Robert D. Laird

Dr. Robert D. Laird is professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies and associate dean for research in the College of Human Environmental Sciences at The University of Alabama. His research explores family and peer contributions to children’s social and behavioral competencies, with over 60 peer-reviewed publications in journals such as Child Development, Developmental Psychology, and Journal of Adolescence. He has served as associate editor of Developmental Psychology and on NSF/NIH grant review panels. He earned a BS in psychology from LSU and PhD in family and child development from Auburn, followed by postdoctoral training at Vanderbilt. Prior faculty positions include University of Rhode Island, LSU, and University of New Orleans; he chaired UA’s human development and family studies department before his current role.