About NLD Lab
Biology Meets Learning
The NLD was founded in 2014 by the Department of Educational Psychology at Texas A&M University. Led by Dr. Woltering, the NLD aims to be a collaborative and interdisciplinary force promoting biometric measures to enrich fields such as education, and developmental and clinical psychology. Our main research focus is on better understanding individual differences in, the development and treatment of, self-regulation through a multi-method approach including biological measures.
Our Mission
Our mission is to establish a leading research center applying advanced biometrics to study human development and learning. Our mission has research, educational, and community outreach components.
Research Mission
- Producing novel and high-quality research publications in the area of learning and development.
- Affording faculty to integrate bio-behavioral measures into their work to develop novel research questions and discoveries. This may create higher impact and visibility for publications and allow to play into more external funding opportunities.
- Utilizing state-of-the-art neuroscientific, psychophysiological, and biomedical measurement technologies, such as EEG, Psychophysiology, and Eye tracking.
- Stimulating interdisciplinary collaborations with faculty and students from different colleges, such as Engineering, Computer Sciences, Health and Biomedical Sciences, Education and Psychology.
Educational Mission
- Inform educators, clinicians, and social scientists of the strengths and weaknesses of neurobiological measures.
Providing attractive learning opportunities for existing and prospective students at Texas A&M, such as:
- Manipulation of various bio-behavioral measures (through workshops),
- Use of innovative analytical techniques, and
- Understanding of underlying theory (through seminars and courses).
Community Outreach Mission
Translating outcomes of research into real-world applications in collaboration with clinics, schools, and businesses.
This may lead to:
- Improved diagnosis and characterization of people with learning difficulties and disabilities.
- Better prevention and intervention.
- Optimized learning conditions through teaching or technology.
Teaching
One important mission of the NLD-lab is to help faculty and students better understand the biological correlates of learning and development. In the future, next to courses, hands-on workshops will be provided for groups of students and faculty who want to learn how to use advanced biometric tools in their research. Seminars will be open to students and faculty on specific themes related to the lab’s mission.
Contact our lab director for workshop requests and/or seminar ideas.
Seminar series feature lectures and discussions with specialists in the field of neuroscience and psychophysiology. Workshops will offer intense hands-on training based on specific topics such as: EEG technology, experimental design, task programming.
Courses
Courses will be provided for students who want to learn more about how biometrics can be used to enhance existing research and influence theory. We will offer face-to-face and online courses, as well as tutorials about brain basics and neuroscience. See full course catalog.