Elisa A. Esposito Curriculum Vitae University of Minnesota Institute of Child Development Telephone: 215-888-0012 51 East River Parkway, Minneapolis MN 55455 E-mail: espos016@umn.edu Education 2015 Ph.D. Child Psychology (expected May 2015) Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota Dissertation: Neural Correlates of Mindfulness and Executive Function Training in Internationally Adopted Children: A Randomized, Controlled Trial Advisor: Megan Gunnar 2010 M.A. Developmental Psychology Teachers College Columbia University Concentration: Risk & Resilience 2008 B. A. Psychology Arcadia University Concentration: Developmental and Clinical Psychology Honors and Awards 2014 Institute of Child Development Small Grant, $1,200 2013 Center for Early Experience, Stress, and Neurobehavioral Development Seed Grant, $25,000 2012 Institute of Child Development Small Grant, $700 2011-2013 NICHD Interdisciplinary Training Program in Cognitive Science 2008 B.A. Summa Cum Laude 2008 Martha Jean Hill Award for most promising experimental psychologist 2006 Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society 2006 Psi Chi Honor Society Updated 10/30/14 Esposito 1
Publications and Manuscripts Gunnar, M.R., Doom, J.R., & Esposito, E.A. (in press). Psychoneuroendocrinology of stress: Normative development and individual differences. In M.E. Lamb (ed.), Handbook of Child Psychology. Wiley. Stellern, S. A., Esposito, E. A., Mliner, S., Pears, K., & Gunnar, M. R. (2014). Increased freezing and decreased positive affect in postinstitutionalized children. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 55, 88-95. doi: 10.1111/jcpp.12123 Esposito, E. A., & Gunnar, M. R. (2014). Early deprivation and developmental psychopathology. In M. Lewis and K. Rudolph (Eds.), Handbook of Developmental Psychopathology, 3 rd Ed. (pp.371-388). New York: Springer. Esposito, E. A., Grigorenko, E. L., & Sternberg, R. J. (2011). The nature-nurture issue. In A. Slater & J. Gavin Bremner (Eds.), An introduction to developmental psychology 2 nd Ed. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers. Macomber, D., Skiba, T., Blackmon, J., Esposito, E., Hart, L., Mambrino, E., Richie, T., & Grigorenko, E. (2010). Education in juvenile detention facilities in the state of Connecticut: A glance at the system. Journal of Correctional Education, 61, 223-261. Esposito, E. A. (2008). Attributing responsibility to rape victims: The role of traditional feminine stereotypes. Unpublished bachelor s thesis, Arcadia University, Glenside. Manuscripts in Preparation Esposito, E. A., Lawler, J. M., Doyle, C. D., & Gunnar, M. R. (in prep). Neural Correlates of Mindfulness Training in Internationally Adopted Children. Lawler, J. M., Esposito, E. A., Doyle, C. D., & Gunnar, M. R. (in prep). A Randomized- Controlled Trial of Mindfulness and Executive Function Trainings to Promote Self- Regulation in Internationally Adopted Children. Esposito, E. A., Koss, K. J., Donzella, B., & Gunnar, M. R. (in prep). Autonomic Function Following Exposure to Early Life Stress. Esposito, E. A., Jones, M., Doom, J. R., Gunnar, M. R., & Kobor, M. S. (in prep). Association between early life stress and whole genome DNA methylation. Doom, J. R., Jones, M., Esposito, E. A., Gunnar, M. R., & Kobor, M. S. (in prep). Association between genotype and DNA methylation in a high-risk sample. Conference Presentations Updated 10/30/14 Esposito 2
Esposito, E. A., Lawler, J. M., Doyle, C. D., & Gunnar, M. R. (under review). Neural Correlates of Mindfulness and Executive Function Training in Internationally Adopted Children. Paper submitted for presentation at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Philadelphia, PA. Lawler, J. M., Esposito, E. A., Doyle, C. D., & Gunnar, M. R. (under review). A Randomized-Controlled Trial of Mindfulness and Executive Function Trainings to Promote Self-Regulation in Internationally Adopted Children. Paper submitted for presentation at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Philadelphia, PA. Esposito, E. A., Mliner, S., & Gunnar, M. R. (under review) Fearful temperament in post-institutionalized children: Results from a longitudinal study. Poster submitted for presentation at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Philadelphia, PA. Lawler, J. M., Esposito, E. A., Doyle, C.., & Gunnar, M. R. (2014, May). The Effects of Mindfulness and Executive Function Skills Trainings in Internationally Adopted Children: A Randomized, Controlled Trial. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Prevention Research, Washington D. C. Lawler, J. M., Esposito, E. A., Doyle, C., & Gunnar, M. R. (2013, October) The effects of mindfulness training on post-institutionalized children. Poster presented at the Conference for Contemplative Practices to Promote Child and Family Well-Being, Madison, WI. Esposito, E. A., Lawler, J. M., Doyle, C., Frenn, K., & Gunnar, M. R. (2013, April). Electrophysiological correlates of a mindfulness-based intervention in postinstitutionalized children: A preliminary study. In N. Atzaba-Poria (Chair) Effects of Stress on Cognitive and Behavioral Outcomes of At-Risk Children. Symposium conducted at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Seattle, WA. Lawler, J. M., Esposito, E. A., Doyle, C., Johnson, A., & Gunnar, M. R. (2013, April). The effects of mindfulness and executive function skills trainings on postinstitutionalized children. In E. A. Esposito (Chair) Mindfulness in children: The effects of training studies in low- and high-risk samples. Symposium conducted at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Seattle, WA. Esposito, E. A., Stellern, S. A., Donzella, B., & Gunnar, M. R. (2013, April). Emotion recovery and autonomic function in post-institutionalized children. Poster presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Seattle, WA. Updated 10/30/14 Esposito 3
Stellern, S. A., Esposito, E. A., & Gunnar, M. R. (2013, April). Fearfulness and Positive Affectivity in Post-Institutionalized Children Shortly After Adoption. Poster presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Seattle, WA. Esposito, E. A., Gunnar, M. R., & Donzella, B. (2011, November). The effects of early life stress on physical growth and autonomic function in children adopted from institutions. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the International Society for Developmental Psychobiology, Washington, D. C. Stellern, S. A., Esposito, E. A., Donzella, B., & Gunnar, M. R. (2011, November). Fearfulness in post-institutionalized children: Relations to ANS and HPA functioning. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the International Society for Developmental Psychobiology, Washington, D.C. Research Interests Neurobiology of cognition and emotion, Attention, Executive Function, Cognitive Control, Self-Regulation, Mindfulness, Contemplative Neuroscience, Affective Disorders, Risk and Resilience in Adolescence, Stress and Brain Development, Molecular Genetics, Epigenetics Research Experience 2009- Graduate Student Research Assistant Human Developmental Psychobiology Lab, Megan Gunnar, U of MN Recovery from Early Life Stress Study Vagal Tone & PEP data processing and analysis, EEG/ ERP data collection, processing and analysis Manuscript preparation examining the effects of early life stress on positive and negative temperament Epigenetics Study Study design and coordination, data collection, data analysis and manuscript preparation Self-Control Study Study design and coordination; subject recruitment; behavioral testing; EEG/ ERP data collection, processing and analysis; designed and taught mindfulness and executive function intervention classes 2010-2011 Graduate Student Research Assistant Molecular Genetics Lab, Dante Cicchetti, U of MN SNP genotyping Updated 10/30/14 Esposito 4
2009-2010 Graduate Student Research Assistant EGLab, Elena Grigorenko, Yale University Gene Expression in Criminal Brains Brain & Liver mrna & DNA extraction. Also trained in general molecular biology laboratory protocols (e.g., DNA extraction, lymphocyte culture, DNA quantitation, sample dilutions/ concentration, E-gel, whole-genome amplification, sample management) 2009 Graduate Student Research Assistant National Center for Children and Families, Jeanne Brooks-Gunn, Teachers College Columbia University Early Head Start Grade 5 Follow-Up Coded videotaped parent-child interaction using global qualitative scales. 2009-2010 Graduate Student Research Assistant Luthar Lab, Suniya Luthar, Teachers College Columbia University Suburban Youth Study Assisted with study coordination and design for an additional wave of data collection studying the risk for psychopathology among affluent teens Moms as People Study Assisted with study design and coordination for the collection of survey data 2005-2008 Independent Undergraduate Research, Arcadia University, 2005-2008 Traditional feminine stereotypes and perceptions of rape victims Research design, study coordination, data collection and analysis, manuscript preparation The effect of priming trait constructs on goal-directed behavior Research design, study coordination, data collection and analysis, manuscript preparation The effect of mood priming on attentional bias and interference in the emotional Stroop task Research design, study coordination, data collection and analysis, manuscript preparation Updated 10/30/14 Esposito 5
Teaching Interests Introduction to Psychology, Research Methods, Introductory Statistics, Introduction to Developmental Psychology, Adolescent Psychology, Cognitive Development, Social and Emotional Development, Behavioral Neuroscience, Cognitive Neuroscience, Affective Neuroscience, Genetics and Development, Developmental Psychopathology, Stress and Coping Teaching Training Teaching and Mentorship Experience 2014 Preparing Future Faculty Retreat, Center for Teaching and Learning, U of MN Discussed techniques for developing and delivering interactive, engaging lectures. 2014 CPSY 8322: Apprenticeship in Teaching Developmental Psychology, U of MN, Instructor: Chryle Elieff Received feedback on teaching during CPsy 2301/3301: Introduction to Child Psychology. 2013 CPSY 8321: Current Issues in Teaching Developmental Psychology, U of MN, Instructor: Chryle Elieff Discussed pedagogy and instructor preparation in developmental psychology, including course design, textbook selection, lecture preparation, assessment tools, and in-class activities. Teaching Experience CPSY 4303: Adolescent Psychology Fall 2014: Instructor, 74 Students Interactive lecture format. The course focused on normative development across the adolescent period. Special attention was paid to thinking at multiple levels of analysis, by considering interactions between changes in biological, cognitive, and socioemotional domains. Assessments included written exams, in-class activities, and both short and long essays. CPSY 2301/3301: Introduction to Child Psychology, U of MN, Spring 2013: Co-Instructor, 9 students Spring 2015: Instructor, 40 students anticipated Interactive lecture format. The course focused on normative development from conception through early adulthood. A major learning objective in this course was literacy in the field, which was met by interactive parsing of research articles Updated 10/30/14 Esposito 6
and written critiques. Assessments also included written exams and in-class activities. CPSY 3308 Research Methods in Child Psychology, U of MN, Fall 2013. Co-Instructor: 40 Students Interactive lecture format. Content focused on general research methods, with special attention paid to developmental methods and research challenges specific to different developmental levels. Assessments included written exams, a mock IRB proposal, in-class activities, and research critiques. Guest Lecture, Adolescent Brain Development, CPSY4 303 Adolescent Psychology, U of MN, Spring 2014 Guest Lecture, Early Deprivation and Brain Development, CPSY 4329 Biological Foundations of Development, U of MN, Spring 2014 Teaching Assistant CPSY 4329 Biological Foundations of Development, U of MN, Dr. Kathleen Thomas and Amanda Hodel, Spring 2014 Attended class, graded quizzes and writing assignments, assisted with exam review sessions. Undergraduate Mentoring Research Advisor, U of MN, Fall 2011-present Train undergraduate students and post-baccalaureate volunteers in methods relevant to laboratory research (e.g., ERP processing, autonomic data processing, behavioral testing, subject recruitment) and advise advanced students writing thesis projects. For advanced students, responsibilities include mentoring and assisting with independent research projects (writing IRB protocols, designing methods, applying independent for funding) and graduate school/ medical school applications (preparing personal statements, writing letters of recommendation). Neuroscience Coursework & Training 2013 Pre/Post-natal Human Brain Development, U of MN, Instructor: Kathleen Thomas 2013 ERP Mini-Bootcamp, Instructor: Steven Luck 2011, 2012 Event Related Potential Processing Workshop, Instructors: Cornelia Lamm & Tahl Frenkel Updated 10/30/14 Esposito 7
2011 Systems Neuroscience, U of MN, Instructor: Christopher Honda 2011 Early Experience, Stress, and Neurobehavioral Development Summer Institute: Neuroscience & Prevention Science, University of Oregon 2010 Early Experience, Stress, and Neurobehavioral Development Summer Institute: Executive Functions & Issues in Neurobehavioral Development, U of MN 2009 Brain & Behavior I & II, Columbia University, Instructors: Andrew Gordon & Peter Gordon Professional Training 2013 Early Experience, Stress, and Neurobehavioral Development Summer Institute: Epigenetics of Early Life, University of Maryland 2012 CPSY 8360: Grant Writing Seminar, U of MN, Instructors: Megan Gunnar, Ph.D.; Stephanie Carlson, Ph.D. 2011-2013 NICHD Interdisciplinary Training Program in Cognitive Science Professional Activities Ad-Hoc Reviewer Journal of Learning and Individual Differences Journal of Adolescence Small Grants Committee Member, Fall 2012-Spring 2013 Evaluated applications for research funding from graduate students at the Institute of Child Development. Professional Societies International Society for Developmental Psychobiology Society for Research in Child Development Center for Neurobehavioral Development Center for Cognitive Sciences Updated 10/30/14 Esposito 8
Megan Gunnar Institute of Child Development University of Minnesota 51 East River Rd. Minneapolis MN 612-624-2713 gunnar@umn.edu References Kathleen Thomas Institute of Child Development University of Minnesota 51 East River Rd. Minneapolis MN 612-625-3389 thoma114@umn.edu Chryle Elieff Institute of Child Development University of Minnesota 51 East River Rd. Minneapolis MN 612-624-2062 elief001@umn.edu Updated 10/30/14 Esposito 9