Laura M. Morett is pursuing a career in developmental cognitive neuroscience.  Her research takes a cross-disciplinary approach to language acquisition and development, drawing from diverse fields such as cognitive and developmental psychology, cognitive neuroscience, and linguistics.  In accord with her view of language acquisition as a multifaceted process, Laura employs various techniques in her research, including observation, in vivo experimentation, and direct instruction.  Specific topics that she has investigated within the realm of language learning include second language acquisition, language development in people with autism spectrum disorders, and the cognitive and neurological underpinnings of language.  In addition to her primary research focus on language acquisition, Laura is also interested in learning in a general sense, especially as it relates to pedagogical theory.  Laura’s research has been featured in peer-reviewed publications, regional and national conferences, and institutional publications and symposia.

Ever since she was a child, Laura has been interested in the topics of language and learning.  During high school and her first year of college, Laura’s career goal was to be a language teacher. In her second year of college, however, Laura discovered the field of cognitive psychology, which allowed her to view language learning from a novel perspective.  To gain experience in experimentation, Laura conducted original research on several topics relevant to cognitive psychology.  In her third year, she completed an interdisciplinary empirical thesis project on second language learning in Spanish that received top honors from the Departments of Psychology and Hispanic Studies.  The following summer, Laura participated in an internship at Colorado State University, where she broadened her interests by completing a research project that investigated the effects of learning maps and verbal directions on driving navigation. During her undergraduate years, the excellence of Laura’s academic and research endeavors was recognized through the means of numerous scholarships, awards, and memberships in honorary societies.  In 2008, Laura graduated summa cum laude as valedictorian of her class with B.A.’s in Psychology and Hispanic Studies and a minor in English.

Laura is currently a graduate student in the cognitive psychology Ph.D. program at the University of California, Santa Cruz.  Upon entering graduate school, Laura was awarded the prestigious National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship of the U.S. Department of Defense.  In addition to her research, Laura’s activities as a graduate student include serving as a part-time teaching assistant and performing various service activities on the departmental, university-wide, and national levels.  After obtaining her Ph.D., Laura hopes to complete a post-doctoral research experience and to subsequently secure a position as a tenure-track faculty member in a research-oriented university.

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