Elif Isbell, PhD
@elifisbell.bsky.social
Developmental cognitive neuroscientist * Assistant professor at the University of California Merced * Director of the IDEA lab * www.idearesearch.org * <posts are my opinions>
Reposted by Elif Isbell, PhD
PS is excited to announce the launch of "Individual Differences in Cognition” (IDIC), an open-access journal on research in cognitive psychology, science, and neuroscience. Co-Editors-in-Chief are Andrew R.A. Conway & Michael J. Kane. Manuscripts accepted this spring. More information coming soon!
November 22, 2025 at 10:09 PM
PS is excited to announce the launch of "Individual Differences in Cognition” (IDIC), an open-access journal on research in cognitive psychology, science, and neuroscience. Co-Editors-in-Chief are Andrew R.A. Conway & Michael J. Kane. Manuscripts accepted this spring. More information coming soon!
Reposted by Elif Isbell, PhD
We are recruiting a lab manager/research assistant to start in early 2026! The successful candidate will conduct awake infant fMRI, meet cute babies, and join a fun team!
More details (e.g. responsibilities): soc.stanford.edu/people/#join...
Apply here: careersearch.stanford.edu/jobs/social-...
More details (e.g. responsibilities): soc.stanford.edu/people/#join...
Apply here: careersearch.stanford.edu/jobs/social-...
People – Scaffolding of Cognition Team
soc.stanford.edu
November 21, 2025 at 12:16 AM
We are recruiting a lab manager/research assistant to start in early 2026! The successful candidate will conduct awake infant fMRI, meet cute babies, and join a fun team!
More details (e.g. responsibilities): soc.stanford.edu/people/#join...
Apply here: careersearch.stanford.edu/jobs/social-...
More details (e.g. responsibilities): soc.stanford.edu/people/#join...
Apply here: careersearch.stanford.edu/jobs/social-...
Reposted by Elif Isbell, PhD
We have longitudinal multimodal (EEG, MRI) datasets to richly characterize developmental plasticity and an interest in public health relevant prenatal factors (e.g. iron deficiency, prenatal stress) and postnatal factors: caregiving, music, and language experiences!
Yes, PINE Lab is accepting doctoral applications this cycle in Psychology! Apps due Dec 1! Interested in early life human neuroplasticity? how early pre- and post-natal experiences/exposures (promotional/adverse) shape malleable brains? Current research here: drive.google.com/file/d/1wFZj...
Laurel_Gabard-Durnam_Research Statement.pdf
drive.google.com
November 21, 2025 at 12:55 AM
We have longitudinal multimodal (EEG, MRI) datasets to richly characterize developmental plasticity and an interest in public health relevant prenatal factors (e.g. iron deficiency, prenatal stress) and postnatal factors: caregiving, music, and language experiences!
Reposted by Elif Isbell, PhD
Job posting alert! Open Science Specialist at the University of Calgary (in Canada!) #job #OpenScience careers.ucalgary.ca/jobs/1704502...
Specialist, Open Science, Research Services in
Calgary,
AB,
...
Specialist, Open Science, Research Services in
Calgary,
AB,
...
careers.ucalgary.ca
November 19, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Job posting alert! Open Science Specialist at the University of Calgary (in Canada!) #job #OpenScience careers.ucalgary.ca/jobs/1704502...
Reposted by Elif Isbell, PhD
🚨Special Issue at Developmental Psychology🚨
Reimagining Developmental Science Through the Lens of Black Girlhood
Guest Eds:
Rona Carter (Lead)
Sheretta T. Butler‑Barnes
Fatima Varner
Eleanor K. Seaton
On Web soon, Text for now: www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/h43oc...
1/6
@apajournals.bsky.social
Reimagining Developmental Science Through the Lens of Black Girlhood
Guest Eds:
Rona Carter (Lead)
Sheretta T. Butler‑Barnes
Fatima Varner
Eleanor K. Seaton
On Web soon, Text for now: www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/h43oc...
1/6
@apajournals.bsky.social
www.dropbox.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:28 PM
🚨Special Issue at Developmental Psychology🚨
Reimagining Developmental Science Through the Lens of Black Girlhood
Guest Eds:
Rona Carter (Lead)
Sheretta T. Butler‑Barnes
Fatima Varner
Eleanor K. Seaton
On Web soon, Text for now: www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/h43oc...
1/6
@apajournals.bsky.social
Reimagining Developmental Science Through the Lens of Black Girlhood
Guest Eds:
Rona Carter (Lead)
Sheretta T. Butler‑Barnes
Fatima Varner
Eleanor K. Seaton
On Web soon, Text for now: www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/h43oc...
1/6
@apajournals.bsky.social
Reposted by Elif Isbell, PhD
This month's Motivation Monday will be over Researching in Unprecedented Times. Join us in conversation with @stephenaguilar.com, @christymbyrd.bsky.social, and @jeffgreene.bsky.social on November 24th.
November 17, 2025 at 8:42 PM
This month's Motivation Monday will be over Researching in Unprecedented Times. Join us in conversation with @stephenaguilar.com, @christymbyrd.bsky.social, and @jeffgreene.bsky.social on November 24th.
Reposted by Elif Isbell, PhD
I wrote a piece for The Conversation on the importance of SNAP for reducing food insecurity and improving child health. I’d love it if you would read and share!
Recent SNAP cuts and the government shutdown are disrupting food access for millions of children. A developmental psychologist explains why this matters: food insecurity in childhood predicts higher cardiovascular risks in adulthood, worse mental health and academic problems. buff.ly/GEHkiZr
SNAP benefits have been cut and disrupted – causing more kids to go without enough healthy food and harming child development
Having stable access to nutritious food sets children up for better mental and physical health into adulthood.
theconversation.com
November 15, 2025 at 6:26 AM
I wrote a piece for The Conversation on the importance of SNAP for reducing food insecurity and improving child health. I’d love it if you would read and share!
Reposted by Elif Isbell, PhD
🧠I am excited to announce that our manuscript introducing a new data resource – PennLEAD (Penn Longitudinal Executive functioning in Adolescent Development) – is now available on bioRxiv. Below are some details highlighting our data resource🧵funded by NIMH R01MH113550
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
November 12, 2025 at 9:53 PM
🧠I am excited to announce that our manuscript introducing a new data resource – PennLEAD (Penn Longitudinal Executive functioning in Adolescent Development) – is now available on bioRxiv. Below are some details highlighting our data resource🧵funded by NIMH R01MH113550
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Elif Isbell, PhD
Valuable reporting here from @cathleenogrady.bsky.social for @science.org, adding context and other important voices to our perspective piece (linked further below, with @wiringthebrain.bsky.social and @deevybee.bsky.social)
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
November 14, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Valuable reporting here from @cathleenogrady.bsky.social for @science.org, adding context and other important voices to our perspective piece (linked further below, with @wiringthebrain.bsky.social and @deevybee.bsky.social)
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Elif Isbell, PhD
A bad thing is unfolding at NIH this week: It looks like the Trump administration is trying to replace key civil servant scientific leaders, the Institute Directors, with political hires. These directors control the NIH budget, tens of billions.
A bit of a video explainer here: 1/ 🧪
A bit of a video explainer here: 1/ 🧪
November 13, 2025 at 10:31 PM
A bad thing is unfolding at NIH this week: It looks like the Trump administration is trying to replace key civil servant scientific leaders, the Institute Directors, with political hires. These directors control the NIH budget, tens of billions.
A bit of a video explainer here: 1/ 🧪
A bit of a video explainer here: 1/ 🧪
Reposted by Elif Isbell, PhD
Three German universities offering post-docs for researchers "who cannot conduct or continue their work in the USA appropriately because of actual political pressure. "
www.uni-konstanz.de/zukunftskoll...
www.uni-konstanz.de/zukunftskoll...
Early Career Rescue Fellowship
www.uni-konstanz.de
November 11, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Three German universities offering post-docs for researchers "who cannot conduct or continue their work in the USA appropriately because of actual political pressure. "
www.uni-konstanz.de/zukunftskoll...
www.uni-konstanz.de/zukunftskoll...
Reposted by Elif Isbell, PhD
Excited to head to @isdp.org this week! And thrilled that I'll be recruiting graduate students and postdocs this cycle to join PINE Lab!
Please come say hi if interested (current lab studies here: www.plasticityinneurodevelopmentlab.com/current-stud...)
Please come say hi if interested (current lab studies here: www.plasticityinneurodevelopmentlab.com/current-stud...)
November 10, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Excited to head to @isdp.org this week! And thrilled that I'll be recruiting graduate students and postdocs this cycle to join PINE Lab!
Please come say hi if interested (current lab studies here: www.plasticityinneurodevelopmentlab.com/current-stud...)
Please come say hi if interested (current lab studies here: www.plasticityinneurodevelopmentlab.com/current-stud...)
Reposted by Elif Isbell, PhD
CDS Secretary here!
Please follow our CDS account to receive reminders of upcoming deadlines and opportunities as well as to learn about new articles in the Journal of Cognition and Development.
Please follow our CDS account to receive reminders of upcoming deadlines and opportunities as well as to learn about new articles in the Journal of Cognition and Development.
Poster submissions for CDS2026 are now open!
Submit your work for consideration at CDS 2026 in Montreal, Canada. Submissions are due by January 8, 2026.
For more information, please view our website:
cogdevsoc.org/submissions/
Submit your work for consideration at CDS 2026 in Montreal, Canada. Submissions are due by January 8, 2026.
For more information, please view our website:
cogdevsoc.org/submissions/
November 5, 2025 at 11:31 PM
CDS Secretary here!
Please follow our CDS account to receive reminders of upcoming deadlines and opportunities as well as to learn about new articles in the Journal of Cognition and Development.
Please follow our CDS account to receive reminders of upcoming deadlines and opportunities as well as to learn about new articles in the Journal of Cognition and Development.
Reposted by Elif Isbell, PhD
Head Start closures will have far-reaching and long-lasting consequences. Because the million kids who rely on the program don't have other options. And so, we're likely to see:
⬇️maternal employment
⬆️child poverty, hunger, and homelessness
⬇️school readiness and achievement long-term
⬇️maternal employment
⬆️child poverty, hunger, and homelessness
⬇️school readiness and achievement long-term
November 4, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Head Start closures will have far-reaching and long-lasting consequences. Because the million kids who rely on the program don't have other options. And so, we're likely to see:
⬇️maternal employment
⬆️child poverty, hunger, and homelessness
⬇️school readiness and achievement long-term
⬇️maternal employment
⬆️child poverty, hunger, and homelessness
⬇️school readiness and achievement long-term
Reposted by Elif Isbell, PhD
"You can’t reboot the planet if you crash it" | My commentary on Bill Gates' flawed new climate missive for @thebulletin.org: thebulletin.org/2025/10/you-...
You can’t reboot the planet if you crash it
What Gates is putting forward aren’t legitimate arguments that can be made in good faith. They are shopworn fossil fuel industry talking points.
thebulletin.org
October 31, 2025 at 6:35 PM
"You can’t reboot the planet if you crash it" | My commentary on Bill Gates' flawed new climate missive for @thebulletin.org: thebulletin.org/2025/10/you-...
Reposted by Elif Isbell, PhD
Submissions are open for @psychscience.bsky.social APS 2026 meeting in Barcelona. #APS26BCN Please watch the video to hear about all the new and exciting programming that will be available for the first Annual Convention to be in an international location!!
Submissions are OPEN for the 2026 APS Annual Convention in Barcelona, Spain! #APS26BCN
Submit your research by 5 December
www.psychologicalscience.org/conventions/...
Submit your research by 5 December
www.psychologicalscience.org/conventions/...
October 30, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Submissions are open for @psychscience.bsky.social APS 2026 meeting in Barcelona. #APS26BCN Please watch the video to hear about all the new and exciting programming that will be available for the first Annual Convention to be in an international location!!
Reposted by Elif Isbell, PhD
Are you a US-based PhD student WITHOUT summer funding who is interested in adolescent development, trans youth, and/or gender? Reach out to me about applying to join my lab in Summer 2026 for the VIPS program! psych.princeton.edu/diversity/vi...
Visiting Internship for Ph.D. Students (VIPS) Program
The VIPS program is an initiative of the DEI committee of the Department of Psychology at Princeton University. VIPS will support up to 4 Ph.D. students who are full-time students at other universitie...
psych.princeton.edu
October 31, 2025 at 12:09 AM
Are you a US-based PhD student WITHOUT summer funding who is interested in adolescent development, trans youth, and/or gender? Reach out to me about applying to join my lab in Summer 2026 for the VIPS program! psych.princeton.edu/diversity/vi...
Reposted by Elif Isbell, PhD
If you use the Monetary Incentive Delay task or any task with complex events in fMRI, you should read this. We demonstrate that common modeling approaches can result in bias due to omitted variables. By @jeanette-mumford.bsky.social & the ABCD task fMRI team. direct.mit.edu/imag/article...
Unintended bias in the pursuit of collinearity solutions in fMRI analysis
Abstract. In task functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), collinearity between task regressors in time series models may impact power. When collinearity is identified after data collection, rese...
direct.mit.edu
October 29, 2025 at 1:23 PM
If you use the Monetary Incentive Delay task or any task with complex events in fMRI, you should read this. We demonstrate that common modeling approaches can result in bias due to omitted variables. By @jeanette-mumford.bsky.social & the ABCD task fMRI team. direct.mit.edu/imag/article...
Reposted by Elif Isbell, PhD
1 in 8 households depend on the U.S. federal government to buy food.
That's a disgusting number that reflects poorly on business owners' / employers' priorities & leaves kids hungry.
12% of grocery sales are w SNAP funds. (grocery stores operate on razor thin margins)
@foodfixco.bsky.social
That's a disgusting number that reflects poorly on business owners' / employers' priorities & leaves kids hungry.
12% of grocery sales are w SNAP funds. (grocery stores operate on razor thin margins)
@foodfixco.bsky.social
The Trump administration has prepared to weather a shutdown for a long time, but SNAP benefits for November are at risk as the dysfunction in Washington continues.
foodfix.co/why-snap-ben...
foodfix.co/why-snap-ben...
Why SNAP benefits are at risk as shutdown drags on
The Trump administration has prepared to weather a shutdown for a long time, but SNAP benefits for November are at risk as the dysfunction in Washington continues.
foodfix.co
October 24, 2025 at 5:55 PM
1 in 8 households depend on the U.S. federal government to buy food.
That's a disgusting number that reflects poorly on business owners' / employers' priorities & leaves kids hungry.
12% of grocery sales are w SNAP funds. (grocery stores operate on razor thin margins)
@foodfixco.bsky.social
That's a disgusting number that reflects poorly on business owners' / employers' priorities & leaves kids hungry.
12% of grocery sales are w SNAP funds. (grocery stores operate on razor thin margins)
@foodfixco.bsky.social
Reposted by Elif Isbell, PhD
I am hiring PhD candidates to study the psychology of attention & technology use at @tilburg-university.bsky.social.
We're looking for motivated & curious scholars with expertise in cognitive psychology and statistics, and offer a friendly work environment with great terms & benefits.
tiu.nu/22989
We're looking for motivated & curious scholars with expertise in cognitive psychology and statistics, and offer a friendly work environment with great terms & benefits.
tiu.nu/22989
October 23, 2025 at 3:04 PM
I am hiring PhD candidates to study the psychology of attention & technology use at @tilburg-university.bsky.social.
We're looking for motivated & curious scholars with expertise in cognitive psychology and statistics, and offer a friendly work environment with great terms & benefits.
tiu.nu/22989
We're looking for motivated & curious scholars with expertise in cognitive psychology and statistics, and offer a friendly work environment with great terms & benefits.
tiu.nu/22989
Reposted by Elif Isbell, PhD
Reports of severe flu cases in Hong Kong. If I was a politician, I would strengthen international collaborations to study infectious diseases in other countries. Now is a good time to get a seasonal flu vaccine in the US…there are signs we could have an early season.
www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/...
www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/...
CHP urges schoolchildren to promptly receive seasonal influenza vaccination as another severe paediatric influenza infection case reported
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (October 20) announced a case of severe paediatric influenza A infection. The CHP urged schools and parents...
www.info.gov.hk
October 21, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Reports of severe flu cases in Hong Kong. If I was a politician, I would strengthen international collaborations to study infectious diseases in other countries. Now is a good time to get a seasonal flu vaccine in the US…there are signs we could have an early season.
www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/...
www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/...
Reposted by Elif Isbell, PhD
We’ve recently updated our collaborative open-access book, “Neural Networks in Cognitive Science”, adding a few new authors, chapters, and lots of content.
downloads.jeffyoshimi.net/NeuralNetwor...
downloads.jeffyoshimi.net/NeuralNetwor...
October 21, 2025 at 8:44 PM
We’ve recently updated our collaborative open-access book, “Neural Networks in Cognitive Science”, adding a few new authors, chapters, and lots of content.
downloads.jeffyoshimi.net/NeuralNetwor...
downloads.jeffyoshimi.net/NeuralNetwor...
Reposted by Elif Isbell, PhD
The Survey Research Center @umich.edu is one of the few that combines our science and data collection under one roof (or two since we are so big). This short chat gives you a sense of what the data collection arm of SRC does.
This month's Coffee and Donuts with the SRC Director was hosted by the Survey Research Operations. Grant Benson and Nicole Kirgis chatted with @umpamdk.bsky.social about the work SRO does and the long-time interviewers who make that work possible. youtu.be/Fk31bEtZX5U
Coffee with Survey Research Operations
YouTube video by Survey Research Center, University of Michigan
youtu.be
October 21, 2025 at 10:45 PM
The Survey Research Center @umich.edu is one of the few that combines our science and data collection under one roof (or two since we are so big). This short chat gives you a sense of what the data collection arm of SRC does.
Reposted by Elif Isbell, PhD
We need to talk about how social media algorithms push moms down a slippery slope of distrust.
From "Are my kids getting enough support in school?" To "Maybe I should homeschool." To "Maybe modern medicine is bad."
I've seen this first-hand in research I'm doing on parenting apps. 1/🧵
From "Are my kids getting enough support in school?" To "Maybe I should homeschool." To "Maybe modern medicine is bad."
I've seen this first-hand in research I'm doing on parenting apps. 1/🧵
October 15, 2025 at 12:25 PM
We need to talk about how social media algorithms push moms down a slippery slope of distrust.
From "Are my kids getting enough support in school?" To "Maybe I should homeschool." To "Maybe modern medicine is bad."
I've seen this first-hand in research I'm doing on parenting apps. 1/🧵
From "Are my kids getting enough support in school?" To "Maybe I should homeschool." To "Maybe modern medicine is bad."
I've seen this first-hand in research I'm doing on parenting apps. 1/🧵
Reposted by Elif Isbell, PhD
New lab paper in DCN! 🧠 We conducted interviews with adolescents to better understand their perceptions of neuroscience research and barriers to participation, w/qualitative data that is shaping how we design lab studies & efforts to increase representation.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Understanding barriers to adolescent participation in developmental neuroscience research
Increasing representation of youth in developmental neuroscience research is essential to elucidating neurobiological mechanisms of cognition, behavio…
www.sciencedirect.com
October 10, 2025 at 4:28 PM
New lab paper in DCN! 🧠 We conducted interviews with adolescents to better understand their perceptions of neuroscience research and barriers to participation, w/qualitative data that is shaping how we design lab studies & efforts to increase representation.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...