People

Dr. Caroline Hornburg

Dr. Caroline Hornburg, an Associate Professor of Human Development and Family Science at Virginia Tech, is the director of the Learning and Development Lab. Dr. Hornburg has also served as the Director of Undergraduate Studies for the Department of Human Development and Family Science at Virginia Tech since May 2025. Dr. Hornburg received her Ph.D. in May 2017 under the direction of Dr. Nicole McNeil in the Cognition Learning and Development Lab at the University of Notre Dame.  Following her Ph.D., she completed two years of postdoctoral training in the Cognition and Learning Lab at Purdue University.

Dr. Hornburg's work focuses on children’s understanding of core mathematical skills within early childhood and middle childhood that provide the foundation for later learning. Specifically, her main lines of research are (1) What is the impact of prior knowledge on later learning? and (2) How can the learning environment be optimized to improve children’s understanding of key concepts?

Jing Chen, M.S.

Jing Chen is a third-year Ph.D. student in the Child and Adolescent Development Program. She earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in Psychology at Northeast Normal University and Southwest University in China, respectively. Her previous research concentration focused on creativity, cognition, semantic network and cognitive neuroscience. And currently, she is dedicated to exploring how children utilize digital media and AI-Child system in fostering children's creativity and active learning, as well as investigating the underlying cognitive mechanisms.

Zixin “Lizzie” Li, B.S.

Zixin “Lizzie” Li is a second-year Ph.D. student in Human Development and Family Science at Virginia Tech, concentrating in Child and Adolescent Development. She earned her B.S. in Child Development from Vanderbilt University in 2025, with a minor in Quantitative Methods. As an undergraduate, she gained research experience through the SEA Lab and Violence Prevention Team, where she developed interests in early development and family relationships. Her current research focuses on the intersection of trauma and parent-child relationships, with particular interest in infancy while also considering how these processes unfold across other stages of development.

Ki Yan Ip, M.A.

Ki Yan Ip is a first-year Ph.D. student in Human Development and Family Science at Virginia Tech, concentrating in Marriage and Family Therapy. Before entering the field, she trained in graphic and product design, where her work increasingly focused on children, play, accessibility, and social-emotional learning. Her experiences developing programs and resources for children and families led her to become interested in how family relationships and everyday environments shape children’s development and well-being. In the Learning and Development Lab, Ki hopes to explore these questions while building stronger connections between developmental research and practical, accessible supports for families.

Raelene Ambrose

Raelene Ambrose is a senior majoring in Human Development. Her interest in the lab stemmed from her passion for working with children and learning more about cognition and its impacts on childhood development. After graduation, she plans to enter a graduate Speech-Language Pathology program. 

Phoebe Baker

Phoebe Baker is a senior majoring in Early Childhood Development and Education. Her interest in joining the lab stemmed from her desire to work with children and understand cognitive development processes in children. After graduation, Phoebe plans to obtain her Master's degree in Elementary Education from Virginia Tech. Her goal is to teach elementary school in Virginia. 

Kayleigh Burton

Kayleigh Burton is a senior studying Psychology and Human Development, with a minor in Adaptive Brain and Behavior. She joined the lab because she is interested in the learning and development of children and adolescents. In the future, she hopes to become a Clinical Psychologist and work with many individuals, including children and adolescents.

Ella Goldstein

Ella Goldstein is a senior majoring in Human Development with a minor in Language Sciences. She is from Ocean Grove, New Jersey. She wanted to participate in the Learning and Development Lab at Virginia Tech due to her interest in working with children and the study of human behavior. After graduation, Ella plans to attend graduate school and hopes to become a speech-language pathologist.

Maggie Harrigan

Maggie Harrigan is a senior majoring in Cognitive & Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychology. She joined the lab due to her interest in cognitive development and its influence on behavior in educational settings. After graduation, she plans to attend graduate school to pursue a degree in Speech-Language Pathology.

Jessica Lalwani

Jessica Lalwani is a senior majoring in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience and minoring in Sociology and Adaptive Brain Behavior. She wanted to participate in the Learning and Development Lab at Virginia Tech due to her interest in cognitive development and childhood development. After graduation, Jessica hopes to attend graduate school on an occupational therapy track.

Ryanne Robertson

Ryanne Robertson is a senior majoring in Human Development and minoring in Psychology, Adaptive Brain and Behavior, and Integrative Health and Wellness. Ryanne joined the Learning and Development Lab in hopes of furthering her understanding of children's cognitive development and how it relates to their social, emotional, and behavioral patterns. Ryanne hopes to work in a school one day, possibly as a School Counselor, as she wants to support children's development in an educational setting. 

Lily Soukup

Lily Soukup is a senior majoring in Early Childhood Development & Education with a minor in Psychology. She's from Chesterfield, Virginia right outside of Richmond. Lily has a love for working with children of all ages and plans on continuing that passion after graduating. She's interested in the function of children's brains and how that affects their behavior.

Ava Raughley

Ava Raughley is a senior from Wilmington, Delaware, majoring in Human Development with minors in Language Sciences and Disability Studies. She is interested in how children learn and develop across different stages of childhood, which led her to become involved with the Learning and Development Lab. After graduation, Ava plans to attend graduate school to pursue a degree in speech-language pathology and hopes to work with children in her future career.

Dr. Maegan Colbert | Fall '24 - Spring '26

Dr. Colbert is a Medicaid Proposal Writer with AETNA.

Dr. Isabel Valdivia | Fall '23 - Spring '26

Dr. Valdivia is a postdoctoral fellow in the HOLA STEM Lab in the Department of Human Development and Quantitative Methodology at the University of Maryland, College Park.

Dr. Shuqi Yu | Fall '24 - Spring '25

Dr. Yu is a Postdoctoral Researcher with the Language and Literacy Team at Dalhousie University, where she researches children's language and literacy development across traditional and digital media.

Dr. Lili Guan | Fall '24 - Spring '25

Dr. Guan is a Teaching Assistant Professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at the University of Alabama.

Dr. Jisun Kim | Fall '21 - Summer '24

Dr. Kim is a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Department of Human Development and Family Science at Purdue University. Her research focuses on children's learning with technology, STEM learning, and shared book reading.

Caroline Begley, M.S. | Fall '21 - Spring '22

Caroline is an academic advisor for the Pamplin College of Business at Virginia Tech, dedicated to supporting student growth and developing personalized academic plans.

Dr. Shawnice Johnson | Fall '20 - Spring '21

Dr. Johnson is a Senior Data Analyst at Achieving the Dream and a freelance research consultant specializing in higher education initiatives for justice-impacted students. Her research interests center on community-based qualitative methods, DEI initiatives, and policy reform for marginalized populations.

Dr. Sami Simpson | Fall '20 - Spring '21

Dr. Simpson is the Clinical Director at Encircle. As an LMFT, she specializes in family relationship therapy, relational mental health, and supporting youth and families.

Dr. Katarina Krizova | Fall '20

Dr. Krizova is a Lecturer in Family Sciences at the University of Kentucky and an LMFT. Her research and teaching focus on human development, romantic and family relationships, and the role of family dynamics in child anxiety and mental health.