Virginia Slaughter

Virginia Slaughter serves as Professor of Psychology and Founding Director of the Early Cognitive Development Centre at The University of Queensland, where she has established herself as a leading authority in developmental psychology since 1997. Her groundbreaking research on social and cognitive development in infants and young children has earned her numerous accolades, including an Australian Award for University Teaching and a UQ Foundation Research Excellence Award. With over 8,500 citations to her work, she has made significant contributions to understanding how children develop social cognition, theory of mind, and peer interaction skills. Her research spans various areas including infant imitation, children's understanding of mental states, and cross-cultural comparisons of child development, leading to her election as a Fellow of both the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia and the Association for Psychological Science. Beyond her research, she has authored influential books including "Psychology: From Inquiry to Understanding" and "Individual Differences in Theory of Mind," while maintaining active involvement in doctoral supervision and research leadership. Her work has particularly focused on understanding how children develop social understanding and cognitive skills, making her a significant figure in developmental psychology globally. Slaughter continues to lead innovative research projects and mentor the next generation of developmental psychologists while contributing to theoretical frameworks that explain early childhood social and cognitive development.