Graduate Student Spotlight: Camila Saldias-Manieu

As an undergraduate alumna of the Schmidt College of Science, Camila Saldias-Manieu, B.S. and B.A. ‘18, knew first-hand how supportive and inspiring the college’s professors were. After spending a few years in the workforce, she began volunteering in Florida Atlantic University’s WAVES Emotion Lab, directed by Nancy Jones, Ph.D., professor of psychology and biomedical science, where she immediately connected with the research taking place.  

“The population we were studying, combined with the fantastic team—especially with Samantha Gott [lab manager] and Dr. Jones— felt completely aligned with what I was looking for,” recalled Saldias-Manieu. “Continuing my education was something I had been considering, and after some great conversations with them, everything fell into place.” 

Saldias-Manieu has proudly returned to her alma mater, where she is pursuing a Ph.D. in experimental psychology, with a concentration in developmental and behavioral neuroscience. Currently, she is involved in the Baby BEAR Study, which investigates factors that contribute to risk and resilience in early childhood development.  

The study focuses on measuring these factors through electroencephalogram (EEG), temperament and maternal sensitivity, among others. Saldias-Manieu shared she has always been interested in the neural and biological mechanisms behind emotion and stress regulation and how these processes begin to develop in infancy.  

“What makes this research especially meaningful to me is the opportunity to support mothers and young children,” expressed Saldias-Manieu. “Mothers often receive limited support in our society, despite playing one of the most important roles—nurturing the next generation. Through this work, I hope to contribute to a better understanding of early development and help equip mothers and infants with the tools they need for emotional resilience and lifelong wellness.” 

The goal of Saldias-Manieu’s project aims to inform early prevention and intervention efforts by identifying markers of anxiety risk in infancy. By understanding how brain activity, temperament and maternal sensitivity shape early emotion regulation, researchers can help develop more effective, lower-cost supports for families—ideally before maladaptive patterns take hold. Early guidance for caregivers, such as in primary care settings, could reduce the long-term burden of childhood anxiety and improve developmental outcomes. 

“Dr. Jones has been an incredibly supportive and empowering mentor,” said Saldias-Manieu. “She is deeply committed to helping her students reach their goals, and she always provides the tools, resources and encouragement we need to succeed. Dr. Jones actively connects us with other researchers and community partners, and she fosters collaboration across disciplines. Overall, it has been a privilege to learn from and work alongside her!” 

Following her anticipated graduation in spring 2029, Saldias-Manieu aspires to work at the intersection of developmental science, neuropsychology, education and nonprofit work—especially in roles that support infants, young children and their families.  

“I am excited about future opportunities that will allow me to bridge the gap between research and real-world impact, particularly in ways that support mothers and children in their development,” noted Saldias-Manieu.