Harvard Catalyst Profiles

Students will contribute to NIH-funded research project examining individual differences observed in cognitive and social development of children on the autism spectrum, including physiological measures of neural development. One of the goals of this project is to examine how best to intervene by determining the predictive relation between executive control and social function early in the course of ASD. HMS students will have the unique opportunity to learn research methods for behavioral and neurophysiological research with human subjects. In addition, students will contribute to an analysis project using either behavioral or neurophysiological data. The Faja Lab is part of a larger research network in the Laboratories of Cognitive Neuroscience that includes a multidisciplinary team of researchers with expertise in a wide range of fields including neuroscience, psychology, and medicine. In collaboration with clinical experts in fields such as developmental pediatrics and child neurology, we are working to expand our knowledge of child development and developmental disorders. Through this collaborative and comprehensive approach, we aim to drive science forward as rapidly as possible; allowing us to translate what we learn into earlier identification, improved therapies, and better outcomes for children and families affected by developmental disorders. As a valued part of this vibrant environment students will, lastly, also get to enjoy a variety of additional professional development opportunities and lectures in addition to experience gained working within the lab.