Leslie Andrade

Hello! I joined the DESC Lab in the Fall of 2021 to deepen my knowledge of children’s development and gain professional research experience. As an elementary school academic tutor and paraeducator aspiring to become a pediatric Occupational Therapist, understanding the contexts and factors that influence children’s self-regulation and behaviors is crucial for empathizing with and supporting the families I work with now and in the future. The insight and first-hand experiences I’ve gained through working on various lab projects, such as the California Babies Project (CBP) and the Yolo County Basic Income (YOBI) Project, have further prepared me for the challenges of graduate school and the professional world that are to come. In the Spring of 2024, I also had the opportunity to co-present a research abstract and poster, developed from CBP data, at the Western Psychological Association Annual Convention. I am thankful for the supportive culture that is fostered in this lab and for the meaningful connections I have developed with my research peers and mentors. In my free time, I enjoy running, watching Chargers football, listening to music, and spending time with family and friends!