People
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Amy E. Booth, Ph.D Principal Investigator a-booth@northwestern.edu 847-467-0331 Curriculum Vitae |
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Kathleen McGroarty-Torres Project Coordinator k-mcgroarty-torres@northwestern.edu Kathy has been with the Early Learning Lab since June 2010. She has training and experience working in Montessori Early Childhood education and is also the proud mother of two small boys. She loves working in an environment where she can learn about the mechanisms by which children learn while, simultaneously, getting to know all the wonderful families who visit our lab! |
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Aubry Alvarez Graduate Researcher aubryalvarez2009@u.northwestern.edu Aubry’s work centers on the roles of conceptual and perceptual understanding in young children’s cognitive and emotional development. In one line of experiments, she is investigating the impact of different kinds of rewards on preschoolers’ desire to learn, with a specific focus on the impact of information-based rewards. In another, she is investigating how preschoolers use perceptual information from television and other digital media to learn. In general, Aubry is curious to know what drives 3-4 year olds to learn about their world, focusing particularly on ways to improve the educational quality of digital media resources available to them. Finally, Aubry is a huge comic book nerd and a devoted Muppet fanatic, and her biggest dream is to have a hand in developing an educational, research-based children’s television program. |
Undergraduate Research Assistants
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Nicole Burke "I am a freshmen majoring in either Psychology or Cognitive Science. This is my first year in the lab and I really enjoy being able to help all the different studies that are going on in the lab. I hope to someday conduct my own research and I am very grateful for the opportunity I have here at the Early Learning Lab. When I am not in the lab I like to sing, perform, and hang out with friends and family." |
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Vanessa Dopker "I am a senior majoring in human communication sciences and minoring in cognitive science. The 2011-2012 school will be my second year working in the Early Learning Lab as an undergraduate research assistant. Following graduation, I aspire to be a speech therapist and to continue research in the field of communication sciences and disorders." |
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Amanda Frankel "I am currently a sophomore double majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders and Psychology. This is my first year in the Early Learning Lab and I am very excited! I am very interested in research on child development and I hope to continue research in the future." |
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Meghan Kasprzyk “I'm a junior majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders and minoring in Spanish. I'm happy to starting my second year at the Early Learning Lab following a semester studying abroad in Australia. In the future, I hope to pursue a career in speech pathology and to continue working with children.” |
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Kaitlin Keller "I am a junior majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders and Cognitive science. I truly enjoy working with children, and I am very excited and privileged to be working in the Early Learning Lab. I am interested to continue researching areas of child development in the future." |
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Amy Krischer "I am a senior majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders, originally from sunny Tampa, Florida. This is my second year working in the ELL. This past summer I assisted with our Autism gestural cues study, and this year I'm working on my honor's thesis, Exploring children’s use of referential intent to learn new words across socio-economic strata. When I'm not in the lab, I teach Life Skills classes for the Northwestern to Benefit Special Olympics athletes and am the President of the Tikkun Olam Task Force, Hillel's community service student group. While I'm still exploring my post-graduate possibilities, I know I want to take my experience at the ELL and apply it to work with children with developmental disabilities." |
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Lydia Moore "I am a sophomore double majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders and Psychology. I plan on concentrating in Speech Pathology, but nothing is set in stone. What I do know is that I love working with kids and am fascinated with the development of the brain. I am very excited to start my first year in the lab!" |
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Zabin Patel "I am currently a sophomore at Northwestern studying pre-medicine with a major in psychology and minor in religious studies. I am particularly interested in literacy, cognitive development, and word acquisition. In my free time, I enjoy reading, traveling, and eating chocolate chip cookies." |
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Alyssa Postman "I am a senior majoring in Human Development and Psychological Services, with a minor in Communication Sciences and Disorders. After graduation, I hope to go on to become an elementary special education teacher. I am very interested in research on both typical and atypical child development, as well as the practical applications for education reform. When I'm not in the lab, I enjoy leading Northwestern's Mock Trial team, singing, running, and cooking." |
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Monica Sadek "I am a freshman studying Communication Sciences and Disorders and premed at Northwestern. This is my first year as an Early Learning Lab Research Assistant and I love it! When I'm not working, I'm usually back home with my family or exploring Evanston." |
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Eesha Zaheer |
