| 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 | ||
|---|---|---|
 |  | Zahra Abolghasem Graduate Student Pronouns: She/her/hers Zahra (she/her/hers) is a graduate student in Dr. Emberson’s Baby Learning Lab! She received her H.B.Sc in Psychology from the University of Toronto in 2020. Before joining the University of British Columbia, Zahra had the pleasure of working as a lab manager at the University of Toronto where her work broadly investigated factors that influence memory integration across development. Zahra’s masters work will focus on what neural mechanisms and experiences are involved in prolonging experience-induced perceptual changes. Outside of the lab, Zahra spends her time embroidering, exploring Vancouver, and cooking various dishes. |
 |  | Zohreh Soleimani Graduate Student Pronouns: She/her/hers Zohreh (she/her) holds a BSc in Electrical Engineering and Communications and a MA in Educational Psychology from the University of Tehran, Iran. Her thesis was on the Emerging Adulthood stage and its cultural implications in Iranian culture. She found out that one of the most important markers for emerging adults to perceive someone as an adult was social skills and being mature in relationships, which includes moral values and prosocial behavior such as being helpful or supportive for others. Since then moral development has become her passion. More specifically, she is interested in human sociomoral nature and the cognitive and emotional mechanisms underlying moral functioning in infants. She is a graduate student in Developmental Psychology and working under the supervision of Profs Emberson and Hamlin at UBC. In her spare time, Zohreh enjoys hiking, swimming and sometimes embroidering! Contact Zohreh: zrsoleimani@gmail.com |
 |  | 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 | ||
|---|---|---|
 |  | Jaimie Muller Directed Studies Student Pronouns: She/her/hers Jaimie is a 4th-year B.A. psychology major and French minor. She is eager to develop a more in-depth understanding of babies’ cognitive and neurological processes as they perceive the world. She hopes to further incorporate findings into future thesis work of her own. Jaimie has previously led camps with Pedalheads and the Richmond Olympic Oval, and she is passionate about working with parents and families. In her spare time, Jaimie enjoys reading, skiing, and playing volleyball (both indoor and beach). |
 |  | Catalina Shen Research Assistant Pronouns: She/her/hers Catalina is a 2nd-year B.A. student majoring in Psychology at the University of British Columbia. She is excited to join the Baby Learning Lab as a research assistant. In the lab, she is looking forward to exploring research in infant cognition and development. She has lots of prior experience working with young children through multiple coaching and volunteer opportunities. In her spare time, Catalina enjoys reading, listening to music, and skating! |
 |  | Rowah Gherian Directed Study Student Rowah is entering her 3rd 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! |
 |  | Jotpreet Randhawa Research Assistant Pronouns: She/her/hers Jotpreet is a 3rd-year B.Sc. student majoring in Biology at the University of British Columbia. She enjoys working with younger children and is excited to join the research team at the Baby Learning Lab. Her volunteer experience at BC Children’s Hospital sparked her interest in the early development of infants, specifically language acquisition. She hopes to learn more about behavioral and neuroimaging techniques such as fNIRS. She is also passionate about raising awareness and reducing barriers for post-secondary youth with disabilities. She focuses on researching and presenting solutions to foster inclusive spaces for youth employment. In her spare time, Jotpreet enjoys baking, hiking, swimming, and playing volleyball. |
 |  | Kyler Cyna Research Assistant Pronouns: He/him/his Kyler, a third-year B.Sc. student at the University of British Columbia majoring in Neuroscience, has a deep fascination with various aspects of development, attention, and cognition. He's excited about the chance to participate in the practical research opportunity offered by the Baby Learning Lab, where he can delve into the development of infants. Kyler is motivated by the prospect of contributing to our understanding of how babies learn and perceive the world. Outside of his academic pursuits, he enjoys creating videos, exploring on his bike, and getting lost (typically on his bike). |
 |  | Elisa Sierra Research Assistant Pronouns: She/her/hers Elisa is a fourth-year B.A. student majoring in Psychology and minoring in Family Studies and is thrilled to join the Baby Learning Lab as a research assistant. Her goal is to deepen her understanding of various research techniques when working with infants and children, while also exploring the neurological aspects of child development. With a background in tutoring young children and a close relationship with her almost 2-year-old nephew, Elisa possesses a deep fascination for child development and the rapid acquisition of various skills. Her drive goes beyond gaining experience for future graduate school endeavours; she is eager to collaborate with a team to uncover valuable discoveries in psychological research. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, being outdoors, and re-watching her favourite comfort shows! |
 |  | Yasmeen Ghaleb Research Assistant Pronouns: She/her/hers Yasmeen is in her fourth year, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Her journey into the field of psychology commenced through transformative experiences working with children and adolescents, ranging from 4 to 17 years old. She has experience engaging in the integration of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) competencies into educational settings, recognizing the paramount importance of addressing the emotional well-being of the children she worked with. She also assisted with developing a mentoring capacity-building initiative aimed at imparting scientifically informed life skills to juveniles. These experiences have profoundly shaped her desire to contribute to the Baby Learning Lab, particularly in the context of children facing adversity, highlighted the critical importance of understanding child development and psychology. Her interest lies in pursuing a career in clinical or counseling psychology, with a particular focus on children and how trauma and mood disorders can impact their development, especially within the framework of education. Outside of her academic and professional pursuits, Yasmeen finds solace in gardening, meditation, nature exploration, and the appreciation of art galleries. |
 |  | Irene Feng Research Assistant Pronouns: She/her/hers Irene Is a 3rd-year B.SC. student majoring in Integrated Sciences with focuses in Behavioural Neuroscience and Public Health. Her experiences working with diverse groups of young children has led to her curiosity which centres on understanding how they began to navigate and adapt to the world around them as babies, especially focusing on the interplay between one’s environment and home culture during their psychological development. Aside from school, Irene is interested in exploring new music, snowboarding, and chasing sunsets! |
 |  | Victoria Hong Research Assistant Pronouns: She/her/hers Victoria is a 4th year B.A. student majoring in Psychology and minoring in Asian Studies at UBC. She is very excited to learn more about the academic aspects of research and work in an environment of such respected figures with Dr. Emberson and the wonderful team. She is deeply interested in the rapid learning abilities of young babies and how this may support their adult development. She has had mass experience working with younger children through volunteer and tutoring and is looking forward to gaining more research experience at the Baby Learning Lab. During her free time, Victoria loves to spend time with family and dancing with her dance team. |
 |  | Aisha Sabry Senior Research Assistant She/her Aisha is entering her 4th year majoring in Psychology at University of British Columbia, She has a richly multicultural background shaped by experiences living in Egypt, Switzerland and the UAE along with volunteer work in Kenyan and Sri Lankan daycares and involvement in research on the impact of Scoliosis on adolescent mental health in Dubai. Aisha is especially interested in the intersection between the mental and physical health, focusing on how physical deficiencies and impairments affect child development across cultures. Outside the lab, Aisha leads an active lifestyle, teaching group fitness classes, playing basketball, trying new restaurants, baking and traveling! |
 |  | Annie Wang Research Assistant Pronouns: She/her/hers Annie is a 2nd-year Honours B.Sc. student majoring in Cellular, Anatomical, and Physiological Sciences at UBC. With research interests lying at the intersection of molecular neuroscience and developmental psychology, Annie is excited to contribute to the Baby Learning Lab as a Research Assistant. She is especially interested in understanding the development of pediatric neurological disorders and their causes. Her previous experience tutoring and volunteering with recreation programs at her local community centres sparked her passion for working with infants and children. In her free time, she enjoys baking, exploring new restaurants across Vancouver, and going to concerts. |
 |  | Dixie Santo Research Assistant Pronouns: She/her/hers Dixie is a 2nd year international undergraduate student in the University of British Columbia, majoring in Psychology and considering a minor in Family Studies. She is invested in developmental psychology and wants to pursue a career in psychology related to children, where her experience as an English tutor further solidified her passion in nurturing the youth. Dixie considers the conversation of mental health in children as an essential topic to discuss both with adults and adolescents themselves, as well as how they might impact individuals within the context of development. Outside of university, she is passionate about the arts and music. A sketchbook and a good novel are must-haves in her bag! |
 |  | Priyasha (Esha) Bal Research Assistant Pronouns: She/her/hers Priyasha is a fourth-year undergraduate student completing her Bachelor of Arts, Majoring in Psychology. Priyasha’s passion for working with children began when she became a tutor for elementary school children. She became fascinated by the developing brains of young children and how they perceive the world around them. Priyasha is excited about the opportunity to join the Baby Learning Lab as a Research Assistant and apply the knowledge that she has learned during her degree. More specifically, she looks forward to working with all the amazing people on the team and being in an environment that fosters her passion for exploring the developing brains of babies. In her free time, Priyasha enjoys spending time with her family, going to different cafes with her sisters, trying new cuisines, and reading! |
 |  | Jade McMillan Research Assistant Pronouns: She/her/hers Jade, a fourth-year B.A. student majoring in Psychology with a minor in Romance Studies, is thrilled to join the Baby Learning Lab as a Research Assistant. Passionate about early childhood development, she has extensive experience from volunteering at summer camps and babysitting. Jade is eager to expand her knowledge of child development in a research setting and hopes to acquire vital skills for her ambition to pursue a PhD in Psychology. Outside of class, you can often find Jade dancing, acting, and engaging in various fine arts activities in any capacity. |
 |  | Kaatyaayani Singh Research Assistant Pronouns: She/her/hers Kaatyaayani is currently a third year student majoring in Psychology and minoring in Sociology at the University of British Columbia. She is deeply interested in learning about the human brain and some of her interests lie in understanding the mechanics behind the formation of neural connections and how they can change in the event of an injury or disorder. She is thrilled to be a part of the Baby Learning lab to deepen her knowledge of the developing brain, while interacting with adorable babies. During her time at the lab, she wishes to gain insightful research experience that can help her apply her theoretical knowledge. She hopes to work collaboratively with other members of the lab and Dr. Emberson to develop skills and experiences that can help her prepare for a future in psychology. She is a massive animal lover and in her free time enjoys dancing, hiking, exploring new places to eat, reading about exciting topics or listening to music. |
 |  | Madison Yang Research Assistant Pronouns: She/her/hers Madison is a 1st year B.A student intending to major in Psychology and minor in Commerce at the University of British Columbia. She is excited to join the Baby Learning Lab as a research assistant and work with like minded peers and professionals, such as Dr. Emberson. Madison hopes to deepen her knowledge in developmental psychology by learning about a baby’s visual system and the various factors that affect a baby's growth and ability to retain information to boost language acquisition, learning, and perception. Her experience working as a piano teacher as well as a tutor for young children with autism sparked her passion for working with children and understanding learning across all ages. In her spare time, she enjoys playing the piano, listening to music, watching shows, reading, and taking photos. |
 |  | Nyomi Lo-Rolls Research Assistant Pronouns: She/her/hers Nyomi is an incoming 2nd-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. |
 |  | Shuang Shuang Research Assistant Shuang Shuang is a fourth-year Psychology major with a minor in Early Childhood Education at the University of British Columbia. With a passion for the developing brain, she is fascinated by the intricacies of prosocial behavior and the magic of language acquisition. Her interest with baby brains dates back to her own infancy, evident in her baby picture, where she is totally immersed in her baby books. Babies, in her eyes, are captivating beings that symbolize rapid maturation, paving the way to understanding complex social interactions and emotional bonds. Eager to deepen her knowledge of baby brains, she is thrilled to join the Baby Learning Lab and work alongside Dr. Lauren Emberson, seeing this opportunity as a pivotal step in her journey through developmental psychology. Beyond academia, Shuang Shuang loves dancing, playing badminton, running her small business, and indulging in sitcoms. |
 |  | Iman Research Assistant Iman is a third-year B+MM undergraduate student majoring in Psychology at the University of British Columbia. She is thrilled to join the research team at the Baby Learning Lab, where she aims to deepen her understanding of how babies perceive and learn from their everyday environment. Iman looks forward to applying her classroom knowledge in a research setting, contributing to early developmental studies, and exploring how early interactions with the environment shape cognitive development later in life. Additionally, she hopes to learn more about the neuroimaging techniques at the lab. In her free time, she enjoys reading, exploring new places, making crochet arigurumi and binge-watching mystery TV shows. |
 |  | Crystal Research Assistant Crystal is a 4th year B.A. student majoring in Psychology and minoring in Early Childhood Education. Through her experiences in teaching music lessons and leading summer camps for young children, she developed an interest in how learning occurs in infancy and early childhood. She looks forward to learning more about the pathways and mechanisms involved in play and statistical learning in infancy through research at the Baby Learning Lab. Crystal is also excited to gain research experience as to deepen her understanding of how research informs policies in education as she hopes to become an Early Childhood Educator. In her free time, she enjoys playing Pokemon Go, drumming, and going on adventures with her dogs! |
 |  | Elizabeth Marsh Research Assistant Elizabeth is a 2nd-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 volunteering at summer camps. 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. |
 |  | Gurnimrat Brar Research Assistant Gurnimrat Brar is a 2nd Year B.A student passionate about psychology and gender studies. She is thrilled to be working with children and observing how their development differs across different cultures and with age. She is particularly interested in seeing how children interpret the world at such a young age and how that develops their understanding in the future. She has also worked as a shadow educator in the counseling department of a local high school in India with primarily responsibilities of teaching children with special disabilities such as Autism and ADHD. Outside of school life, you can find her enjoying traveling, trying new restaurants around the city, hiking, and rewatching her comfort shows on a Friday night-in. |
 |  | Lucy Schoeffel Research Assistant Pronouns: She/her/hers Lucy is a 3rd year student majoring in Psychology and minoring in English Literature at the University of British Columbia. Her summers spent working with pre-k and kindergarten students have sparked her passion for working with kids, particularly fascinated by how experiences of adversity and trauma impact the developing brain. She is eager to get to work in the Baby Learning Lab, both humbled and excited to learn with and from her gifted peers and advisors within the lab. Outside of the lab, Lucy enjoys cooking, thrifting, beach walks, reading and watching old movies. |
 |  | Olivia Mackenzie Research Assistant Olivia is a second-year biology student at UBC with a strong interest in pediatric neurology. Her fascination lies in understanding how early cognitive and neural development shapes health outcomes in children. As part of the Baby Learning Lab, she is excited to contribute to research on how infants and young children acquire knowledge and form neural connections, helping to shed light on critical stages of early brain development. Through her work in the lab, Olivia is excited to discover what it means to be part of a research team, gaining hands-on experience and contributing to the understanding of early childhood development. Outside the lab, Olivia enjoys trail running, surfing, and spending time outdoors with her golden retriever, Winston. |
 |  | Tarin Shultana Oli Ahmed Research Assistant Tarin is a second year B.A. student, majoring in psychology at the University of British Columbia. Her interest in developmental psychology began with her young sibling, whom she co-parented with her mother. Some of her favourite memories with him include painting, dancing to K-pop, and watching Marvel movies in the cinema. Every glimpse into his rich inner world encouraged her to start exploring various themes in child psychology. Tarin plans to use the experience and knowledge gained from this lab to pursue graduate studies and develop a skillset that will allow her to explore questions on generational trauma, childhood trauma, emotional regulation, and more. After completing her degree, she looks forward to helping children and teenagers heal and navigate their life after traumatic events. Outside of academic life, Tarin is obsessed with films, art and storytelling and is currently on a (side) mission to explore Vancouver’s restaurants, music, and art scene. |
 |  | Grace Gale Research Assistant Grace is a fourth-year student at UBC, pursuing a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in Psychology and Computer Science. She enjoys working with children and is thrilled to be part of the Baby Learning Lab’s research team. Grace is particularly fascinated by the complexities of the infant mind, with a strong interest in language development during early childhood. Additionally, her background in computer science inspires her to explore how it can be applied to enhance and innovate future psychological research. She hopes that her experience working as a research assistant will better prepare her for future postgraduate studies in psychology. In her spare time, Grace enjoys practicing yoga, visiting new coffee shops, spending time at the beach, and exploring the beautiful nature in Vancouver. |
 |  | Melissa de Paula Brega Research Assistant Pronouns: She/her/hers Mel is a Coding Research Assistant in the Baby Learning Lab and a second-year Psychology student at UBC. She is deeply interested in how early life experiences impact development and is excited to explore this area further while gaining research experience and interacting with babies, families, and fellow researchers. In her free time, Mel enjoys spending time with family and friends, listening to music, dancing, and crocheting. |
 |  | Jenny Chen Research Assistant Pronounce: she/her/hers Jenny is a fourth-year Psychology major with a minor in Interpersonal Development at the University of British Columbia. Her experience as an infant and toddler teacher has sparked a deep curiosity about the intricate processes of children's growth and learning, inspiring her to learn further about the mechanisms that influence how infants perceive and interact with the world around them. With a strong interest in infant development, Jenny is eager to expand her knowledge of how these early learning experiences contribute to cognitive and emotional growth. She is excited about the opportunity to join the Baby Learning Lab as a Research Assistant, where she can contribute to the lab's innovative research on child development. Through this role, Jenny hopes to gain insights that will enhance her understanding of learning processes and enrich her teaching practices, enabling her to better support the developmental needs of the children she works with. In her free time, Jenny enjoys spending time with family and friends, watching movies, and listening to music. |
 |  | Pari Surjani Research Assistant Pronouns: She/her/hers Pari is a 3rd year undergraduate student at UBC, majoring in psychology and intending to minor in Health and Society, and is deeply interested in clinical and developmental psychology. Her focus is on the cognitive and behavioral aspects of clinical disorders, with a particular passion for working with infants and young children. This interest is fueled by her experience growing up and interacting with infants, which has solidified her commitment to supporting early emotional and psychological development. Outside of academics, she enjoys singing, playing sports, and spending time at the beach. As Pari continues her studies, she is eager to contribute to the field through both research and practice, aiming to help individuals manage and overcome mental health challenges. |