Dr. Jessica Church Lang

Biography

Jessica Church-Lang grew up in Michigan, obtained a B.A. from Smith College, and received her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Washington University in St. Louis. In 2012, she started the Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience lab in the Psychology Department at the University of Texas at Austin, after completing a joint postdoctoral fellowship with Dr. Silvia Bunge at UC Berkeley and Dr. Brad Schlaggar at Washington University School of Medicine. Dr. Church-Lang applies various fMRI neuroimaging techniques, eye-tracking, surveys, and cognitive assessments to examine how cognitive control processes develop with age and how these processes relate to variability in mental health and academic achievement. Her research primarily focuses on children, particularly those who are struggling readers, English language learners, or affected by ADHD. A significant current project in her lab investigates changes in the brain's control networks over educational interruptions, often termed the 'summer slide,' and explores the interactions between age, environmental factors, and initial academic ability. The involvement of families and their perspectives is crucial in collecting rich data that contributes to understanding child cognitive development and youth well-being and achievement.

Research Interests

Courses