The KID Lab

Dr. Laura Quiñones Camacho is an Assistant Professor in the Human Development, Culture, and Learning Sciences program in Educational Psychology. Her research explores how contextual and family factors influence neurobiological mechanisms for self-regulation and psychopathology throughout the childhood years.

She uses techniques ranging from psychophysiology (e.g., RSA, PEP) to neuroimaging (e.g., EEG, fNIRS), as well as experimental and longitudinal approaches. Her most recent work has focused on identifying dyadic neurobiological mechanisms for the intergenerational transmission of mental health problems.

Yelim Hong is a post-doctoral fellow in the Educational Psychology Program. She received her Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2023. She has a Bachelor of Science with honors in psychology from the University of Iowa in 2017.

Her research broadly focuses on how family context influences child socio-emotional development. Specifically, her studies center on how child self-regulation (i.e., effortful control, executive function, respiratory sinus arrhythmia) and household regulation (i.e., household chaos) affect the bidirectional relationship between parenting behaviors and child behavior problems. In a separate line of research, she examines the mother-child behavioral and physiological similarity. Outside of her research work, she loves working out, watching musicals, going to jazz bars, and watching Korean TV shows.

Brittany Baker recently graduated with her Bachelors in Science in Psychology and Biology from Texas State University. As many other Mexican-Americans, she was the first generation in her family to acquire a Bachelors degree. She is pre-doc and hopes to continue her academic pursuits by gaining a graduate degree in her research interests which includes developmental neuroscience and psychopathology.

Her past research experience includes studying cognitive factors that influence pain perception in children. She echoes the goals of The Kid’s Lab which is to study trajectories of mental health in children specifically the biological and sociocultural influences found in Latinx communities. She loves animals and owns two rescue pitbulls. Her hobbies include playing video games, cooking vegan food, and spending time on the Greenbelt where she lives.

Megan Klinginsmith is a doctoral student in the University of Texas’s School/Clinical Child Psychology program. She has a Bachelor of Science from Creighton University and a Master of Science from the University of Texas at Dallas. Her graduate research included the study of protective factors for children who experience ACE’s or adverse childhood experiences.

She is excited to be continuing her education by researching developmental psychopathology and caregiver transmission of early childhood disorders at The Kid’s Lab. Her hobbies include drawing, playing pickleball, and going to parks with her dogs. 

Nicole Jackson is currently a graduate student in the Educational Psychology Program earning her Masters in Science within HDCLS. Her academic journey began with a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from Texas A&M University. As a pre-doc, she worked in Dr. Chen Yu’s Developmental Intelligence Lab where they utilized eye-tracking technology to explore the dynamics between parents and children, focusing on child development in naturalistic settings.

Her research interests lie at the intersection of psychology and neuroscience, specifically the biological underpinnings of behavior, emotional regulation, as well as risk factors and preventive measures related to mental health. She is thrilled to be a part of The Kids Lab, where she can contribute to research in this field.

Outside of her academic pursuits, she enjoys activities such as snowboarding, running, Zumba, and pickle ball.