School of Human Ecology
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Human Development & Family Studies Future Faculty

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Join a collaborative, interdisciplinary research community

Enrich your work alongside other experts united in supporting and advancing human development and well-being across the lifespan.

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Innovative research on human development in context

We use a relational and ecological systems approach to studying human development in context. Areas of focus include attachment and early relational health, infant and early childhood development, fathers and fathering, caregiver resilience, maternal-child health, and the impact of relationships on health and well-being throughout the lifespan.

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Cutting-edge methods to solve real-world challenges

We value methodological diversity and rigor used to understand and solve real-world problems. We value applied scholarship to inform policy, prevention, intervention, and evaluation. We use wide-ranging qualitative and quantitative methods including observational methods, psychophysiological measurement, neuroimaging, community-engaged participatory action, randomized controlled trials, dyadic approaches, and intensive longitudinal design to capture dynamic processes across multiple timescales.

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A commitment to equity and strengths-based scholarship

We emphasize a strengths-based approach to studying, teaching, and promoting equity and justice. We examine individual and family development in context and emphasize the strengths and experiences of people from socially marginalized groups.

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Engage in groundbreaking research at the intersection of human development and major global challenges.

Amplify your impact through UW’s RISE initiative

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RISE-THRIVE

Explore issues surrounding:

  • Social determinants of health
  • Impacts of relational health (e.g., social connection versus isolation) for healthy aging
  • Caregiver resilience
  • Grandparents
  • Child rearing

RISE-AI

Explore issues surrounding:

  • Impact of AI-enhanced technology (e.g., social media, intelligent agents) on human development, relationships, and health/well-being
  • Child- and family-centered design and ethics
  • Developmental and/or relationship science that leverages AI (e.g., AI-assisted data collection, integration, coding, analysis)
  • Use of AI in professional training and provision of family support services

RISE-EARTH

Explore issues surrounding:

  • Impact of “green time” (e.g., playing in nature) on development, relationships, and health/well-being
  • Early socialization of sustainable practices
  • Equity and justice as it relates to environmental issues (e.g., environmental justice, green space, climate anxiety, environmental toxicant exposure, exposome)
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Ignite change. Shape policy. Drive impact. Advance equity. Become faculty.

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Our Human Development & Family Studies faculty

  • A white woman smiling with medium-length wavy brown hair, wearing a black dress, hoop earrings, and a septum ring.

    Andrea Buhler-WassmannAssistant Professor of Human Development & Family Studies

  • A Black woman, with salt and pepper dreadlocks, wearing glasses and a red dress.

    Janean Dilworth-BartAssociate Dean for Graduate Education | Professor of Human Development & Family Studies

  • A woman smiling, with shoulder-length dark hair, wearing a dark V-neck shirt.

    Larissa DuncanElizabeth C. Davies Chair in Child and Family Well-Being | Professor of Human Development & Family Studies

  • A white woman smiling, with brown hair pulled back, wearing a pink shirt.

    Sarah Halpern-MeekinVaughan Bascom Professor of Women, Family and Community | Professor of Human Development & Family Studies

  • A white woman smiling, with shoulder-length light brown hair, wearing a light brown sweater.

    Sigan Hartley100 Women Distinguished Chair in Human Ecology | Professor of Human Development & Family Studies

  • A white woman smiling, with short purple hair, wearing a green shirt.

    Margaret KerrAssociate Professor of Human Development & Family Studies

  • A woman smiling, with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing a black blazer.

    Heather KirkorianLaura M. Secord Chair in Early Childhood Development | Department Chair and Professor of Human Development & Family Studies | Faculty Director of the Child Development Lab

  • A white woman with brown, curly hair, smiling, wearing a blue dress.

    Kristin LitzelmanAssociate Professor of Human Development & Family Studies

  • Dipesh Navsaria dressed in a pink shirt, bow tie and blazer jacket.

    Dipesh NavsariaClinical Professor of Human Development & Family Studies | Outreach Faculty Fellow for the Child Development Lab

  • A man smiling, wearing glasses, a blue collared shirt and a blue sweater.

    Robert NixAudrey Rothermel Bascom Professor | Professor of Human Development & Family Studies

  • A white woman smiling, with dark blond, wavy hair, wearing a black shirt and white pearl necklace.

    Lauren M. PappAssociate Dean for Research | Jane Rafferty Thiele Professor in Human Ecology | Professor of Human Development & Family Studies

  • A Black bald-headed man with eyeglasses wearing a blue and white striped shirt and a blue jacket.

    David J. Pate Jr.Associate Professor of Consumer Science, Human Development & Family Studies | Dean’s Fathers and Fathering Faculty Fellow

  • Portrait of Julie Poehlmann in Nancy Nicholas Hall.

    Julie PoehlmannDorothy A. O'Brien Chair in Human Ecology | Professor of Human Development & Family Studies

  • A black man smiling, with black, curly hair, wearing a gray jacket and white and gray shirt.

    Quentin RiserAssistant Professor of Human Development & Family Studies | Dean’s Equitable Early Lifespan Faculty Fellow

  • Professional headshot of Alvin Thomas at Nancy Nicholas Hall.

    Alvin ThomasAssociate Professor of Human Development & Family Studies | Phyllis Northway Faculty Fellow

Future Faculty

Civil Society & Community Studies

Consumer Science

Design Studies

Human Development & Family Studies

The Wisconsin Research, Innovation and Scholarly Excellence (RISE) Initiative is a multifaceted effort focused on faculty hiring, research infrastructure, interdisciplinary collaboration and student opportunity.

RISE news at Human Ecology

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Join our community of scholars

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