What we study

How do our earliest social experiences shape emotional and behavioral development? How do experiences beginning in pregnancy influence the mental health of mothers and children across the lifespan? How do children’s biological differences shape the way they respond to their environments? What family, school, and neighborhood influences set children on different trajectories toward mental health and well-being?

In the EDEN Lab, we study how genetics, neurobiology, relationships, and broader environments work together across development. We follow children and families over time, combining surveys, interviews, observations, physiological and neurobiological measures, and computational methods to understand how risk and resilience unfold. Ultimately, we want this work to inform more effective interventions for children and families, which can help more children thrive.