My core research interests involve understanding individual differences in early cognitive and math skills, and determining the antecedents, correlates, and consequences of these skills over time. My research program broadly aims to examine how (1) a constellation of cognitive and math skills co-develop and interact with one another to influence learning, (2) various parent and family-level factors influence cognitive and math skills, and (3) gene-environment transactions influence cognitive skills and math
learning trajectories. By uncovering the mechanistic pathways that drive variability in cognitive and math development, my research program aims to clarify the individual, risk, and protective factors that together enable children of to maximize their learning potential. My work is grounded in biopsychosocial models of development, and integrates perspectives, techniques, and methods across developmental and cognitive science, behavioral genetics, and education. My multimethod research program integrates genetic and longitudinal methods, observational data coding (e.g., quantifying parent and child behaviors during play), and experimental research designs to pinpoint key factors influencing learning outcomes. I also collect rich behavioral data at a fine grain and a global level to clarify how in-
the-moment learning occurs and its influence on later knowledge.
Giulia A. Borriello, Ph.D. 