This student initiative has created the opportunity to learn about the cutting edge child development research that is undergone at the school.
Alia Awan (Undergraduate) and Zeynep Genc (Postgraduate) started the developmental lab together this year. The lab is open to Psychology undergraduates, postgraduates, post doctoral researchers and academic staff. The aim of the lab is to share and discuss recent research within developmental psychology with people who are passionate about research. There are other labs within the school of Psychology such as the Moral Psychology lab and Cognitive seminars which are run by staff at the University.
Previously, developmental seminars which were held in 2020-2021, included mostly external speakers and some presentations by Kent lecturers. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic these seminars stopped. Fast forward to today, these seminars have been reimagined as developmental labs which have been consistently held in person.
The developmental labs have been a great success with members engaging in presentations by asking questions, providing both positive and constructive feedback. The developmental labs provide a space for postgraduate students to share their findings from past research that they may not have otherwise had the chance to present. Members have broadened their knowledge as well as made connections with people in their area of interest. The sessions bring together a diverse range of people with expertise in different areas of developmental psychology, allowing for a great opportunity for everyone to learn from each other.
Here are some of the speakers who have presented their research:
Zeynep Genc: Are children’s moral and emotion judgements affected by counterfactual alternatives?
“I feel very lucky to be part of the rapidly growing developmental research group at Kent. As a first-year PhD student, presenting the first study of my PhD project in our monthly developmental lab meeting was an excellent experience for me because I received lots of constructive feedback about my research. I am looking forward to the next lab meetings.”
Lauren Mcguinness: Autistic and Neurotypical Children’s Judgements and Production of Off-topic and Delayed Responses.
“Presenting my study at the developmental lab was a really great experience! Not only was it enjoyable to share my research with an interested audience, but it was a useful opportunity to develop a clear explanation of my study, as well as practicing answering potential questions. I attended my first academic conference shortly after my presentation, and it definitely helped me to feel more prepared when speaking to other people about my poster.”
Aimilia Kallitsounaki: Autism and gender diversity: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis.
“The developmental lab is a great place to share your research ideas, discuss interesting topics, and practice your presentation skills in a friendly, inclusive, and supportive environment. It is also a great opportunity to get to know members of staff, learn about their research, and advance your knowledge on topics related to developmental psychology”
Süheyla Özen: Reduced Social Responsiveness In Infancy As An Early Marker Of Later Developmental Outcomes In Typically Developing Infants And Infant Siblings.
“I’m so happy to present my PhD research project, which I carried out under the supervision of Dr David Kelly, in the Developmental Psychology Lab. This research is my first research project after beginning my PhD journey. My supervisor’s excellent support, valuable contributions and always encouraging guidance while carrying out this study have inspired me to complete this research and conduct future research projects. I’m so delighted that the study yielded promising results that may shed light on early diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, specifically within the first year of life.
As Kent Child Development Unit researchers, we all conduct great studies in the field of developmental psychology. Presenting my research in this lab has provided me with a fantastic opportunity to receive constructive feedback from other developmental lecturers and to consider different perspectives on our study. This lab meeting has made me feel so lucky to be part of such a friendly community that supports PhD students in growing as independent researchers within the academic world while always making us feel at home!”
Words from the members:
Alia Awan: “As an undergraduate interested in pursuing a career in research it has been amazing to be a part of the dev lab. Through engaging with these sessions I have observed and learned a lot about the research process, giving feedback on research, how to present your findings to others in an understandable way and much more. We hope to continue these sessions next academic year.”
Angela Nyhout: “Alia and Zeynep have taken the lead on organising developmental seminars with research presentations by Developmental PhD students and postdocs. This year has marked the first time since before the pandemic that we have been able to hold regular, in-person meetings, so it has been wonderful to learn about the varied and interesting projects everyone has been conducting. These sessions are open to all, and we hope to see more MSc and undergraduate students attending in the upcoming year.”
Joshua Nice: “The lab was a fantastic opportunity to learn about the cutting edge child development research which is being undertaken. It gave presenters a safe space to discuss their research ideas and to collaborate with academics and students to develop and critique their projects.”
If you are interested in joining them next year email Alia Awan @aa2335@kent.ac.uk.
Co-founders of the developmental lab group:
Alia Awan, is studying BSc Psychology with a Placement Year.
Zeynep Genc, is studying a PhD in Developmental Psychology.
