The Attachment and Neurodevelopment Lab is directed by Dr. Lane Strathearn, a neuroscientist and developmental-behavioral pediatrician at the Center for Disabilities and Development (CDD) at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital. Our lab explores how early relationships between parents and children shape brain development and long-term well-being. We use tools like brain imaging, semi-structured interviews, genetic and epigenetics testing, and hormone analysis to better understand how parents respond to their children—especially in situations involving stress, substance use, or developmental challenges like autism. Our goal is to support healthy development by learning how strong, nurturing relationships are built from the very beginning.

As the school year is coming to a close, it's time to celebrate our graduating seniors: Mia Dukle, Hiruni Sumanasiri, Klaertje Hesselink, Seren Castellano, Sam Lindgren, Abby McLeod, Aaron Smith, Ellie Wojcikowski, Isaiah Pielak, and Abby Myroth. We are so grateful to have had all of these students work with us, and we cannot wait to see what they do next! 

The overall goal of our lab is to understand the interactions between different environmental factors and microbes using a One Health framework, or the shared health of humans, animal and the environment. The specific project the student will be involved with is investigating farmers' risk factor of tick-borne diseases.

Congratulations to the winners of the 2026 Quick Pitch Challenge: Paige Liebrecht, Christina Yu, and Ella Schlueter! Each undergraduate researcher who presented on April 9th did an outstanding job presenting their research in less than three minutes. We are so proud of how succinctly and clearly these students were able to communicate their work!