Previously, she worked as a Research Scientist at the National Center for Children and Families at Teachers College, Columbia University. She earned her PhD in Family Studies and Human Development from the University of Arizona. Her research focuses on the effects of parenting and maternal characteristics on children's and adolescents' outcomes, emphasizing how the family environment mediates the effects of poverty and low income on child and adolescent physical, cognitive, and behavioral development. She has also examined patterns of adolescent after-school activities. In addition to teach an internship class in the Family and Child Studies department, Dr. Linver teaches classes in child development and research statistics.