Lab Announcements

New Team Member Announcement: Sasha Andrews!

A huge welcome to Sasha - our new Research Coordinator! Sasha graduated from the University of Denver in 2022 with a BA in Psychology and Spanish. She is very interested in neuropsychological development and how early experiences shape the functions of the brain. She will be exploring her research interests and building on her research skills before completing graduate studies…
ISLAND Lab
November 30, 2023
Lab Announcements

NIH Grant Award: Congratulations Dr. Brito!

  A massive congratulations to Dr. Natalie Brito for being awarded a 4-year grant from the NIH for her project, "Integrating eye-tracking and ECG methodologies for remote infant neurocognitive assessments in the home". We are excited to get started with this project that aims to maintain rigorous scientific methodology related to infant attention and heart rate data, while simultaneously minimizing…
ISLAND Lab
November 7, 2023
Child DevelopmentStudy Findings & Resources

New Publication Released on COVID-19 and Infant Gut Microbiome Diversity

We are excited to share that Dr. Sarah Vogel is co-author on the recent publication "a comparison of the infant gut microbiome before versus after the start of the covid-19 pandemic". You can read the full scientific article here. Querdasi and colleagues (2023) found that infant gut microbiome diversity was reduced compared to infants born pre-pandemic. Listen to the KCBS…
ISLAND Lab
September 11, 2023
Community EngagementStudy Findings & Resources

Birthing Justice Screening: Resources Dedicated to Black Maternal Mental Health

Our lab hosted a screening of a new documentary, Birthing Justice (trailer below), which addresses health disparities Black mothers face when accessing care. As the creators of the documentary state, the purpose "is two-fold: to discuss issues fueling the maternal health crisis within the African American community and to advocate for best practices to enhance birthing equity for all women, especially Black women. The…
ISLAND Lab
April 25, 2023
Child DevelopmentStudy Findings & Resources

Embracing Cultural Heritage – Dr. Natalie Brito

Professor Natalie Brito was recently featured on CBS Mornings discussing the important topic of raising kids to embrace their cultural heritage. She shares her opinions around culture, racism and discrimination and the importance of talking about these openly as a family. Watch the clip on Twitter to find out why! https://twitter.com/nyusteinhardt/status/1613639191052849153  
ISLAND Lab
January 31, 2023
Study Findings & Resources

OWLET – Online Webcam Linked Eye Tracker​ for Infants

We are currently recruiting families with infants between 3 and 12-months of age to participate in a fun online study focusing on infant attention. We are able to estimate infant eye gaze using OWLET (Online Webcam Linked Eye Tracker), and families can participate using their laptops, tablets, or smartphones. Please click HERE to be contacted to participate!
ISLAND Lab
January 11, 2023
Lab Announcements

ISLAND Lab’s Third Annual Newsletter

We at ISLAND, are very excited to release our third annual newsletter! In this edition, we highlight our team, graduating seniors, new publications, and conferences from this past year. A huge thank you to our families who have participated with us over the years, we are very grateful to our families and baby scientists who have helped make our research…
ISLAND Lab
November 30, 2022
Lab Announcements

New Publication Released: Paid Maternal Leave is Associated with Infant Brain Function at 3-Months of Age

  We are excited to announce that our paper, "Paid Maternal Leave is Associated with Infant Brain Function at 3-months of Age" has been published in Child Development! You can read more about this paper and its findings through New York University's Newsletter and Neuroscience News. This article was also highlighted by the American Psychological Association (APA) regarding the urgency for paid…
ISLAND Lab
April 21, 2022
Child DevelopmentStudy Findings & Resources
September 11, 2023

New Publication Released on COVID-19 and Infant Gut Microbiome Diversity

We are excited to share that Dr. Sarah Vogel is co-author on the recent publication "a comparison of the infant gut microbiome before versus after the start of the covid-19 pandemic". You can read the full scientific article here. Querdasi and colleagues (2023) found that infant gut microbiome diversity was reduced compared to infants born pre-pandemic. Listen to the KCBS…
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Community EngagementStudy Findings & Resources
April 25, 2023

Birthing Justice Screening: Resources Dedicated to Black Maternal Mental Health

Our lab hosted a screening of a new documentary, Birthing Justice (trailer below), which addresses health disparities Black mothers face when accessing care. As the creators of the documentary state, the purpose "is two-fold: to discuss issues fueling the maternal health crisis within the African American community and to advocate for best practices to enhance birthing equity for all women, especially Black women. The…
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Child DevelopmentCommunity EngagementStudy Findings & Resources
February 9, 2023

Read Around the City – for you and your kiddos!

Are you a resident of New York State? Or do you work for a company/go to school in New York City? Then you quality for a free public library card! Follow the link to learn how you and your child can Read Around the City! 
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Child DevelopmentStudy Findings & Resources
January 31, 2023

Embracing Cultural Heritage – Dr. Natalie Brito

Professor Natalie Brito was recently featured on CBS Mornings discussing the important topic of raising kids to embrace their cultural heritage. She shares her opinions around culture, racism and discrimination and the importance of talking about these openly as a family. Watch the clip on Twitter to find out why! https://twitter.com/nyusteinhardt/status/1613639191052849153  
Read More
Child Development
December 14, 2020

What’s the Most Comforting Smell in the World?

What is the most comforting smell in the world? It’s you, Mama! By Mahima Golani Have you ever wondered why picking up your baby when they’re crying can calm them down almost immediately? Babies need to have their caregivers close because they are signals of safety. Newborns have inbuilt mechanisms that help them rely on their social environment. For example,…
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Community Engagement
August 31, 2020

ISLAND Lab’s Annual Newsletter

As summer rolls to an end, we are so excited to present our very first annual newsletter. In this first edition, we introduce you to our lab, give updates on our projects over the years, provide an article on promoting bilingualism within the household, and discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our research and parenting. This newsletter would…
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Community Engagement
August 21, 2020

COVID-19 and Perinatal Experiences (COPE) Study Infographic

Over the last several months, the ISLAND Lab and the BabyBees collaborative have been collecting data on the impact of COVID-19 for NYC families. Our focus is to investigate maternal mental health as well as infant outcomes. Through answering surveys, our participants (N=679) have provided valuable information showcasing coping mechanisms and challenges they’ve experienced due to this global pandemic.  We…
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Child DevelopmentHáblame Bebé
July 13, 2020

Dr. Brito Weighs in on the Benefits of Bilingualism

In a new article written for The Institute of Human Development and Social Change at Steinhardt NYU, Dr. Natalie Brito outlines misconceptions and new findings on bilingualism based on her research and encourages parents to foster bilingual learning in their own homes. Check out the article here!
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Community Engagement
June 2, 2020

Talking about Racial Injustice with Young Children

One week ago, on May 25th 2020, George Floyd was killed by the police in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This was on the heels of the murders of Breonna Taylor (by police in her own home) and Ahmaud Arbery (by racist neighbors while he was jogging). The past few days have been filled with turmoil and grief, fueled once again by the status quo of racism and inequity in this country for Black Americans.  “We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere. When human lives are endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy, national borders and sensitivities become irrelevant. Wherever men and women are persecuted because of their…
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Community Engagement
May 27, 2020

Thank You Frontline Workers

ISLAND Lab thanks all the healthcare heroes working tirelessly during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are continually amazed by the dedication and spirit of all essential workers around the world and so we wanted to give our thanks! This video we made is just a glimpse of the appreciation we feel for all those on the frontline.Check out our video here…
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