Our Team | Baby Learning Lab

Lab Director
		Dr. Lauren Emberson Associate Professor, Psychology Director, Baby Learning Lab Dr. Emberson’s research is in the areas of learning, perception (audition, vision, crossmodal or multisensory), language development, face/object perception, and attention. Emberson investigates these capacities in young infants using behavioral and neuroimaging techniques (e.g., fNIRS: functional near infrared spectroscopy). Dr. Emberson works primarily with very young infants (starting at birth through 1 year) and also investigates preterm/premature infants who are at-risk for developmental delays. The overarching goal of Dr. Emberson’s research is to understand the incredible learning capacities of the infant brain, and how these learning abilities contribute to an infant’s rapid development of perception (vision, audition, crossmodal perception). Dr. Emberson is driven to understand perception in its ecological context (i.e., what infants sees and hears all day long), so her work is often conducted in the contexts of language and face or object perception. Her work bears on the question of how early life learning and development contribute to later life outcomes and investigates this with premature infants and infants being raised in adverse early life conditions (e.g., lower socioeconomic status in the developing world). Dr. Emberson’s research has been funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the James S. McDonnell Foundation, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH in the US). Dr. Emberson’s secondary research area is Cognitive. In addition to the lab's anti-racism pledge, find Dr. Emberson's personal anti-racism and sustainability pledge here. Contact Dr. Emberson: emberson@psych.ubc.ca

Lab Coordinators
		Fengting Yan Pronouns: She/her/hers Lab Coordinator Fengting Yan joined the UBC Baby Learning Lab as a Lab Coordinator in 2024, bringing with her valuable experience from her time as a Directed Studies student under Dr. Lauren Emberson starting in 2022. During her directed studies, Fengting contributed significantly to a face recognition project, investigating how early cognitive and neural development influences facial recognition abilities. With a strong foundation in child development and cognitive psychology, Fengting’s work at the Baby Learning Lab focuses on supporting and coordinating research projects that explore early brain development and its impact on cognitive functions. Her role involves overseeing the smooth operation of various studies, managing research protocols, and ensuring that the lab’s research activities align with its mission to advance our understanding of early cognitive processes. Fengting is passionate about applying research findings to improve developmental outcomes for children and is dedicated to fostering a collaborative and productive research environment. In her free time, Fengting enjoys exploring Vancouver’s diverse community and natural beauty, contributing to her well-rounded approach to both research and personal life. For inquiries related to lab operations or research, you can contact Fengting at fengting@psych.ubc.ca.

Graduate Students
		Jingyun Zhu Graduate Student Pronouns: She/her/hers Jingyun received her BSc in Psychology from Peking University in 2023. Her thesis focused on how experience and learning can influence the neural processing of faces of different races. Jingyun now works under the supervision of Dr. Lauren Emberson and currently focuses on the development of infants’ fronto-parietal networks during learning and rest. In her spare time, Jingyun enjoys doing grocery shopping and idling about around the city. Contact Jing: jyzhuu@mail.ubc.ca

Research Assistants
		Rowah Gherian Emeritus Research Assistant Pronouns: She/her/hers Rowah is in her 4th year at UBC with a major in Biology. She is fascinated by the biopsychosocial factors influencing neurological development and its interpretation using fNIRS technology. Rowah has experience in various projects ranging from studying naturalistic play, cognition of social interactions, and is currently interested in motion localization in infant brains. Outside of school, she enjoys all kinds of painting and cafe-hopping- you’ll probably catch her at all the cafes in Vancouver!
		Nyomi Lo-Rolls Emeritus Research Assistant Pronouns: She/her/hers Nyomi is 3rd year student in the BSc+MM program at UBC, majoring in integrated sciences where she is integrating behavioural neuroscience and pharmacology. Nyomi’s interest in developmental neuroscience is driven by her experience of having a younger sibling who she shares a 10-year age gap with. She feels incredibly honoured and humbled to be part of the Baby Learning Lab and aspires to become an asset to the team. She also wants to use her position as an opportunity to grow as a researcher, critical thinker, and appreciator of infant neuroscience. Nyomi also has a deep fondness for fitness and nutrition, and she is always browsing for new, healthy recipes to add to her meal prep menu. Outside the lab, she stays active by weight-training, walking her dog and skiing with her friends in the Winter and she relaxes by playing games with her friends.
		Elizabeth Marsh Directed Studies Research Assistant Pronouns: She/her/hers Elizabeth is 3rd year B.A. student majoring in Psychology at the University of British Columbia. Her research interests focus on childhood development and its influences on formulating our identities and perceptions of the world. Elizabeth is excited to contribute to the Baby Learning Lab as a Research Assistant. She is especially interested in gaining hands-on experience in a lab setting to deepen her knowledge of psychological methodologies and procedures. Her passion and interest in working with infants and youth stems from her experiences in teaching and volunteering with kids. When not being involved on campus, she enjoys baking, finding fun places to eat with friends all over Vancouver, and working on her cooking skills.
		Harsimrat Brar Coding Research Assistant Pronouns: She/her/hers Harsimrat is a 3rd year Arts student majoring in Psychology at the University of British Columbia. With her previous experience working with children in multiple contexts, Harsimrat developed a keen interest in understanding the developing brain from a biological standpoint with a specific interest in learning further how different experiences shape children’s behaviours via knowledge acquisition. She is excited to be a part of the ongoing research at the Baby Learning Lab and to apply her current knowledge in different ways as well as learning from experiences at the lab to apply to future academic endeavours. In this role, she hopes to gain knowledge in understanding the cognitive processes of the developing brain in a more rounded manner in order to enrich her areas of interest, developing further passions. In her free time, Harsimrat enjoys spending time with her dog on long walks, reading books, and discovering new cafes in Vancouver.
		Zen Vaillancourt Coding Research Assistant Pronouns: They/He Zen is a 4th year B.A. student majoring in Psychology at the University of British Columbia. Their interest in psychology began at a young age with a focus in mental health and psychopathology support. While this remains a primary focus, their interest to explore how neuro and cognitive development impact vulnerabilities for mental disorders has brought a special interest in Dr. Emberson's work, in the hopes of finding a deeper understanding of young development and differences in primary learning methods. Outside of the lab, Zen is a passionate advocate in various fields of social justice work, with a special interest in Trans and Queer rights. In their free time they enjoy art, music, photography, and spending time with their bunny.
		Emily Yang Research Assistant Pronouns: She/her/hers Emily is a third-year B+MM student majoring in Psychology at UBC. Her passion for developmental psychology was sparked by joyful experiences with young children, and she is fascinated by how even the tiniest babies can be shaped by their earliest interactions. As a Research Assistant at the Baby Learning Lab, Emily is especially interested in exploring how infants’ early interactions with caregivers and their environment influence cognitive, social, and emotional development, with a focus on identifying the subtle ways individual differences emerge during the first year of life. She values the opportunity to contribute to ongoing research and deepen her understanding of early developmental processes. Outside the lab, Emily enjoys discovering cozy cafés, trying new treats, and spending quality time with friends and family.
		Hikari (Karin) Akita (Kengpulsup) Coding Research Assistant Pronouns: She/her/hers Karin is a third-year Dual Degree undergraduate student at UBC, majoring in Psychology and Chemistry. She is passionate about supporting mental health in children and adolescents, believing that understanding emotional, cognitive, and stress-related development during these formative years is key to meaningful impact. Karin is especially interested in how emotions, self-concept, and stress evolve across age groups, as well as how infants begin to perceive and interpret the world around them. Her interest in developmental psychology was sparked while mentoring children aged 3 to 5 who were learning English as an additional language. She was struck by how quickly and naturally they picked up the language, which deepened her curiosity about the neural and cognitive foundations of early learning. This experience led her to explore how young children develop the ability to process, learn, and adapt to their environments. Karin is excited to be part of the Baby Learning Lab, where she looks forward to expanding her knowledge of infant development and gaining hands-on research experience to prepare for graduate studies in developmental psychology. Outside of the lab, she enjoys discovering new cafes around downtown Vancouver with her friends, watching anime, and drawing.
		Maddie Tse Coding Research Assistant Pronouns: She/her/hers Maddie is a 2nd year undergraduate student majoring in Psychology at UBC. She is interested in developmental psychology and how early experiences shape learning and cognition. Maddie enjoys being part of a team that explores the fascinating ways babies learn about the world around them, and she values the opportunity to contribute to research that can improve our understanding of early learning and development. In her spare time, Maddie enjoys learning new languages and listening to music.
		Charlotte Tseung Coding Research Assistant Pronouns: She/her/hers Charlotte is a 3rd year Psychology major with a minor in Education (Interpersonal Development stream) at the University of British Columbia. Charlotte works as a Scouter for ScoutCanada, where she helps run scouts meetings for children. She also has experience providing after-school childcare. Charlotte is fascinated by how quickly babies learn new languages and explore their surroundings, particularly in the context of neurotechnology. By working as a Research Assistant, she hopes to understand child development better and allow her to support the children she works with in a more effective way, and prepare for her future studies in psychology. In her free time, Charlotte enjoys spending time with family and friends and exploring Vancouver. She also loves collecting Hello Kitties, which brings her joy.
		Kate Kucharski Coding Research Assistant Pronouns: She/her/hers Kate is a fourth-year B.A. student majoring in Psychology at UBC, and is especially interested in developmental and clinical psychology. She is excited to contribute to the Baby Learning Lab as a coding research assistant and deepen her knowledge about children’s learning development while gaining experience in a lab. In the future, she hopes to explore more about cognitive development as well as neurodivergence, and hopes to continue her learning through a graduate program. Outside of school, she enjoys art, watching movies, and going for long walks.
		Olivia Guasco Coding Research Assistant Pronouns: she/her/hers Olivia is a second-year undergraduate student majoring in Psychology and minoring in GRSJ at the University of British Columbia. Her interest in early childhood development and learning was sparked in part by her experience working with young children of varying ages at a welcome centre for refugees, as well as by her own early experiences as a neurodiverse learner in elementary school. Olivia is particularly passionate about exploring the cognitive and emotional development of infants with developmental disabilities, with the goal of ultimately informing more effective ways to support the learning and growth of neurodiverse children. As a Research Assistant in the Baby Learning Lab, she is excited to contribute to the team and hopes to gain valuable experience conducting research in the field of developmental psychology. In her free time, she enjoys singing and playing guitar, spending time with her dog, sewing, drawing, and baking.
		Indra Odbayar Coding Research Assistant Pronouns: She/her/hers Indra is a third year B.A. student majoring in Psychology at UBC. She is interested in clinical and developmental neuropsychology, especially in how early experiences in life can influence brain development. Her interest was driven by her experience working with children with neurodevelopmental disorders at a rehabilitation center, where she was able to observe how differences in development can shape learning and behaviour through play, sparking her curiosity about the underlying neural mechanisms. As an undergraduate research assistant at the Baby Learning lab, Indra is looking forward to contributing to their research and deepening her knowledge on early brain development processes, while learning more about neuroimaging techniques used to study brain activity in early development, specifically fNIRS imaging. Outside the lab, she loves watching movies, baking, and everything related to music.
		Mica Shechman Research Assistant Pronouns: She/her/hers Mica is a 3rd year undergraduate student at UBC majoring in Neuroscience. She is passionate about mental health, brain trauma, and recovery which directly contributes to her research interests associated with the Emberson Lab. Mica is fascinated with how early childhood learning, development, and experience affects an individual' s adaptability to trauma, brain dysfunction, and cognition. Outside of school life, she loves playing soccer, cuddling her dog, and getting outdoors.
		Nicole Stefenel Research Assistant Pronouns: She/her/hers Nicole is a 3rd year undergraduate student majoring in psychology at UBC. She is interested in the emergence of neural networks in infancy and childhood and about the importance of social learning in influencing development. She hopes this position will help her learn more about this topic and grow her skills as a researcher. In her spare time Nicole enjoys skiing, skating, and crocheting little creatures.
		Esther Jushin Kim Research Assistant Pronouns: She/her/hers Esther is a first year undergraduate student in the Faculty of Science at UBC. She is excited to be part of the team at the Baby Learning Lab and learn valuable knowledge. She hopes to deepen her understanding about the different technologies that are used to analyze children’s learning development and gain experience working in a lab. She wants to use this opportunity to contribute more to research in the future. Outside of school, she loves finding new restaurants and cafes around Vancouver, going on a hike, and travelling around the world.