Physical Therapy, Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences

Options

Volunteer Basis, Potential for UROP Funding, Potential for Work-Study Funding, Potential for Academic Credit

Overview

The Infant Communication Lab studies the relationship between motor activity, postural stability, communication, and language in typically developing infants and infants with neurodevelopmental disabilities.

Current projects focus on three major topics:

a) how changes in infant motor activity, postural stability, and the onset of independent locomotion (crawling, walking) relate to advances in other developmental domains;

b) how communication, gesture, and language develop over time in infants; and

c) how caregivers’ communication with infants changes over time.

Student responsibilities include video coding of infant locomotion, object exploration, and communication using a behavioral coding software and attending weekly lab meetings (Wednesdays 11am-12pm). There may be opportunities to work with infants, toddlers, and families by video recording data collection sessions. Additional tasks may include language transcription, data entry, and database management. All new students will undergo a training process to learn their assigned behavioral coding scheme.

The ideal applicant will be interested in a longer-term (multiple semesters) position and will work well independently. Because of the time and energy investment from our staff to train a new undergraduate RA, all students must make a two-semester commitment (either as a volunteer or for course credit) for 8-10 hrs/week. After the initial semesters, there may be an opportunity to transition to a paid position. Students can apply for UROP funding after they have completed at least one semester of work in the lab for academic course credit. Opportunities to complete a senior thesis or senior project in the lab may also be available to qualified students.

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