process, hands-on experience conducting human neuroscience and developmental science research, and valuable and transferable skills including the ability to think critically and work effectively in a team.