The IDCd lab
Lab Director
WeSara A. Hart, Ph.D.
Professor
W. Russell and Eugenia Morcom Chair
Department of Psychology
& Florida Center for Reading Research
Twitter: @saraannhart
Podcast: http://www.withinandbetweenpod.com/
I am an interdisciplinary researcher who happens to find herself in a developmental psychology area.
My research efforts integrate theories and methods from developmental psychology, cognitive psychology, education, and behavioral genetics. Broadly, my substantive research relates to understanding how and why people differ in their cognitive development, particularly focused on reading and math development. My work is highlighted by the use of advanced methodological techniques and open science.
Most of my work to date has focused on using twin methods to understand the "nature" and "nurture" of child development. I also spend a lot of time trying to understand the direct role of environments around children, controlling for genetic predispositions. I currently have an NIH grant to create a national twin project, NatPAT, to examine the genetic and environmental influences on the co-development of reading and math skills through elementary school. I have a new grant to look at the impacts of COVID-19 on those twins reading and math development.
I also work in the field of meta-science, understanding how scientists do science, with a particular interest in supporting rigorous and reproducible educational and developmental science. I currently have an NIH grant to build a data repository, LDbase, to support the data storage and data access needs of scientists working in the field of learning disabilities.
Beyond my research, I am passionate about training, dissemination of research, and advocating for women and BIPOC in science. I am the PI of the Florida Learning Disabilities Research Center Engagement Core, with a mission to provide specialized training opportunities to students and postdocs, and disseminate our research to our community. I am the Co-Director of FIREFLIES, an IES funded predoctoral training grant focused on reading research. I am a co-founder and current Past President of POWER, an association with the mission to connect, support, and advocate for women conducting research in the fields of education and child development.
Outside of work you will probably see me running around town or at a local restaurant.
Oh, and I'm Canadian.
Professor
W. Russell and Eugenia Morcom Chair
Department of Psychology
& Florida Center for Reading Research
Twitter: @saraannhart
Podcast: http://www.withinandbetweenpod.com/
I am an interdisciplinary researcher who happens to find herself in a developmental psychology area.
My research efforts integrate theories and methods from developmental psychology, cognitive psychology, education, and behavioral genetics. Broadly, my substantive research relates to understanding how and why people differ in their cognitive development, particularly focused on reading and math development. My work is highlighted by the use of advanced methodological techniques and open science.
Most of my work to date has focused on using twin methods to understand the "nature" and "nurture" of child development. I also spend a lot of time trying to understand the direct role of environments around children, controlling for genetic predispositions. I currently have an NIH grant to create a national twin project, NatPAT, to examine the genetic and environmental influences on the co-development of reading and math skills through elementary school. I have a new grant to look at the impacts of COVID-19 on those twins reading and math development.
I also work in the field of meta-science, understanding how scientists do science, with a particular interest in supporting rigorous and reproducible educational and developmental science. I currently have an NIH grant to build a data repository, LDbase, to support the data storage and data access needs of scientists working in the field of learning disabilities.
Beyond my research, I am passionate about training, dissemination of research, and advocating for women and BIPOC in science. I am the PI of the Florida Learning Disabilities Research Center Engagement Core, with a mission to provide specialized training opportunities to students and postdocs, and disseminate our research to our community. I am the Co-Director of FIREFLIES, an IES funded predoctoral training grant focused on reading research. I am a co-founder and current Past President of POWER, an association with the mission to connect, support, and advocate for women conducting research in the fields of education and child development.
Outside of work you will probably see me running around town or at a local restaurant.
Oh, and I'm Canadian.
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Graduate Students
Jeffrey Shero, MPA, MS
5th year Ph.D. Student
I am a fifth year Developmental Psychology student. I am interested in how an individual’s genes and environment affect the way they learn and acquire knowledge. In particular, I’m interested in how these two interact to produce the individual differences we see in development and how these differences relate to learning disabilities. Coming from a background in public policy work, I am interested in bridging the gap between research and practice. To this point, I aim to focus on how we can use our understandings of these factors to develop better early screening, interventions, curriculum, and school assessment standards. My hope in studying this is to help allow for the earliest possible interventions for children most at risk for developmental delays, and in the future to better differentiate educational interventions on the basis of a student’s specific genes and environment. I also have interests in exploring and developing new methodologies in the field of psychology. On the personal side, I am passionate about cooking, eating and basically anything related to food, and I love to workout.
Jeffrey Shero, MPA, MS
5th year Ph.D. Student
I am a fifth year Developmental Psychology student. I am interested in how an individual’s genes and environment affect the way they learn and acquire knowledge. In particular, I’m interested in how these two interact to produce the individual differences we see in development and how these differences relate to learning disabilities. Coming from a background in public policy work, I am interested in bridging the gap between research and practice. To this point, I aim to focus on how we can use our understandings of these factors to develop better early screening, interventions, curriculum, and school assessment standards. My hope in studying this is to help allow for the earliest possible interventions for children most at risk for developmental delays, and in the future to better differentiate educational interventions on the basis of a student’s specific genes and environment. I also have interests in exploring and developing new methodologies in the field of psychology. On the personal side, I am passionate about cooking, eating and basically anything related to food, and I love to workout.
Cynthia Norris, MPH, MS
4th year Ph.D. Student
IES FIREFLIES/McKnight Fellow
I am a fourth-year Developmental Psychology student studying individual differences in cognitive development related to how children learn to read. My research takes a whole-child approach to understand the factors that influence reading development and response to intervention, including the context under which learning difficulties occur and underlying environmental and genetic processes. My work incorporates advanced methods and interdisciplinary perspectives to answer specific questions relevant to practice and communities of interest. Some of my previous professional experience has focused on the public health outcomes of children, so I am excited to have the opportunity to focus on educational outcomes. When I am not on campus, I am with my husband chasing our active son.
4th year Ph.D. Student
IES FIREFLIES/McKnight Fellow
I am a fourth-year Developmental Psychology student studying individual differences in cognitive development related to how children learn to read. My research takes a whole-child approach to understand the factors that influence reading development and response to intervention, including the context under which learning difficulties occur and underlying environmental and genetic processes. My work incorporates advanced methods and interdisciplinary perspectives to answer specific questions relevant to practice and communities of interest. Some of my previous professional experience has focused on the public health outcomes of children, so I am excited to have the opportunity to focus on educational outcomes. When I am not on campus, I am with my husband chasing our active son.
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Rachelle Johnson, BS
2nd year Ph.D. student IES FIREFLIES Fellow I am a second year Developmental Psychology student, as well as a FIREFLIES fellow. I am interested in the role of social emotional factors in the academic achievement of students with learning disabilities. I am particularly interested in motivation and self-concept. Through my research I hope to better our understanding and support of those with learning disabilities. In my free time I enjoy hiking and getting out into nature. |
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Stephanie Estrera, BS
IES FIREFLIES Fellow Twitter: @steph_estrera Stephanie Estrera is a first year Developmental Psychology student interested in reading development, behavioral genetics, and open science. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 2019 with a B.A. in Psychology and minor in Computer Science, and worked on various community-based literacy projects in the Philippines as a Primary Education Teacher with the Peace Corps. Outside of her love of science, Stephanie also adores practicing yoga, knitting, hiking, baking, and anything that puts her in the ocean |
Postdocs
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Veronica Mellado De La Cruz, Ph.D.
Veronica holds a PhD in Education from Southern Methodist University (SMU), and is a National Center for Leadership in Intensive Intervention alum (grant #H325H140001, Office of Special Education Projects, U.S. Department of Education). Prior to her doctoral training, Veronica was a certified early childhood interventionist for seven years. She is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the Florida Center for Reading Research, Florida State University. Veronica’s research interest is in reading assessment and evaluation for historically underserved students, with the most experience in measuring and interpreting the early literacy scores of Spanish-speakers who are in the process of learning English. By using advanced data-analytic approaches, Veronica has examined the relative utility of early literacy probes across languages for screening and monitoring the progress of Spanish-speaking kindergarteners. Throughout her scholarship, Veronica maintains a strengths-based perspective in examining school program, testing method, and student factors in assessment and evaluation. Veronica’s most recent work in support of project LDbase applies her experience organizing and combining data and her appreciation for advanced data-analytic methods with efforts to build the research community’s capacity for data sharing. Such work is especially relevant for historically under-represented students. Veronica is currently working to spread awareness of LDbase.org, the data repository, and increase the number of datasets available for reuse in the learning and developmental sciences. Veronica expects to be on the job market in 2023. In her next role, Veronica hopes to provide technical or professional support for researchers and/or educators by leveraging her expertise in culturally/linguistically diverse and English learner students, special education, or the science of reading. Veronica is a native of Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua in Mexico, and grew up in Plano, Texas (Spanish-English bilingual). She is a fan of the San Francisco 49ers, the outdoors, and Sherlock on BBC. Honors include being named the Standard Bearer for the Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies, SMU, for 2021. Connect with Veronica at vmelladodelacruz@fsu.edu, or vmdlcphd@gmail.com. |
Lab Staff
Ashlyn Hicks, BS, MA
Ashlyn is the IDCd Lab Coordinator. She graduated from FSU in 2018 with her B.S. in sociology/psychology, and in 2021 with her MA in Learning and Cognition. Her research interests include how workplace power dynamics influence productivity and how socioeconomic status affects education and mental health. In her free time, she enjoys FSU sports, interior design, and going to the movies.
Ashlyn is the IDCd Lab Coordinator. She graduated from FSU in 2018 with her B.S. in sociology/psychology, and in 2021 with her MA in Learning and Cognition. Her research interests include how workplace power dynamics influence productivity and how socioeconomic status affects education and mental health. In her free time, she enjoys FSU sports, interior design, and going to the movies.
Former Postdocs
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LaTasha ("Tasha") Holden, Ph.D. Tasha was a Provost Postdoctoral Fellow with Dr. Hart from 2019-2021. She is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois in Cognitive Psychology. Wilhelmina ("Willa") van Dijk, Ph.D. Willa was a Dean's Postdoctoral Scholar with Dr. Hart and our close colleague, Dr. Chris Schatschneider, on the LDbase project from 2019-2021. She is currently an Assistant Professor at Utah State University in Special Education! Florina Erbeli, Ph.D. Florina was a postdoc with Dr. Hart and our close colleague, Dr. Jeanette Taylor, from Fall 2015-Fall 2017. She is currently an Assistant Professor at the Texas A&M University in Special Education! Check out her faculty website here |
Former Graduate Students
Mia Daucourt, Ph.D.
Dr. Daucourt defended her dissertation August 2022, and is currently a postdoctoral scholar at Yale University
Rasheda Haughbrook, Ph.D.
Dr. Haughbrook defended her dissertation April 2020, and is currently a Teaching Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Florida State University.
As a graduate student, Dr. Haughbrook was a McKnight Fellow
Callie Little, Ph.D.
Dr. Little defended her dissertation August 2016, and is currently a research faculty member at the Florida Center for Reading Research.
Dr. Little's research interests are in behavioral genetics, technology as it pertains to assessment, classroom instruction and achievement and all things developmental.
Dr. Little defended her dissertation August 2016, and is currently a research faculty member at the Florida Center for Reading Research.
Dr. Little's research interests are in behavioral genetics, technology as it pertains to assessment, classroom instruction and achievement and all things developmental.
Connie Barroso, Ph.D.
Connie was a graduate student Research Assistant in the IDCd lab for three years, before moving on to the Developmental Psychology Ph.D. program at FSU! She's now an Assistant Professor at Texas A&M!
Connie was a graduate student Research Assistant in the IDCd lab for three years, before moving on to the Developmental Psychology Ph.D. program at FSU! She's now an Assistant Professor at Texas A&M!
Former Lab Staff
Kimberly Martinez, BS
Kimberly was the first project coordinator for NatPAT. She graduated from FSU in 2016 with her B.S. in psychology, and is currently pursuing her PhD in clinical psychology at Syracuse.
Kimberly was the first project coordinator for NatPAT. She graduated from FSU in 2016 with her B.S. in psychology, and is currently pursuing her PhD in clinical psychology at Syracuse.
Having fun around the lab...
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Dr. Hart is part of the Center for Developmental Science (CDS). The CDS is a group of faculty at FSU who all do research related to child development. CDS is recruiting families interested in being part of a registry of families interested in participating in research. Click the picture below to go to the CDS website to learn more!
Alumni
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IDCd Lab Spring 2021 IDCd Lab Fall 2020 |
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IDCd Lab Fall 2019 and Spring 2020 IDCd Lab Spring 2019 IDCd Lab Fall 2018 IDCd Lab Spring 2018 IDCd Lab Fall 2o17 IDCd Lab Spring 2016 IDCd Lab Fall 2016 IDCd Lab Spring 2016 IDCd Lab Fall 2015 IDCd Lab Summer 2015 IDCd Lab Spring 2015 IDCd Lab, Fall 2015 |
IDCd Lab, Spring 2014
Jessica Lammers, DIS student Fall 2013-Fall 2014
Jessica graduated Spring 2015, and will be attending FSU for the Applied Behavior Analysis Master's program!
Jessica graduated Spring 2015, and will be attending FSU for the Applied Behavior Analysis Master's program!
Taylor Karas, DIS student Spring 2014-Fall 2014
Taylor graduated Fall 2014, and will be attending grad school in the fall!
Taylor graduated Fall 2014, and will be attending grad school in the fall!
Alysia Garcia, DIS student Fall 2013-Fall 2014
Alysia graduated Spring 2015, and will be attending FSU for the Master's in Social Work program!
Alysia graduated Spring 2015, and will be attending FSU for the Master's in Social Work program!
Lauren Propst, honors and DIS student 2013-2014
Lauren successfully defended her thesis in November, 2013. You can read it here: "Knowledge of Increased Risks Involved in Delaying Childbearing". She is now in graduate school for Genetic Counselling at Northwestern!
Lauren successfully defended her thesis in November, 2013. You can read it here: "Knowledge of Increased Risks Involved in Delaying Childbearing". She is now in graduate school for Genetic Counselling at Northwestern!
Deviyani Joshi, DIS student 2012-2014
Deviyani can still be seen around the lab, although she started her Master's program in Performance Improvement and Human Resource Development at FSU Fall of 2014!
Deviyani can still be seen around the lab, although she started her Master's program in Performance Improvement and Human Resource Development at FSU Fall of 2014!
Rodolfo Marin, DIS student 2013
Rodolfo graduated Fall of 2013 and is currently participating in a post-baccalaureate training program in Biomedical Sciences at the University of New Mexico.
Rodolfo graduated Fall of 2013 and is currently participating in a post-baccalaureate training program in Biomedical Sciences at the University of New Mexico.
Cynthia Norris, MPH
Cynthia was the mastermind that made the IDCd lab work from 2013-2015.
Cynthia was the mastermind that made the IDCd lab work from 2013-2015.
Shishandra Devlin, Research Assistant 2013
