IAP Team: Graduate Students
Elisa Esposito is a graduate student in the Developmental Psychology program at the Institute of Child Development and has been working with the International Adoption Project since 2010. She received an M.A. in Developmental Psychology from Columbia University in 2010. Her research interests focus on the impact of caregiving experiences on the development of the neurobiological systems that underlie stress reactivity, attention, and emotion regulation across childhood and adolescence. She currently works on the Transition Study, examining the effect of early adversity on psychophysiological outcomes.
Adriana Herrera is a Ph.D. student in the Developmental Psychopathology and Clinical Science Program. Her research interests focus on using a cognitive and affective neuroscience approach to understanding the neurodevelopmental sequelae of early social experience on children’s emotional development. More specifically, her work examines the impact of early deprivation on the development of brain structures involved with emotion processing and attention regulation in post-institutionalized children adopted into the United States. The goal of this research is to elucidate the possible mechanisms through which early adverse social experiences increase a child’s vulnerability to psychopathology. She is currently involved in a longitudinal study examining aspects of attention, patterns of brain activity, social behaviors, and emotion regulation abilities in post-institutionalized children. This work is currently being conducted within the International Adoptions Project and in partnership with Dr. Megan Gunnar’s Human Developmental Psychobiology Laboratory.
Camelia Hostinar is a first year Ph.D. student in the Institute of Child Development at the University of Minnesota, aiming to pursue her interest in the developmental neurobiology of the human stress response system and the underpinnings of individual differences in stress reactivity. Camelia received her Bachelor of Science degree from Towson University, in Baltimore (MD), where she completed the Honors Clinical Psychology Program and a one-year internship in the Johns Hopkins Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Unit. Camelia has been actively involved with the International Adoption Project since August 2008.
Anna Johnson is a graduate student in the Developmental Psychology doctoral program at the Institute of Child Development. Her research questions focus on the impact of early life experiences on the development of neurobehavioral regulatory systems and the learning of self-regulatory strategies related to stress, anxiety, and emotion. She plans to study these questions through the integrated neurobiological processes of emotional, physiological, and cognitive regulation in children and adolescents. Anna has been working with the International Adoption Project since 2007. She is currently involved in a study of emotional reactivity, cognitive executive functions, and endocrine activity among pre- and post-pubertal adolescents with diverse early life experiences.
Jamie Lawler is a graduate student pursuing her Ph.D. through the Developmental Psychopathology and Clinical Science Program at the Institute of Child Development. She has been working with the International Adoption Project since 2009. Her research interests focus on the social and emotional effects of early adversity. In particular, she is interested in indiscriminate friendly behavior, parenting, and interventions to promote positive development in these children. Jamie received her BA from Emory University in 2007, where she studied normative socio-emotional development across cultures.
Michelle Loman is a graduate student pursuing her PhD through the Developmental Psychopathology and Clinical Science program. Michelle has been working on the International Adoption Project since 2005. She is particularly interested in studying cognitive and affective neuroscience, with specific interest in the effects of early adverse care on cognitive functioning and brain development. Michelle is currently involved in several IAP studies, including a study that examines the impact of diverse early life experiences on attentional control and response monitoring in 10- and 11-year-old children. Additionally, she is conducting a study with early adolescents investigating the impact of early adversity across a variety of domains including executive functioning (e.g. selective attention, set-shifting, and decision-making), emotional processing, motivational systems, and endocrine activity.
Sarah Stellern is a graduate student pursuing her PhD through the Developmental Psychopathology and Clinical Science program. Sarah has been working on the International Adoption Project since 2008. Her research interests focus on the ways in which the caregiving environment contributes to adjustment and emotional development in childhood. She is particularly interested in understanding how genes interact with the social environment to shape the development of physiological systems that support stress and emotion. Sarah is currently involved with the Transition Study, which examines children’s adaptation and development following international adoption from institutional settings.
"International adoption brings children with varied backgrounds into our state and as professionals who care for children we need to understand the whole range of experiences they bring to their families.
Dr. Dana Johnson, Co-investigator
"The IAP allows us ask and seek to answer some of the challenging and overlooked questions that confront adoptive families, from how to raise a child of a different race and ethnicity to how a child's brain works. "
Dr. Rich Lee, Co-investigator
As a parent of children adopted from another country, I'm excited about the groundbreaking research initiatives of the IAP. Important studies are underway that enhances our knowledge and understanding of children from around the globe whom we've chosen to include in our families.
Patti Bower, IAP Parent Advisory Board Member
IAP researchers are busting myths, learning new facts, and exploring uncharted territory in the field of child development – all for the benefit of orphaned children, adoptive families, and those considering international adoption.
Patti Bower, IAP Parent Advisory Board Member
As parents (and prospective parents) of internationally adopted children, we have an unprecedented opportunity to help further vital research by volunteering to include our own children in IAP studies. No one else can provide access to children who meet the study criteria, our participation is crucial.
Patti Bower, IAP Parent Advisory Board Member
Please consider joining the IAP’s registry of adoptive families. By partnering with the IAP, we can play a key role in developing valuable scholarly resources for the adoption community in the years ahead.
Patti Bower, IAP Parent Advisory Board Member
I was eight years old when I came to the US to join my new family. My parents didn’t understand why I acted the way I did. I also didn’t understand why they didn’t understand me. I think all of the testing I did will one day help parents understand a kid like me in a different way, I’m glad I had a chance to play a part.
Katia, 18 years old
Some of the testing I did was boring and some were cool. I did one test where I chewed gum and then spit in a little bottle. I also did tests where I played games I think all of the testing I did will one day help parents understand a kid like me in a different way, I’m glad I had a chance to play a part.
Katia, 18 years old
Working with children who joined their families through international adoption has proven to be some of the most challenging and gratifying research of my career.
Dr. Megan Gunnar, Principal Investigator
The IAP allows us ask and seek to answer some of the challenging and overlooked questions that confront adoptive families, from how to raise a child of a different race and ethnicity to how a child's brain works.
Dr. Rich Lee, Co-investigator
International adoption brings children with varied backgrounds into our state and as professionals who care for children we need to understand the whole range of experiences they bring to their families.
Dr. Dana Johnson, Co-investigator