She studies the internal processes and external influences that enhance or disrupt development of these constructs. She also pursues a line of applied research that examines the educational and instructional practices that contribute to the emergence of more sophisticated cognitive abilities and enable young children from diverse backgrounds to learn and achieve academically in early educational environments. Specifically, her research focuses on the developmental outcomes associated with variation in executive function and memory skills in young children, including academic achievement and school readiness, and the mechanisms that contribute to the development of cognition, including socioeconomic inequality and educational practices.