Research Labs
Our Work Spans Four Key Areas
Advancing Family Relationships, Health, and Aging
Examines how family relationships, caregiving, sleep, and other factors intersect to shape health, well-being, and aging throughout adulthood and later life.
Enhancing Early Childhood Development, Care, and Learning
Explores how children and families thrive through supportive relationships, learning environments, effective early childhood practices, and strong systems of care and support.
Strengthening Relationships and Families
Explores how individual experiences and family relationships shape health, well-being, and connections across the lifespan.
Supporting Youth, Families, and Communities
Promotes youth development, postsecondary readiness, family well-being, and community resilience through education, mentorship, resources, and community capacity-building.
Explore Our Research Labs
Our Research Labs explore the many dimensions of family life—from early childhood development and learning to relationships, health, and aging. Through this work, we seek to better understand what helps individuals, families, and communities thrive.
Bridges in ECE: Partnerships & Data (B-PAD) Lab
Bridging research, practice, and data to strengthen early childhood programs, family partnerships, and children’s learning experiences. Key Area: Enhancing Early Childhood Development, Care, and Learning.
Families Later in Life (FILL) Lab
Exploring parent-child and sibling relationships in midlife and later adulthood, and their impact on family health, wellbeing, and aging. Key Area: Advancing Family Relationships, Health, and Aging.
Power of Play Lab
Discovering how play is linked to essential 21st-century skills in children’s development. Key Area: Enhancing Early Childhood Development, Care, and Learning.
Self-Regulation and Motivation in Early Learning Lab
Investigating the developmental processes that shape children’s learning, school readiness, and long-term academic achievement. Key Area: Enhancing Early Childhood Development, Care, and Learning.
Skin Tone, Health, and Relationships Lab
Investigating how skin tone and complexion-related experiences shape health, well-being, and close relationships. Key Area: Strengthening Relationships and Families.
Sleep, Health, and Relationships (SHARE) Lab
Advancing health across the lifespan through a family systems perspective on relationships, sleep, and circadian rhythms. Key Area: Advancing Family Relationships, Health, and Aging.
Supporting Healthy Development, School Readiness & Resilience Lab
Supporting healthy development and school readiness for children facing language and socioeconomic challenges. Key Area: Enhancing Early Childhood Development, Care, and Learning.
Supporting Parents and Early Childhood Professionals Lab
Conducting research that informs practical tools, Extension programs, and policies supporting parents, early childhood professionals, and young children. Key Area: Enhancing Early Childhood Development, Care, and Learning.
Past Projects and Initiatives
Explore past projects and initiatives that have advanced research, informed practice, and created meaningful impact in communities.