Curriculum Vitae

Barbara T. Conboy, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow, Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences

Educational Background

Ph.D., University of California, San Diego/ San Diego State University (Language and Communicative Disorders, 2002)


Dissertation: Patterns of Language Processing and Growth in Early English-Spanish Bilingualism

M.A., Temple University, Philadelphia, PA (Speech-Language-Hearing, 1992)

B.A., Smith College, Northampton, MA (Latin-American Studies, 1985)

Research Interests

• The roles of cognitive abilities and input factors in simultaneous bilingualism and early second language experience

• The combined use of event related potential (ERP) and behavioral methods for studying the development of language processing systems in infancy and early childhood

• Early identification and treatment of language impairment in infants and toddlers from bilingual backgrounds

Research Training

Post-Doctoral, 2003-present. UW Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences. Advisor: Patricia K. Kuhl, Ph.D.

Pre-Doctoral, 1997-2002. Brain & Cognitive Development Laboratory, Center for Research in Language, University of California, San Diego. Advisor: Debra Mills, Ph.D.

Pre-Doctoral, 1996-2002. Developmental Psycholinguistics Laboratory, San Diego State University. Advisor: Donna Thal, Ph.D.

Master's, 1990-1991. Department of Speech-Language-Hearing Temple University, Philadelphia. Advisor: Aquiles Iglesias, Ph.D.

Grants, Fellowships, & Awards

Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award, National Institute of Child Health & Human Development, “Bilingual and Second Language Learning in Infancy,” 2006-present


Doctoral Scholarship, Bamford-Lahey Children’s Foundation, 2001-2002


Dean’s Dissertation Award, College of Health & Human Services, San Diego State University, 2001-2002


Predoctoral Fellowship, National Institute of Mental Health Training Program in Cognitive Neuroscience, 2000-2001


Dissertation Grant, University of California Linguistic Minority Research Institute,2000-2001


Graduate Students Present Award, Cognitive Neuroscience Society, April 2000


Head Start Research Scholar’s Grant, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, 1998-2000


Predoctoral Fellowship, McDonnell-Pew Training Program in Cognitive Neuroscience, 1997-1998


Hispanic Emphasis Training Grant, Temple University, 1990-1992