The ECI Research Team
Dr. Geetha Ramani
Dr. Ramani is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Human Development and Quantitative Methodology. Before coming to University of Maryland in 2008, Dr. Ramani received her Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh and worked as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Carnegie Mellon University. Dr. Ramani teaches undergraduate and graduate classes in cognitive development. Her research centers around social influences on cognitive development, namely mathematics and problem solving.
Erica Zippert
Erica is a second-year doctoral student in the Department of Human Development and Quantitative Methodology. Prior to entering graduate school, Erica received her bachelor's of science in Psychology from University of Maryland, College Park,and worked as a lab coordinator for Dr. Geetha Ramani. Additionally, she instructed an adult ESL class for Prince George's County Community College. Her research interests include children's development of early number skills and the nature of parent beliefs regarding their children's math abilities.
Sarah Eason
Sarah is a second-year Ph.D. student in the Department of Human Development and Quantitative Methodology. Prior to returning to school, Sarah earned her M.S. in Clinical Psychology from Loyola University Maryland and worked for three years as a research coordinator and psychology associate at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore. Sarah is interested in the influences of social interactions and everyday experiences on young children’s cognitive development, particularly problem solving.
Paige Calisi
Paige is a sophomore undergraduate research assistant from Westford, Massachusetts. She is majoring in Psychology and plans to double major in Family Science. Her research interests include the effect of the family on child development. In addition to working as a research assistant, she is also an intern at the National Alliance on Mental Illness and is the Director of Fund-raising for the Active Minds club on campus. She hopes pursue a PhD. in Clinical Psychology.
Chelsea Leap
Chelsea is from Baltimore, Maryland. She is a sophomore Kinesiology major and Human Development minor. Chelsea loves working with kids and in addition to working as a research assistant for the Child Interaction Lab, she volunteers for an after school math program at a local elementary school in PG county. Chelsea wants to be a physical therapist and hopefully specialize in pediatric physical therapy.
Alissa Stafford
Alissa Stafford is a junior at the University of Maryland currently majoring in Mathematics and also intending to double major in Psychology. She is interested in childhood development of mathematical skills, and she hopes to find solutions to the decreasing interest in math and science among young adults. After graduation, she plans to attend graduate school for Mathematics.