Candice Odgers

Candice Odgers is a Professor of Psychological Science and Informatics at the University of California Irvine, and Co-Director of the Child & Brain Development Program at the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR). Her work focuses on how early life experiences, social inequalities, and digital technologies shape child and adolescent development. She has held prestigious roles such as William T. Grant Scholar and has received multiple early-career awards from organizations including the American Psychological Association and the Royal Society of Canada.

Dr. Odgers earned her Ph.D. in Developmental and Quantitative Psychology from the University of Virginia. Her research integrates longitudinal studies and innovative methodologies to address critical societal issues like the impact of socioeconomic disadvantage, gentrification, and digital technology on mental health and educational outcomes. She has pioneered studies on smartphone use, social media dynamics, and intergenerational effects of family interventions.

Her scientific contributions include groundbreaking analyses of the 'Great Rewiring' of childhood, linking technological shifts to rising mental health challenges among youth. She advocates for evidence-based policies, open science practices, and ethical considerations in AI and educational technology. Key themes in her work include loneliness, family cash transfers, and the epidemiological study of adolescent mental health.

Dr. Odgers has published extensively on topics ranging from air pollution's psychopathological effects to the role of home environments in child outcomes. Her work bridges academic research with practical interventions, emphasizing equitable solutions for marginalized communities. She has been a leader in global research networks, emphasizing collaboration between academia and industry to improve youth mental health outcomes.