Maria Arredondo

Maria Arredondo is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences at the University of Texas at Austin’s College of Liberal Arts. She directs the ChiLLDS Lab (Child Language Learning and Development Studies), where she investigates language acquisition, bilingualism, and cognitive development in infants and children using neuroimaging (fNIRS), behavioral experiments, and qualitative methods. Her work emphasizes cultural influences on learning and aims to support multilingual children’s academic success.

She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Michigan.

Her research explores:

• How bilingualism shapes cognitive and neural networks in developing brains
• The impact of sociocultural contexts on language learning
• Disparities in bilingual proficiency among children
• Neurodevelopmental mechanisms underpinning attention and executive function

Her recent articles (2019–2025) cluster in bilingual cognition, cultural neuroscience, and developmental equity. Predominant themes include:

• Neural plasticity in bilingual infants/children
• Cognitive effects of discrimination and cultural stressors
• Methodological advances in pediatric neuroimaging
• Cross-cultural differences in executive function

She leads the ChiLLDS Lab, focusing on child-friendly experimental paradigms and fNIRS to study real-time brain activity during language tasks. The lab prioritizes inclusive research with diverse populations.