Her research examines brain development underlying emotional behavior in humans. Her research has highlighted fundamental changes in brain circuitry across childhood and adolescence and the powerful role that early experiences, such as caregiving and stress, have on the construction of these circuits. She has authored over 70 journal articles and book chapters. She is a frequent lecturer both nationally and internationally on human brain and emotional development and is a recipient of the National Institute of Mental Health Biobehavioral Research Awards for Innovative New Scientists (BRAINS) Award, the American Psychological Association’s Distinguished Scientific Award for Early Career Contribution to Psychology, and the Developmental Science Early Career Researcher Prize.