Angela Lukowski

Angela Lukowski is an Associate Professor of Psychological Science at the University of California, Irvine (UCI), where she leads the INCHES Lab (Understanding Contextual Influences on Infants and Children). Her research focuses on developmental processes across the lifespan, with specializations in infant/child development, Down syndrome, memory, sleep, and narrative analysis. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota (2007).

Education:

• Ph.D., University of Minnesota, 2007

Research Interests:

• Contextual factors influencing development
• Cognitive processes in typically developing children and those with Down syndrome
• Memory and well-being in parents of children with Down syndrome and transgender adults
• Sleep quality and its relationship to stress, academic performance, and health
• Family storytelling and cultural influences on identity formation

Key Research Contributions:

• Examines maternal narratives around Down syndrome diagnosis and family adaptation
• Investigates sleep patterns in university students during the pandemic
• Explores autobiographical memory differences between transgender and cisgender individuals
• Develops interventions to enhance memory in children with Down syndrome through social skills therapy

Advising and Grants:

• Mentors UCI undergraduate and post-baccalaureate students in research (e.g., Roos, Leverenz, Scruggs, Schlaupitz)
• Collaborates with institutions like the UCI School of Social Ecology and international teams (e.g., studies in China)

Labs and Teams:

• Director of the INCHES Lab, focusing on contextual influences on child development