Two doctoral students honored for child development research
| September 13, 2005 | |
| Two UNC doctoral students have received James J. Gallagher Dissertation Awards of $1,500 each for their research on policies that affect children and families.Kimberly Cobb, of the department of maternal and child health in the School of Public Health, studies newborn screening in North Carolina and how information from screenings are relayed to families. She also examines pediatricians’ knowledge of the purpose and procedures for newborn screening.
Heidi Hollingsworth, of the early childhood families and literacy research track in the School of Education, researches how parent and professional practices support developing friendships of young children with disabilities. She plans to develop ways for teachers and families to help children who have difficulty with peer relations. The awards honor Dr. Jim Gallagher, a researcher at UNC’s Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, which he directed from 1970 to 1987. Gallagher’s research has focused on children with disabilities or at-risk conditions and those who are gifted. Funding for the awards comes from an endowment established last year. The institute’s mission is to cultivate and share knowledge to enhance child development and family well-being. Most of its research and outreach services concern children from birth to age 8. # # # For further information please contact Ramona DuBose, director of communications for the UNC School of Public Health, by telephone at 919-966-7467 or by e-mail at ramona_dubose@unc.edu. |
