Developmental Science 
Across the Lifespan

     Background

     Program  Initiatives

     Affiliated Faculty

     Centers and Laboratories

     Research

The Graduate Program

     Graduate Program

Resources

     Grant Writing Information

     Links

Program News

     Faculty Positions 

     Colloquium Schedule

Background

Faculty members from the Departments of Human Development and Psychology have met regularly over the past year. We have set up frequent joint seminars to learn about each other's work and have found much in common, particularly in terms of our research interests in human development over the lifespan. We have discussed our intention to build a partnership that will allow us to be competitive for post-doctoral fellowships and external grants in the area of developmental studies. We have also begun to plan a cross-department research program that we intend to initiate next year. The proposed faculty hires will serve a critical role in the success of this program, and will galvanize cross-departmental research collaborations in the future.

Executive Summary

Collaborative planning for the Developmental Science Across the Lifespan Initiative (DSI) was implemented by the Departments of Human Development and Psychology, along with the Center for Gerontology, Child Study Center, Center for Research in Health Behavior, and Center for Information Technology Impacts on Children, Youth, and Families.  DSI was expanded later to include the Departments of Economics and Statistics.

We wish to develop a unique program in the Commonwealth of Virginia that affords opportunities for national research prominence, consistent with Virginia Tech's current goal of enhancing its scholarly reputation and its commitment to interdisciplinary programs.

The goal of the DSI is to facilitate innovative, cross-disciplinary research activities, including scholarly publications, external research funding, and graduate student and post-doctoral training.

Current expertise includes cognitive and perceptual development; social development in infants, children, adolescents, and adults; family interaction patterns; developmental psychopathology; community programs to promote development; developmental impacts of technology; and health and relationships in old age.

Current faculty research includes diverse perspectives (biological, social, intergenerational, cultural), research strategies (laboratory studies, surveys, quantitative and qualitative methods), and levels of analysis (physiological, behavioral, social, familial, and cultural).