Jamie Edgin

Jamie Edgin is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychology at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. She directs the Memory Development and Policy Lab, focusing on sleep, memory, and brain development in typical and atypical populations. Her research bridges cognitive neuroscience with policy advocacy, particularly in neurodevelopmental disorders like Down syndrome and autism. Edgin holds a PhD in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience from the University of Denver.

Research & Grants: Her work includes NIH/NICHD grants since 2016 and a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation grant (2014) on sleep in at-risk infants. Notable findings link sleep disruption to cognitive challenges in Down syndrome. Collaborations span institutions like UNAM in Mexico City.

• Awards: 2020 Distinguished Contribution to Science Award (Arizona Psychological Association), 2015 LuMind Rising Star Award, 2018 Koffler Prize for Outreach.
• Teaching: Courses include Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience and Sleep and Sleep Disorders.
• Policy Work: Advocacy efforts include global parent group engagements and policy-informing research.

Edgin is a first-generation college graduate, born in Pennsylvania’s Appalachian region.