The Developmental Science Initiative at UMass Amherst and the Five Colleges

All are welcome to attend our colloquia and special events!

Research in developmental science addresses ‘what’ develops, ‘how’ developmental change occurs, and contexts of development. The Developmental Science Initiative brings together researchers from the UMass Amherst Developmental Science program, other programs within the department, other departments across campus, and across the Five Colleges. We conduct multidisciplinary research that addresses human development by integrating multiple domains (e.g., biological, cognitive, affective, social, physical, and health) and levels of analysis (neurological, behavioral, relational) to examine the influence of their interactions across the lifespan.

As researchers, we use diverse methods to study a wide array of developmental outcomes that make a difference in the daily lives of developing persons and their families. Teaching and training occur within the lab and the classroom at the undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral levels to provide students with an overview of current theory and research related to development across the lifespan. The goal of this initiative is to become one of the premier centers of scholarship, teaching, and outreach devoted to the understanding and fostering of human development.

Visit the PhD program website here.