Denise Werchan, PhD

Infants grow and change at a rate that is unparalleled in the rest of a lifespan. How do early experiences shape brain and behavioral development during this time of heightened plasticity? I explore this question in developing infants and children using behavioral, neuroimaging, population health, and computational approaches. I consider human development in contexts of both risk and opportunity, and I apply an ecological perspective by considering development as a process of adaptation to a child's unique environmental niche. The ultimate goal of my work is to inform therapies and policy interventions that help improve the lives of children and their families.