معرفی
Stephanie N. Del Tufo is an Assistant Professor in the School of Education and the Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Graduate Program at the University of Delaware. Her research focuses on the neurocognitive basis of learning, language, and literacy across the lifespan, with a particular emphasis on addressing educational equity through individualized approaches. She leads the Developmental and Aging Neuroscience Laboratory, investigating how biological and contextual factors (e.g., socioeconomic status) influence learning outcomes in children, adults, and aging populations.
Education:
- Ph.D., Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut (2016)
- M.A., Psychology, University of Connecticut (2015)
- B.A., Neuroscience and Chemistry, Smith College (2008)
Research Interests: Del Tufo’s work bridges neuroscience and education, exploring how neurocognitive mechanisms underpin learning differences. Key areas include:
- The role of declarative memory in math skills
- Neural networks supporting multilingual reading
- Impact of socioeconomic factors on literacy and numeracy
- Developmental trajectories in neurofibromatosis type 1
- Asset-based approaches for adoptees’ academic success
Grants & Awards:
- PI: NIH/NICHD Grant (2021–2023) on the neurobiology of reading compensation
- Spencer Foundation Grant (2021–2023) on racial equity and time-series methods
- Co-I: NIH/NICHD Grant (2019–2028) on executive function and academic achievement
- Recipient of the Isabelle Y. Liberman Award (2016) and David Zeaman Memorial Award (2016)
Labs & Collaborations: Her Developmental and Aging Neuroscience Laboratory employs interdisciplinary methods, collaborating with institutions like Vanderbilt Brain Institute and MIT. Current projects include VR-based navigation studies for neurofibromatosis and explorations of heritage language learners’ math skills.
