Nila Shakiba, Ph.D. profile and information

Short Bio

Accepting new graduate students: Yes

Accepting new undergraduate students: Yes

I am a developmental psychologist and a tenure-track Assistant Professor in Early Childhood Development at Auburn University. I also serve as the Director of the Psychobiology, Early Experiences, and Resilience Laboratory (PEARL) within the Department of Human Development and Family Science. My research program examines the effects of early life experiences— beginning during pregnancy and extending through infancy and early childhood—on children’s social and emotional development, neurobiological functioning, and overall health and well-being in both normative and high-risk populations. I'm particularly interested in identifying the biopsychosocial mechanisms through which early life stressors (e.g., harsh and insensitive parenting, parental psychopathology, financial stress) influence children’s development and the risk for mental and physical health problems. The overarching goal of my research is to understand why early life stress is more detrimental for some children than others. I'm passionate about applied science and am eager to build collaborative partnerships with families from diverse backgrounds, communities, practitioners, educators, policymakers, and healthcare professionals to help ensure that all young children have equitable access to programs that promote their development, health, and well-being.