Dr. Baldwin's research concerns mechanisms that make possible the profound human capacity for learning. Much of her work focuses on infants and young children, given the phenomenal rate at which knowledge acquisition occurs so early in life.  Dr. Baldwin's findings clarify that early-emerging social skill is foundational for children's powerful learning capacity, and she investigates learning mechanisms that in turn underlie the emergence of such early social skill. In two additional lines of research, Dr. Baldwin examines causes and consequences of a) malnutrition for infants' cognitive and socio-emotional development, and b) human behavior in the context of natural hazards, such as major earthquakes. For further information, please visit Dr. Baldwin's website.

Dr. Baldwin is not accepting new graduate students for Fall 2025.

Selected Publications:

Baldwin, D., Measelle, J., Gallivan, L., Sanchirico, A., Weinstein, N., Bala, A., Chan, K, Gallant, J. H., Borath, M., Kroeun, H., Prak, S., Wieringa, F., Green, T. J., Whitfield, K. C. (in press). Language processing in breastfed infants at risk of thiamine deficiency benefits from maternal thiamine supplementation. Developmental Psychology.

Zhang, X., Zhao, X., Baldwin, D., McBride, S., Bellizzi,  J., Cochran, E., Luco, N., Wood, M., Cova, T. J. (2024). Modeling protective action decision-making in earthquakes by using explainable machine learning and video data. Nature Scientific Reports. DOI:10.1038/s41598-024-55584-7

Weinstein, N., & Baldwin, D. A. (2022). Reification of infant-directed speech? Exploring assumptions shaping infant-directed speech research. Culture & Psychology. DOI: 10.1177/1354067X221147683

Baldwin, D., & Kosie, J. (2020). How does the mind render streaming experience as events? Invited Review for Special Issue, Topics in Cognitive Science, 1-27. DOI:10.1111/tops.12502