I joined the School of Psychology at the University of Auckland in August 2009 where I established the first experimental developmental psychology research centre in Auckland - the Early Learning Lab at the University of Auckland (ELLA). Before moving to New Zealand I was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Maryland, USA. I completed my PhD at Queen's University, Canada and MSc at the University of Calgary, Canada.

My research investigates central facets of social and cognitive development in infancy and early childhood including the role that biological and experiential factors play in the development of linguistic and non-linguistic cooperative behaviour. Understanding the development of cooperation in early childhood is crucial because our everyday functioning, overall wellbeing, and the very survival of our species, rests on our abilities to work well and cooperate with others.

Responsibilities:

Director, Centre for Developmental Science (https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/science/our-research/research-centres/centre-for-developmental-science.html)

Director, Early Learning Laboratory (https://www.earlylearning.ac.nz/)
Professor, School of Psychology, University of Auckland

Committee/Professional groups/Services:
Past-President, Australasian Human Development Association (http://ahda.org.au/)
Editorial Board Member, International Journal of Behavioural Development

Qualifications:
PhD (Queen's University, Canada)
MSc (University of Calgary, Canada)
BA, Hons (University of Calgary, Canada)

Areas of Expertise:
Social, cognitive and language development in early childhood (0-8 years of age); Caregiver-child interactions; Digital Media; Prosocial behaviour.

Media Keywords:
Development of prosocial behaviour, Cognitive development in early childhood, Development of collaboration, Development of cooperation, Development in early childhood, Language development in early childhood, Learning words, Theory of mind, Social development in early childhood