Welcome to Developmental Science at Virginia Tech
Our Research
The Developmental Science area in the Department of Psychology at Virginia Tech comprises faculty who study aspects of human functioning that change in important and substantive ways across many ages. We ask a variety of research questions within the broad areas of neuroscience, perception, attention, cognition, communication, learning, memory, emotion, social, cultural, psychopathological, and family processes. We employ a rich array of behavioral testing and observational methods in studies with infants, children, adolescents, parents and families, along with specialized techniques in statistical modeling, electrophysiology, eye tracking, and neuroimaging. For a summary of each faculty member’s research, see our Developmental Science flyer (PDF).
Our program is part of the Virginia Tech Developmental Science Network (DevSci@VT), a community of developmental researchers across Psychology and Human Development and Family Science who work together to advance research on children and families, including a shared registry of families interested in participating in research.
Graduate Training
Our training goal is to prepare students for careers in psychological research. Coursework combines quantitative methods and philosophy of science with depth courses tied to each student’s research focus and breadth courses that expand their knowledge of the field (see Curriculum). Students conduct research with a primary advisor, are encouraged to collaborate with other faculty and graduate students, and gain experience presenting at major conferences, publishing in peer-reviewed journals, and writing grant and fellowship applications (see Research Training).
In addition to research training, DS graduate students gain experience in teaching undergraduate recitation sections, laboratories, and courses. Graduate students also are integral in the training and mentorship of undergraduate research assistants in our labs. To see where our graduates are now, visit DS Alumni Careers. To get a sense of our students’ work, see our graduate student achievements poster (PDF).
Learn More
- Interested in applying? See Applications and Admissions for the deadline, review process, and how to choose faculty mentors
- Contact the area director or any of our training and affiliated faculty
- Take a virtual tour of our labs on the Developmental Science Lab Tours page
- Watch a video of Jordan Booker, a DS alumnus, talking about his experiences in our program
- See the Developmental Science flyer (PDF) for a summary of faculty research interests