Jane Herbert

Jane Herbert is an Associate Professor in the School of Psychology at the University of Wollongong, where she holds appointments from 2021 to present. She serves as Director of the Wollongong Infant Learning Lab (WILL) and previously held the position of Head of School for Psychology (2023-2024). Her academic affiliations extend to Early Start Research Institute, where she leads Community Partnerships and contributes to the Relationship and Interactions research theme.

Her educational background includes a Doctor of Philosophy in Developmental Psychology (1997-1999) and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (1992-1996), both from the University of Otago. She maintains active roles in editorial boards for Infancy and Infant and Child Development, and serves on the University of Wollongong Human Research Ethics Committee.

Professor Herbert's research centers on the first 1000 days of development, examining how biological maturation and environmental factors shape infant brain development, cognitive abilities, and parent-child interactions. Her work spans infant learning and memory, early literacy/numeracy practices, father-child dynamics, and parental well-being from pregnancy through early childhood. Recent publications reveal a strong focus on mindfulness-based parenting interventions, infant memory consolidation during sleep, and the impacts of pandemic conditions on family dynamics.

Her scientific contributions have been recognized with the University of Wollongong Vice-Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Research Supervision (2019). She actively contributes to the field through editorial work for the Journal of Experimental Child Psychology and service on national research committees.

• Current supervision of 6 Doctor of Philosophy candidates
• Teaching responsibilities include PSYC101 (Introduction to Psychology), PSYC241 (Developmental and Social Psychology), PSYC251 (Psychology of Abnormality), and PSYC361 (Child Development)
• Overseeing major research projects including the ARC Discovery Project 'Ready, steady, go: Infant motor development and cognition' (2018-2024) and the NHMRC-funded 'A Good Start in Life for Young Children' (2020-2025)

Her research operates through the Wollongong Infant Learning Lab and Early Start Research Institute, where she collaborates with multidisciplinary teams on community-engaged projects targeting early childhood vulnerability and health equity. Current initiatives explore digital parenting environments, father involvement in early development, and mindfulness-enhanced behavioral interventions for at-risk families.