The ECR lab visit at the University of Cambridge
In March 2025, we organised a visit to the Cambridge Babylab of the Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, bringing together early career researchers from the R4N network to learn more about how infant development is studied in real-world research settings. The Cambridge Babylab runs many exciting studies led by different research groups focusing on early development (e.g., PIPKIN, WaM & BaM, and BRIGHT). The studies use a range of research methods, including eye-tracking, fNIRS, EEG, motion capture and behavioural measures. The visit was split into a lab tour and Q&A session with Dr Sarah Lloyd-Fox, one of the principal investigators at the Cambridge Babylab.
The lab tour was led by the PIPKIN team who shared information about their project and described the range of methods used both inside the lab and in the families’ homes. The PIPKIN project aims to track infants’ developmental trajectories from the third trimester of pregnancy to the first few months of family life to understand how the environment shapes infant brain development and behaviour.
My group started with the lab tour. Laura led us to the family room where she showed how newborn data is collected at home. Researchers interact with infants using the Neonatal Behavioural Assessment Scale (NBAS), a tool that helps researchers observe infants’ behaviour and communication cues. She also demonstrated how fNIRS data is collected at home to measure newborns’ brain responses to environmental stimuli. We then proceeded to the fNIRS/EEG and eye-tracking rooms where Maria took us through the data collection process to measure 5-month-old infants’ neurocognitive development during lab visits.
Pictures above: Laura (left) and Maria (right) describing the fNIRS and EEG data collection.
The next room up was the behavioural room. Xiangyi demonstrated how researchers assess infants’ development with the Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL) using a set of interactive games and standardised tasks during the lab visits. Xiangyi also demonstrated how to capture a “day in the life” of a 3–4-month-old baby at the home visits by showing the “Babeyes” camera, along with the “LENA” language recording device and an electrocardiogram (ECG) to monitor heart rate variability. The tour concluded with a brief poster session, where Anakin talked about how ultrasound recordings during pregnancy help researchers study babies’ development as early as in the womb.
Pictures above: Xiangyi demonstrating the steps of data collection in the lab using the MSEL as well as at home using the LENA, Babeyes and ECG.
After the lab tour, we had the pleasure of taking part in a Q&A session led by Dr Sarah Lloyd-Fox. The discussion was thoughtful and engaging, bringing up important topics such as being a woman in academia, balancing work and life, and working part-time. We also had useful discussions around career development, where early career researchers shared their own experiences and reflections. We were delighted to be joined by Professor Pasco Fearon, whose insights on work-life balance and research culture added more depth to the discussion. This was a fantastic opportunity to hear directly from two accomplished academics about their experiences in academia and gain their perspectives on the challenges and possibilities inside and outside academic life.
Pictures above: The Q&A session with Professor Pasco Fearon and Dr Sarah Lloyd-Fox.
The lab visit concluded with a social, where early career researchers had the chance to reflect on the lab tour and Q&A session, while exchanging ideas over tea, coffee, and snacks. In total, we had 32 early career researchers attending the event. We were also pleased to award 5 R4N ECR travel grants to support those who travelled from outside Cambridge to attend. The social was a great way to end the day – bringing together early career researchers from different institutions and backgrounds helps us build connections and encourages collaboration, new ideas, and growth within our growing R4N ECR community.
A big thank you to Dr Sarah Lloyd-Fox and the PIPKIN team for helping organise the lab visit and making everyone feel welcome.
Written by Dr Eirini Papageorgopoulou at King’s College London