Developmental Neuroanalytics Lab at the University of Virginia

April marks Autism Acceptance Month, a time to celebrate neurodiversity, promote inclusion, and amplify autistic voices 💙 At our lab, we are committed to advancing research that not only deepens our understanding of developmental neurodiversity but also supports meaningful, real-world impact.

Here are the research assistants that have joined our lab in the last year! From semester to semester, each group has brought their own energy, curiosity, and impact. We value all of the work you've contributed to our lab🧡

🎓✨ Enrollment for UVA's January Term is now open -- and my course is already filling up fast!

I’m so excited to teach “Research Methods in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience” again this winter. This is a hands-on, lab-based course where students get to collect and analyze real EEG, fNIRS, and fMRI data while exploring how neuroscience helps us understand brain development.

It’s an intense, immersive, and incredibly rewarding experience! Here’s what past students said:
🧠 “This class more than exceeded my expectations.”
💬 “The hands-on learning was incredibly interesting and fun and brought everything we were learning to life.”
💡 “Professor Puglia is wonderful! She is so passionate about the subject matter and wants all of her students to succeed. She makes the class fun, interesting, and inclusive for all students.”

🎓 Enrollment is now open to UVA students. Visiting students from any school can apply beginning Thursday!

🔗 Learn more: https://januaryterm.virginia.edu/

This past weekend was National First-Generation College Student Day! We are so proud of all first-generation collage students paving a new path and building brighter futures for your families. We are cheering you on each step of the way! Wahoo! 🧡🎓💙

📣We’re hiring Research Assistants for Spring 2026! 📣

The Developmental Neuroanalytics Lab aims to identify and characterize the neurobiological and developmental factors that drive individual differences in social, cognitive, and behavioral outcomes.

No prior research experience is required. We especially welcome first- and second-year students and those from groups underrepresented in science to apply.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
🔗 Apply through the link in our bio or QR code in the post
📧 Questions? Email [email protected]
🌐 Learn more at www.puglialab.org

Happy World Mental Health Day! What are ways you can be kind to your mind today? 🧠❤️

Thank you for the incredible impact you have on the tiniest patients. Not only are you saving lives, but shaping lifelong developmental outcomes as well. We appreciate everything you do! 💙🧠🧡

Madelyn has been with us since 2021 as one of our first research assistants and then as our amazing lab technician. Not only is she a research superstar, but also a supportive mentor that many of our current RAs look up to. This fall, she’s off to begin her MD-PhD at UVA! We miss her so much and couldn’t be more proud and excited for her next chapter. 💙🧡

This month, we honor the babies who have spent time in the NICU, their families’ love, and the care teams by their side. Here at the Developmental Neuroanalytics lab, we celebrate NICU miracles every day💚

What an exciting week for the Dev Neuro Lab Team! Congratulations to Shriya Varada, Dr. Cabell Williams, and Macie Tran who presented their outstanding research at SANS last week in Chicago.

She came, she researched, she conquered! Congratulations to Dr. Williams for successfully defending her dissertation titled, "Exploring Environmental Influences on the Neural Correlates of Social Tactile Processing in Early Infancy". We are so proud of you and this inspiring accomplishment 👏

Happy Autism Acceptance Month 💙 For more information on common myths about autism, please visit https://adsd.nv.gov/uploadedFiles/adsdnvgov/content/Programs/Autism/ATAP/Autism%20Myths%20and%20Misconceptions.pdf.