Advertise on podcast: Sensitive Periods: A Flux Society Podcast

We are excited for a special episode this month, as guest host Dr. Arielle Keller (@ArielleKeller) interviews Dr. Sarah-Jayne Blakemore (@sjblakemore.bsky.social), the 2024 Flux Huttenlocher Award Winner. Dr. Sarah-Jayne Blakemore is a Professor of Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Cambridge, and leader of the Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Group. Her group's research focuses on the development of social cognition and decision making in the human adolescent brain, and adolescent mental health. Dr. Blakemore is incredibly deserving of this award and graciously provided her time to discuss her career development, research, advice to trainees, and much more. Many thanks as well to Dr. Keller for hosting this episode!  Full transcript can be found here: https://bit.ly/S4E3_Huttenlocher2025 

In this episode, we take a closer look at the devastating impacts of federal funding cuts across the United States on developmental science and its trainees. We discuss how cuts are destabilizing training for early-career scientists and halting the vital research that they conduct. We further emphasize how scientists are organizing to fight back, and how we can take care of ourselves and each other along the way. For this crucial discussion, we are joined by Gabriel Leon, Shiba Esfand, and Dr. Scott Delaney — scientists who have each been impacted in different ways. Visit our Buzzsprout for other episodes.  For a full transcript of this episode, visit: bit.ly/49aZxoU Learn more about Grant Witness: https://grant-witness.us/ Connect with our guests: Dr. Scott Delaney (@scott-delaney.bsky.social‬, LinkedIn)Shiba Esfand (@shibaesfand.bsky.social‬, LinkedIn)Gabriel Leon (LinkedIn, Website)Connect with us on social media! We are always looking for ideas for episode topics, co-hosts, or guests. We're @FluxSociety on bsky, Facebook, and LinkedIn. 

In this episode, we chat about the exciting growth of fetal, infant, and toddler neuroimaging and their active group, FIT'NG. We're joined by two leaders in the field, Dr. Tomoki Arichi and Dr. Courtney Filippi, who explain to us the unique research questions and methodologies in FIT neuroimaging. Along the way, we discuss differences between neuroimaging in other developmental stages, environment vs. genetics, the impact of FIT'NG, and much more.  Reach out to our host: Matt Mattoni ([email protected]) Connect with us on social media! We are always looking for ideas for episode topics, co-hosts, or guests. @FluxSociety Key Resources: https://fitng.org/

 In this episode, we chat about using multiple large scale neuroimaging datasets for developmental cognitive neuroscience research. We highlight two exciting recent projects, including the Reproducible Brain Charts database and a foundational study on white matter development. Along the way, we chat about harmonizing multiple datasets, testing in multiple datasets for generalizations, replicability, practical challenges, and more. Matt is joined by two wonderful guests from Dr. Ted Satterthwhaite's lab who are pioneering these momentous efforts - Dr. Golia Shafiei and Audrey Luo Reach out to our host: Matt Mattoni ([email protected])Connect with our guests: Dr. Golia Shafiei: https://bsky.app/profile/goliashf.bsky.socialAudrey Luo: https://bsky.app/profile/audreycluo.bsky.social Connect with us on social media! We are always looking for ideas for episode topics, co-hosts, or guests. @FluxSociety Key Resources: Reproducible Brain ChartsTwo Axes of White Matter DevelopmentReproducibilibuddyhttps://reprobrainchart.github.io/ 

In this episode, we chat about strength-based approaches in developmental cognitive neuroscience and the importance of identifying and building upon individuals' strength rather than solely focusing on deficits/weaknesses. We explore how strength-based perspectives highlight individuals' resilience and adaptivity in the face of structural inequities, and the ways we can incorporate strength-based approaches in our work. Gavkhar is joined by wonderful guests who have done and are continuing to do impactful work in advancing strength-based research in our field -- Drs. Divyangana Rakesh, Monica Ellwood-Lowe, and Meriah DeJoseph. For a full transcript, visit: bit.ly/S3E4-strength-based-in-dcn Connect with our guests: Dr. Monica Ellwood-Lowe: @mellwoodlowe.bsky.socialDr. Meriah DeJoseph: @meriahdejoseph.bsky.social Dr. Divyangana Rakesh: @divyangana.bsky.socialRelevant resources and discussed papers: Communicating and Expanding Research on Adversity Network  (https://cera-network.com/) Monica E. Ellwood-Lowe, Gabriel Reyes, Meriah L. DeJoseph, Willem E. Frankenhuis; Caring for Children in Lower-SES Contexts: Recognizing Parents' Agency, Adaptivity & Resourcefulness. Daedalus 2025; 154 (1): 52–69. doi: https://doi.org/10.1162/daed_a_02123DeJoseph, M. L., Ellwood-Lowe, M. E., Miller-Cotto, D., Silverman, D., Shannon, K. A., Reyes, G., Rakesh, D., & Frankenhuis, W. E. (2024). The promise and pitfalls of a strength-based approach to child poverty and neurocognitive development: Implications for policy. Developmental cognitive neuroscience, 66, 101375. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dcn.2024.101375Rakesh, D., Sadikova, E., & McLaughlin, K. (2024). Beyond the income‐achievement gap: The role of individual, family, and environmental factors in cognitive resilience among low‐income youth. JCPP Advances, Article e12297. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcv2.12297Ellwood-Lowe, M. E., Whitfield-Gabrieli, S., & Bunge, S. A. (2021). Brain network coupling associated with cognitive performance varies as a function of a child's environment in the ABCD study. Nature communications, 12(1), 7183. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-27336-yBanerjee, A. V., Bhattacharjee, S., Chattopadhyay, R., Duflo, E., Ganimian, A. J., Rajah, K., & Spelke, E. S. (2025). Children’s arithmetic skills do not transfer between applied and academic mathematics. Nature, 1-9.Hoff, Karla and Pandey, Priyank, Belief Systems and Durable Inequalities: An Experimental Investigation of Indian Caste (June 25, 2004). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=610395Taylor, E. K., Abdurokhmonova, G., & Romeo, R. R. (2023). Socioeconomic status and reading development: Moving from “deficit” to “adaptation” in neurobiological models of experience‐dependent learning. Mind, Brain, and Education, 17(4), 324–333. https://doi.org/10.1111/mbe.12351 Reach out to your host, Gavkhar Abdurokhmonova ([email protected] | @gavkhar-a.bsky.social). Connect with us on social media! We are always looking for ideas for episode topics, co-hosts, or guests. 

This bonus episode takes a behind-the-scenes glimpse at last year's Neurohackademy, a data science and neuroimaging workshop hosted by the University of Washington's eScience Institute. Often attended by members of the Flux community, Neurohackademy is known for its fun and inclusive approach! We are joined by three graduate student participants from last year's program (Rohini Kumar, Dominique Lopiccolo, and Melissa Hansen) and Neurohackademy instructors Dr. Ariel Rokem and Dr. Noah Benson.  Visit our Buzzsprout for other episodes. https://sensitiveperiods.buzzsprout.com For a full transcript, visit: https://bit.ly/FluxSPS3EBonus Episode links Information about Neurohackademy: https://neurohackademy.org/Link to apply to Neurohackademy 2025: https://neurohackademy.org/applyConnect with our guests: UW eScience Institute: @uwescience.bsky.social, @uwescience on instagramNoah Benson: @noahbenson on GitHubMelissa Hansen: @melissamjhansen on X, @melissamhansen on GitHubRohini Kumar: @rohini__kumar on XDominique Lopiccolo: @D_Lopiccolo on X, @dominique-lopiccolo on GitHub, and  @d-lopiccolo.bsky.socialAriel Rokem: @arokem.org on Bluesky, @arokem on GitHubFollow us on social media! Twitter: @FluxSocietyFacebook: facebook.com/FluxSociety/LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/fluxsociety/

Flux and cognitive neuroscience more broadly are increasingly focused on translating our science for public impact. Yet, we receive little training to know how to do this.  In this episode, we hear from Dr. Daniela Schiller and Dr. Bradley Voytek about their journeys through science communication, which include creating a graduate course teaching SciComm and writing a popular neuroscience book. Along the way, we touch on benefits for your own science, starting small, pursuing passions, and more. Visit our Buzzsprout for other episodes. https://sensitiveperiods.buzzsprout.com Of relevance: S1E2 on science communication and equityS2E2 on engaging in public policyFor a full transcript, visit: https://bit.ly/FluxSPS3E3 Episode links:  Nature Neuroscience article describing Dr. Schiller's courseDr. Voytek's outreach and book, "Do Zombies Dream of Undead Sheep?" Upgoer5 1000 most used words text editorFollow us on social media! Twitter: @FluxSociety Facebook: facebook.com/FluxSociety/ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/fluxsociety/ Reach out to your host, Matt Mattoni ([email protected]) 

We are excited for a special episode this month, as guest host Dr. Arielle Keller (@ArielleKeller) interviews Dr. Jennifer Pfeifer (@jennDSN), the 2024 Flux Linda Spears Mid-Career Award Winner. Dr. Pfeifer is incredibly deserving of this award and gratiously provided her time to discuss her career development, advice to trainees, balancing life and work, and much more. As always, she was very reflective and insightful, and we hope you enjoy the conversation. Many thanks as well to Dr. Keller for hosting this episode! If you would like to host an episode yourself, please reach out. This is a great opportunity for researchers at varying career stages to discuss topics you care deeply about and improve your science communication skills. For a full transcript, visit: https://bit.ly/SPS3E2Transcript Connect with us on social media! We are always looking for ideas for episode topics, co-hosts, or guests.  X: @FluxSociety Facebook: facebook.com/FluxSociety/ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/fluxsociety/

In this episode, we turn our attention to research by and with people of the global majority. Children and adolescents in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America comprise a large majority of the world's population. Yet their data experiences and perspectives are marginalized in developmental research, including in developmental cognitive neuroscience. In this episode, we'll chat about developmental science involving people of the global majority and how trainees might play a role in the future of this work. We're joined by amazing guests Drs. Sarael Alcauter, Lucia Magis-Weinberg, and Gabriel Scheidecker For a full transcript, visit: https://bit.ly/FluxSPS3E1 Connect with us on social media! We are always looking for ideas for episode topics, co-hosts, or guests.  X: @FluxSociety Facebook: facebook.com/FluxSociety/ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/fluxsociety/ Reach out to your co-hosts, Andrew Lynn ([email protected]) and  Theresa Cheng ([email protected]) 

Much of our research doesn't exist without the families that participate. Community-engaged research seeks to bring those families to the table to learn from their expertise and lived-experiences. To learn more about how developmental cognitive neuroscientists are doing this work, we are joined by Drs. Arianna Gard & Kalina Michalska. We discuss the importance of community-engaged research, how to get started, and how this might look at different career stages. For a full transcript, visit: https://bit.ly/FluxSensitivePeriods_S2E7 Connect with us on social media! We are always looking for ideas for episode topics, co-hosts, or guests.  X: @FluxSociety Facebook: facebook.com/FluxSociety/ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/fluxsociety/ Reach out to your co-hosts, Andrew Lynn ([email protected]) and  Gavhkar Abdurokhmonova ([email protected]). 

Open science is becoming increasingly important in our field, yet the nuances of it can be intimidating for trainees. To think about how trainees in developmental cognitive neuroscience can best engage in preregistrations, we're joined by a renowned expert Dr. Russell Poldrack. We discuss general purposes of preregistrations, do's and don'ts, how to address common mistakes, and more! Relevant resources and discussed papers: Open Science Framewwork: osf.io The Preregistration Revolution: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1708274114 OSF registration guide: https://help.osf.io/article/330-welcome-to-registrations Secondary data preregistration template: https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/hvfmr Simmons et al:  https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797611417632 Kaplan et al: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0132382 Scheel et al: https://doi.org/10.1177/25152459211007467 Connect with us on social media! We are always looking for ideas for episode topics, co-hosts, or guests.  X: @FluxSociety Facebook: facebook.com/FluxSociety/ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/fluxsociety/ Reach out to your host, Matt Mattoni ([email protected]) Thank you to Gavhkar Abdurokhmonova for assistance with episode production. 

Graduate school interviews are  exciting and stressful! We're joined by Dr. Jennifer Silvers, a faculty member at UCLA and Felicia Hardi, a graduate student at the University of Michigan. We discuss how to prepare for interviews, what questions to ask, how to evaluate a program, and much more! For a full transcript, visit: https://bit.ly/FluxSensitivePeriods_S2E5 Connect with us on social media! We are always looking for ideas for episode topics, co-hosts, or guests.  X: @FluxSociety Facebook: facebook.com/FluxSociety/ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/fluxsociety/ Reach out to your host, Andrew Lynn ([email protected])

Join us for a chat with the president of Flux, Dr. Eveline Crone! In this episode, we discuss her plans for the future of Flux Society, thoughts on societal impact via science communication and public engagement, advice for trainees, and her favorite memories from past Flux conferences. For a full episode transcript, see https://bit.ly/FluxSensitivePeriodsS2E4 Connect with us on social media! We are always looking for ideas for episode topics, co-hosts, or guests. Twitter/X: @FluxSociety Facebook: facebook.com/FluxSociety/ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/fluxsociety/ Reach out to your hosts, Theresa Cheng ([email protected]) and Matt Mattoni ([email protected])

Applying to Ph.D. programs is one of the most important, exciting, and stressful periods of the scientific journey. To provide perspectives and tips for graduate school applications, we're joined by Dr. Laurel Gabard-Durnam, a faculty member at Northeastern University and Ellie Taylor, a lab manager at the University of Maryland and current graduate school applicant. We touch on numerous topics along our way, including when to apply, tips for building the best application, and the importance of self care. We hope this episode is useful for any trainee currently applying or considering applying to graduate school in cognitive neuroscience, psychology, or related fields. For a full transcript, visit: https://bit.ly/SensitivePeriodsS2E3 Helpful Resources for Graduate School Applications Laurel's website has many resourcesApplication Statement Feedback Program (ASFP)Project SHORTNext Gen Psych ScholarsCientifico LatinoConnect with us on social media! We are always looking for ideas for episode topics, co-hosts, or guests.  Twitter/X: @FluxSociety Facebook: facebook.com/FluxSociety/ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/fluxsociety/ Reach out to your host, Matt Mattoni ([email protected])

Many of us in developmental cognitive neuroscience aim to make a positive impact on the world through our science. In this episode, we hear from Dr. Natalie Brito and Dr. Katie Insel about their experiences translating their science for different audiences to support developmental opportunities for newborns and adolescents. Along the way, we touch on topics like facing your fears, science communication, the myth of objectivity, and the importance of community and collaboration. For a full transcript, visit: http://bit.ly/FluxSensitivePeriodsS2E2 Episode links: Center for Law Brain and Behavior Growing Up Together in Society Frontiers for Young Minds SCAAN AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowships SRCD US Policy Fellowship Program CIFAR Global Scholars Program Follow us on social media! Twitter: @FluxSociety Facebook: facebook.com/FluxSociety/ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/fluxsociety/ Reach out to your host, Theresa ([email protected])