Dr. Swanson is a first-generation college student and a developmental and cognitive neuroscientist. In her research she investigates the neurobiology of early communication. She is also interested in how infants and their parents communicate and how this early communication supports brain development and later language and cognitive skills. She received her PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience from the Graduate Center at the City University of New York, and completed postdoctoral training in neuroimaging and neurodevelopmental disorders at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her research is supported by a NIH Pathway to Independence Award (NIH K99/R00) and an NIH R01.

Dr. Ravi is a consultant in the Baby Brain Lab. She is a certified SLP with approximately 8 years of clinical experience in the area of pediatric speech and language disorders. Her current research focus is on understanding the development of early social communication skills and their association to later language.

Genny is the lab manager, and a research assistant in the Baby Brain Lab. She graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas with a BS in psychology. While at UTD, she studied bias in artificial intelligence algorithms and worked with kids and teens with ASD.

Dennis is a doctoral student in the Psychological Sciences program at UTD. He obtained his bachelors at UCR in psychology. He previously worked in an adult bilingual lab and developmental dyslexia lab. His main research interest is looking at the neurobiological aspects of language in infants and children with autism.

Sharnya is a doctoral student in the Cognition and Neuroscience program at UTD. She holds a bachelor’s in Psychology, Media, and English studies from Christ University, Bengaluru. After a brief stint as a correspondent at Reuters News, she moved on to pursue interdisciplinary research at the Raaga Laboratory, where she investigated the translation of spoken rhythm into speech in ASD, and attention-based experiments. Currently, she is looking to explore the development of speech and language skills in ASD and typically-developing brains.

Jacqueline is a second-year Psychology Master’s student at UTD. She recently graduated from The Ohio State University with a BS in Psychology. She loves working with children, particularly children diagnosed with developmental disorders such as ADHD and autism. After graduation, she hopes to pursue a PhD in Developmental Psychology.

Bernadette is a recent graduate of UTD where she obtained a bachelor’s of science in neuroscience. She currently works as a research assistant in the Baby Brain Lab. As an undergraduate, she studied the neural correlates of social communication in typically developing infants. She hopes to obtain a Ph.D. in cognitive neuroscience in the future.

Isaias Salgado recently graduated with a degree in Neuroscience from the University of Texas at Dallas. His current research focus revolves around identifying a removing barriers for Spanish-Speaking participants to create a more diverse research enterprise. His future career plan is to pursue and MD/PHD where he can combine his love for clinical care and scientific research.

Sanjonaa Rudraraju Venkata is a senior at University of Texas at Dallas majoring in Psychology in the School of Brain and Behavioral Sciences. She is excited to study how caregiver speech affects infant cognitive development. After graduation, she plans to further her degree in psychology either in the clinical or medical field.

Anna is an Undergraduate Psychology Major that is minoring in Sociology and Cognitive Science here at UTD. She joined the Baby Brain Lab in Summer 2023 as an E.N.S.U.R.E Fellow. Anna’s research interest includes studying the effects of stress and early-life adversity on neural and language development as well as identifying early indicators of social and language development. After she graduates, she plans on pursuing her Ph.D. in Cognition and Neuroscience.

I am a psychology student in my senior year, preparing for a career in medicine. My work involves improving the lives of young children and educating them about the significance of physical activity for their overall development, both physically and mentally. Currently, I am gaining valuable experience as an intern at The Brain Injury Research Center, where research focuses on minorities and individuals in marginalized communities. My ultimate goal is to pursue an MD/PhD, as I am eager to further expand my knowledge and contribute to the field.

Irene is a senior at UT Dallas majoring in Healthcare studies. She aspires to be a pediatric dentist in the future as she loves working with children. Her current direction of research interest lies in the field of medical neuroscience and psychology.

Nadia is a senior at UT Dallas majoring in Speech and Language Pathology and minoring in Business. She is looking forward to learning about how parent interactions influence child development and hopes to use this background in her future career. She aspires to open her own Speech pathology clinic one day.

Hamshitha is a sophomore at UT Dallas majoring in neuroscience. She is excited to research the impact of child-caregiver communication on infants’ cognitive and language development. She aspires to attend medical school following graduation, while integrating her interests in psychology and neuroscience.

Faaizah is a sophomore majoring in Speech-Language Pathology. She is excited to learn and explore the relationship between parent interactions and child development. Her current research interests lie at the intersections of communication disorders, psychology, and medicine. After graduation, she aspires to further her degree in Speech Pathology either in the medical or clinical field.

Jasha is a junior at UT Dallas majoring in Psychology and minoring in Cognitive Science. She is interested in learning more about a child’s brain and cognitive development. After graduation, she hopes to obtain a PhD in Clinical Psychology and eventually work as a psychotherapist for children.

Vee Suresh is a senior at UT Dallas majoring in Neuroscience. She is interested learning more about how the infant brain develops with language. After graduation, she hopes to attend medical school and become a doctor.