People

Dr Catherine Laing (PI)

I am a Senior Lecturer in Developmental Linguistics in the Department of Language and Linguistic Science at the University of York. I got my PhD from the University of York and have since worked in North Carolina and Cardiff. I am interested in how babies make the transition from babble to words, and I use methods such as eye-tracking and lingual (tongue) ultrasound to find this out! I also work with speech and language therapists and other practitioners to find ways to apply my work in real-world settings.

Dr Florence Oxley (PDRA)

I am a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Department of Language and Linguistic Science at the University of York, where I got my PhD. I have previously held other research and teaching positions at York, Edinburgh, Leeds, Leeds Beckett, and Huddersfield. I am interested in how our bodies, brains, and day-to-day experiences in the world shape how we develop as individuals. In particular, I am interested in how feedback from babies’ and children’s actions and interactions with others influence their behaviour and brain development. Understanding these things can help us find ways to improve important life outcomes for all.