Professor Dr. Leigha Macneill

Biography

Leigha MacNeill is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Science at Purdue University. With expertise in developmental psychology, she focuses on the intersection of family systems and biological perspectives to understand young children's self-regulation and social-emotional development. MacNeill's research addresses how both extrinsic factors like family adversity and intrinsic factors such as temperament influence the development of self-regulation over time, particularly in children at risk of mental health issues. Her methodological approach includes examining autonomic physiology, eye-tracking, and observational data from family interactions. MacNeill advocates for a translational research perspective to facilitate the rapid application of her findings, often collaborating with pediatric primary care settings and schools. Her lab, the Social-emotional Health Nurturing Environments (SHINE) Lab, aims to elucidate resilience-promoting pathways for children and families. She is currently accepting graduate student applications, with a deadline of December 1, 2025.

Research Interests

Courses