Dr Ross Vanderwert
Senior Lecturer
- vanderwertr@cardiff.ac.uk
- +44 (0)29 2068 8826
- 3.20, Tower Building, 70 Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT
Overview
Research summary
My primary research interests are in the role of early experiences (parent-infant relationships, environmental, and individual differences) that promote healthy brain development and in identifying factors that may place an individual at risk for psychopathology. I am interested in infant, child, and adult development and I employ various behavioural and neuroimaging techniques, including eye-tracking, electroencephalogram (EEG), and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS).
Biography
Undergraduate education
2003
B.A.: Psychology and Mathematics
St. Olaf College, Minnesota, USA
Postgraduate education
2012
Ph.D.: Developmental Science
University of Maryland, College Park, USA
Employment
2012-2015
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Labs of Cognitive Neuroscience
Boston Children’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts, USA
2008-2012
Special Volunteer
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
National Institutes of Health, Maryland, USA
Publications
We are currently unable to retrieve the list of publications. Visit our institutional repository.Teaching
Modules taught
Current
Neurodevelopmental Disorders 2: Cognition & emotion (MSc in Children's Psychological Disorders)
Research Methods in Developmental Psychology (Final year)
Developmental Psychology Practical (Second year)
Former
Developmental Psychopathology (Final year)
Research topics and related papers
My current research focuses on the influence of pacifiers (dummies) on infants' ability to regulate emotions, process emotions in others, and understanding parents' decisions to allow their infant to use pacifiers. Pacifiers are controversial among practitioners who have identified a number of potential negative health effects on the infant. However, very little research has examined the psychological effects of pacifier use on either the baby or the family as a whole. We know that parenting a young infant can be a stressful period and pacifiers may help reduce some of that distress. We are currently in the process of collecting and analysing data from three studies surrounding issues related to pacifier use in infants.
My other research interests include understanding how adverse childhood experiences impact neural development and function, how emerging social biases in infancy contribute to risk or resilience to mental health in adolescence, and how motor development can impact how we understand our social environment (including our families and peers).
Funding
"Neural signature of DCD" Waterloo Foundation
“Development of wearable, room-temperature and movement-tolerant MEG for adults and children at Cardiff University” Wellcome Trust ISSF3
"Benefits of doll play" OxyInsight
"Implications of pacifier use for the development of emotional competence." British Academy/Leverhulm Small Research Grant
Ph.D. Students
Kai Thomas
Kelsey Frewin
Charlotte Findlay
Supervision
Postgraduate research interests
If you are interested in applying for a PhD, or for further information regarding my postgraduate research, please contact me directly (contact details available on the 'Overview' page), or submit a formal application.
Current students
Kai Thomas
- Topic: Understanding risk factors for disordered eating
Past projects
Previous students
coming soon
Media activities
coming soon