Team
Lab Director
Dr. Irem Korucu
Dr. Irem Korucu is an assistant professor of psychology at Florida Atlantic University (FAU), where she directs the Self-Regulation, Early Experience, and Development (SEED) Lab. Her research examines how children’s self-regulation and executive function develop within the contexts of their everyday environments, particularly for those experiencing adversity. She is interested in how parenting, early language experiences, and economic stress shape children’s cognitive, social-emotional, and academic development.
Through interdisciplinary and community-based approaches, Dr. Korucu investigates mechanisms linking early experiences to later outcomes, with the goal of informing prevention and intervention programs that promote resilience in young children. Her work bridges developmental science, education, and family research to better understand how supportive environments can help all children thrive.
Graduate Students
Kaylee McMillan
Kaylee McMillian is a graduate student in the Neuroscience program at Florida Atlantic University, working under the mentorship of Dr. Irem Korucu in the Self-Regulation, Early Experience, and Development (SEED) Lab. Her research interests focus on neural development and the factors that contribute to atypical developmental trajectories. She is particularly interested in how children’s environments influence brain and behavioral development and in identifying ways to support healthy growth and resilience in early childhood. Through her research, Kaylee aims to better understand the mechanisms linking early experiences to later outcomes and to contribute to interventions that promote positive developmental pathways for all children.
Undergraduate Students
Fall 2025
Sarah Rivera-Aguirre
Sarah Rivera-Aguirre is an undergraduate student who’s getting a dual degree in Neuroscience and Psychology. She presented in the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship showcase this past summer under the supervision of Dr. Korucu. Through her experience in this lab, she has gained an interest in mental health disorders and the effects on self-regulation skills and early development.
Sofia Friedlander
Sofia Friedlander is an undergraduate student at Florida Atlantic University. She is a biological sciences major with a minor in psychology graduating spring 2026. Her research interests include clinical and developmental psychology.
Karen Benavidez
Karen Benavidez is an undergraduate student at Florida Atlantic University where she is pursuing a B.A. in psychology as part of the Class of 2026. She is currently involved in research as a lab assistant at FAU's SEED lab, which focuses on children’s executive function and self-regulation. Karen is passionate about Speech and Language pathology and plans to pursue graduate studies in the field. Her academic interests involve developmental psychology and communication disorders.
Lila Carino
Lila Carino is an undergraduate student at Florida Atlantic University, majoring in Psychology and minoring in Italian. She is a research assistant in the Self-Regulation, Early Experience, and Development (SEED) Lab, working with Dr. Irem Korucu. Her research interests focus on early brain and behavioral development, particularly how adverse life events during critical developmental periods—from prenatal stages through adulthood—become biologically embedded and influence later outcomes. She is particularly interested in examining how systemic and environmental inequities shape these processes in historically marginalized communities. Guided by her passion for developmental science, Lila is dedicated to pursuing research that supports positive developmental outcomes for all children.
Analisa Martin
Analisa Martin is an undergraduate student at Florida Atlantic University. She is majoring in Criminal Justice with a double minor in Psychology and Forensic Investigations. She is specifically interested in environmental and behavioral factors that influence language development and self-regulation in children. She is passionate about exploring various ways to teach school age children. She hopes that through her research, she can better comprehend why children fall behind academically and discover new and creative ways to aid children in their learning as well as their behavior in the classroom.
Natalie Temple
Natalie Temple is an undergraduate researcher in the Self-Regulation, Early Experience, and Development (SEED) Lab, directed by Dr. Irem Korucu at Florida Atlantic University. She is pursuing a bachelor's degree in psychology and contributes to research examining environmental influences on children's cognitive and behavioral development. Natalie’s academic interests center on understanding the factors that promote healthy developmental trajectories in children and identifying evidence-based strategies that support their success. Through her work in the lab, she aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of how research can inform practices that foster optimal growth and well-being.