Northwestern University

Northwestern University

ABOUT US

The HBCD team at Northwestern University has over two decades of experience conducting research with infants, children, pregnant people, and families with varied lived experience. Our team’s approach to research is “families first!” Our goal is for our study families to always have a meaningful, comfortable, and enjoyable experience. Each time a family comes to an HBCD Study visit, we hope they will “learn right along with us” about what makes their child unique and how their development is progressing. Our child development offices on Michigan Avenue are designed specifically for families and young children. Our family lounge is filled with books and toys and has a view of the lake! We also have a lactation/wellness room, play areas, and comfortable and bright rooms where families complete the different parts of the HBCD Study. We love to learn about children’s development and are experts in studying how multiple influences affect the unique development of each child-including their brain, their behavior, the contexts in which they live, and the things that matter to their family.

Northwestern Hbcd Staff

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We have a large and diverse team. Our HBCD team leaders are Dr. Laurie Wakschlag (developmental clinical psychologist) and Dr. Elizabeth Norton (developmental cognitive neuroscientist) together with Dr. Renee Edwards, (social work researcher) who is the scientific project director. Our research team comes from diverse backgrounds, experiences, communities, and areas of expertise, too. It includes scientific experts of many stripes, including experts in ethics, community engagement, family environment, the experience of pregnancy and how it influences children’s development, as well as the role of brain and behavioral development on how children learn, play, deal with challenges, and engage with their social world. Northwestern HBCD is excited to welcome you to become part of our HBCD family!

INVESTIGATORS

Elizabeth Norton

Elizabeth Norton, PhD

Principal Investigator
Lauren Wakschlag

Lauren Wakschlag, PhD

Principal Investigator
Kathleen Drexler

Kathleen Drexler, MD

Co-Investigator
Renee Edwards

Renee Edwards, PhD

Co-Investigator
Sheehan Fisher

Sheehan Fisher, PhD

Co-Investigator
Tracy Gertler

Tracy Gertler, MD, PhD

Co-Investigator
Marquita Lewis-Thames

Marquita Lewis-Thames, PhD

Co-Investigator
Rashmi Narayan

Rashmi Narayan, MD, FAAP

Co-Investigator
Ashish Premkumar

Ashish Premkumar, MD

Co-Investigator
Seema Shah

Seema Shah, JD

Co-Investigator
Yudong Zhang

Yudong Zhang, PhD

Co-Investigator

RESEARCH TEAM

Aldair Acosta

Aldair Acosta

Post Baccalaureate Student
Marianne Brennan

Marianne Brennan, MA, MPP

Research Associate
Brenda Copley

Brenda Copley, MA

Lead Navigator
Tabitha Davis

Tabitha Davis, MA

Senior Assessment Coordinator
Kasia Klimek

Kasia Klimek

Research Assistant
Natalia Kolek

Natalia Kolek

MRI Coordinator
Brittany Manning

Brittany Manning, PhD

Postdoctoral Fellow
Janet Nunez

Janet Nunez

Bilingual Assessment Coordinator
Thomas O’Brien

Thomas O’Brien

Research Assistant
Brianna Sinche

Brianna Sinche, MPH

Research Project Manager
Natalie Turner

Natalie Turner

Research Study Coordinator
Lisa Vicini

Lisa Vicini

Bilingual Research Assistant