Each year, the Institute of Child Development (ICD) awards the Anne D. Pick Award for an Outstanding Developmental Psychology Senior. The award honors ICD Professor Emeritus Anne Pick’s commitment to undergraduate students and their education. Students chosen for the award demonstrate excellence in both research and academics in the area of child development.

In 2020, ICD honored two students with the Anne Pick Award. One of this year’s recipients is Sophie Richardson. Currently, Richardson is involved in creativity and executive function research in the Developmental Social Cognitive Neuroscience Lab, co-directed by ICD Professors Stephanie M. Carlson and Philip D. Zelazo. She also serves as co-president of the Child Psychology Student Organization. After completing her undergraduate degree, she plans to seek a year-long fellowship to gain additional experience with research and clinical practice before pursuing a PhD in pediatric clinical neuropsychology.

What made you want to study developmental psychology?

I have always been interested in why people think the way that they do and how that influences their actions; however, I didn’t discover developmental psychology until college. I learned about the major through an event for discovering majors my freshman year which influenced me to take the introduction course. I was immediately interested in the material and wanted to be more involved. The rest is history!

What kind of research are you involved in?

I am involved in creativity and executive function research in the Developmental Social Cognitive Neuroscience Lab at ICD.

What do you find most interesting about child development?

The most interesting thing about child development is how much it influences all other kinds of research and progress. Child development strongly influences child rearing, schooling, parenting, and a number of other areas.

What are your plans for after graduation?

I am taking a gap year before pursuing my PhD to practice pediatric clinical neuropsychology. For my gap year, I hope to gain additional experience with research and clinical practice. 

How would you describe your experience at ICD?

My experience at ICD has been nothing short of wonderful. I have always felt welcomed and invited by my peers and professors. Most importantly, I have felt supported through every endeavor that I have pursued.