In this episode, Doctoral student Michelle Lifson interviews Dr. Justin Lane to chat about the process of designing, implementing, and evaluating behavioral practices in various environments. The two look into what it takes to move evidence-based practices beyond research settings into real-world environments where young children actually live, learn, communicate, and play.

Since the recording of this episode, we are saddened to share that Dr. Kaiser passed away peacefully on September 13. She was deeply loved, and her work is far from finished—it lives on through the many people she taught, encouraged, welcomed into her life, and inspired. She will continue to inspire our team, especially through the simple but powerful guidance she embodied throughout her life and work: “Love the kid in front of you." Below are links to the KidTalk website, her obituary, and a statement from the university:

Kidtalk Kaiser Lab | Vanderbilt University

Ann P Kaiser Obituary Sep 13, 2026 - Crawford Funeral Home

Ann Kaiser, esteemed professor and early childhood language researcher, has died | News | Vanderbilt University

About our guest:

Dr. Justin Lane is an Associate Professor and Department Chair at the University of Kentucky. Dr. Lane’s research focuses on designing and evaluating individualized interventions for young children with low-incidence disabilities, with particular interests in naturalistic language interventions, early social behaviors, supporting caregivers and professionals in implementing interventions within everyday activities and settings, and training pre-service professionals to effectively analyze single-case data.

For more information about Dr. Lane's work, see the following resources:

Lab website: Lane Research Lab

Articles

• Lane, J.D., & Brown, J. A. (2023). Child communication research and practice. Collaborative roles for behavior analysts and speech-language pathologists. Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 10(1), 104-112. https://doi.org/10.1177/23727322221144652
• Lane, J. D., Ledford, J. R., Shepley, C., Mataras, T. K., Ayres, K. M., & Davis, A. B. (2016). A brief coaching intervention for teaching naturalistic strategies to parents. Journal of Early Intervention, 38(3), 135-150. https://doi.org/10.1177/1053815116663178
• Lane, J. D., Shepley, C., & Goldey, K. (2026). Evaluating use of responsive interaction strategies by related-service providers. Infants & Young Children, 39(2), 120-130. DOI: 10.1097/IYC.0000000000000309

Follow Vanderbilt Implementation Research Lab (VIRL) on Instagram @VUImplementation

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As part 2 in our Singapore series, this episode dives deeper into VIRL's collaboration with the Center for Holistic Initiatives in Learning and Development (CHILD). Join four of our undergraduate research assistants—Saylor Mullarkey, Freddy Zettersten-Mansour, Michelle Sun, and Eric Eubank—in their interviews with Drs. Keri McCrickered, Grace Lum, and Evelyn Tan. In this episode, we hear more about two of CHILD’s current projects, LET’S Care and the EASEL approach, as well as learning about why our guests do what they do!

About the Guests:

Dr. Keri McCrickerd: With a background focused on nutrition and eating habits, Dr. McCrickerd employs her experience as both an experimental psychologist and learning support teacher as the executive director of CHILD. As a key part of the management team of the consortium that comprises CHILD, Dr. McCrickerd pilot's CHILD's research and implementation strategies to sustain and champion the organization's mission.

Dr. Grace Lum: Having experience in training early childhood educators, teaching, lecturing, and serving as a principal, Dr. Lum's work focuses on capacity building ​ and helped develop and pilot training for migrant domestic workers participating in the LET's Care program.

Dr. Evelyn Tan: As a principal investigator at the Center for Evidence and Implementation (CEI), much of Dr. Tan's work relates to developing, consulting, and refining CHILD programs. A psychologist by training, Dr. Tan has worked in school contexts as well as private practice and employs an expertise in children's attachments to their parents and caregivers.

Check out the Lab Website: About | Vanderbilt Implementation Research Lab

Follow us on Instagram @VUImplementation

Visit CHILD's website! https://thechild.sg/

Find CHILD on Instagram @thechildsg

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The first in a two part series, this episode highlights VIRL's collaboration with the National University of Singapore (NUS) and The Center for Holistic Initiatives in Learning and Development (CHILD). Join four of our undergraduate research assistants—Saylor Mullarkey, Freddy Zettersten-Mansour, Michelle Sun, and Eric Eubank—in their interviews with Drs. Keri McCrickered, Grace Lum, and Evelyn Tan. These interviews explore the backgrounds of the three featured guests, the ways they engage with Singapore as a context for research and implementation, and some of the work that CHILD conducts.

About the Guests:

Dr. Keri McCrickerd: With a background focused on nutrition and eating habits, Dr. McCrickerd employs her experience as both an experimental psychologist and learning support teacher as the executive director of CHILD. As a key part of the management team of the consortium that comprises CHILD, Dr. McCrickerd pilot's CHILD's research and implementation strategies to sustain and champion the organization's mission.

Dr. Grace Lum: Having experience in training early childhood educators, teaching, lecturing, and serving as a principal, Dr. Lum's work focuses on capacity building ​ and helped develop and pilot training for migrant domestic workers participating in the LET's Care program.

Dr. Evelyn Tan: As a principal investigator at the Center for Evidence and Implementation (CEI), much of Dr. Tan's work relates to developing, consulting, and refining CHILD programs. A psychologist by training, Dr. Tan has worked in school contexts as well as private practice and employs an expertise in children's attachments to their parents and caregivers.

Check out the Lab Website: About | Vanderbilt Implementation Research Lab

Follow us on Instagram @VUImplementation

Visit CHILD's website! https://thechild.sg/

Find CHILD on Instagram @thechildsg

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In this episode, undergrad Eric Eubank has a conversation with Dr. Adrea Truckenmiller. The two discuss Dr. Truckenmiller's work on the development of novel writing assessment tools, the importance of research on reading and writing within the special education field, and processes of advocacy and implementation.

About the Guest:

Dr. Adrea Truckenmiller is an associate professor in the College of Education at Michigan State University, where she conducts research on the component skills underlying reading, writing, and language development as a mechanism for selecting more effective and equitable instruction. Through this research, Dr. Truckenmiller has developed assessment tools such as the Writing Architect and the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support, which seek to bridge gaps in instruction, assessment, and intervention.

Check out the Lab Website: About | Vanderbilt Implementation Research Lab

For more information on Dr. Truckenmiller's scholarly work, visit these resources:

Adrea’s team provides research-based and usable interpretations of reading screening that actually informs instruction in effective ways: https://doi.org/10.1002/trtr.2274

Adrea’s team describes the latest findings from the Writing Architect – the best place to start with writing instruction. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/10534512251346794

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In this episode, junior Michelle Sun hosts Dr. Carrie Mason, an attorney and independent consultant who works extensively with the foster care system in Tennessee. They discuss Dr. Mason's work and the implementation of policies that better serve foster youth, including youth aging out of foster care.

Check out the VIRL lab website: About | Vanderbilt Implementation Research Lab

For more information on Dr. Carrie Mason's scholarly work, check out these resources:

Chow, J. C., Wallace, E. S., Senter, R., Kumm, S., & Mason, C. Q. (2022). A systematic review and meta-analysis of the language skills of youth offenders. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research. https://doi.org/10.1044/2021_JSLHR-20-00308

Mason, C.Q, (2016). The social maladjustment exclusion: Leaving a category of students behind and the problem with state and judicial interpretation of congressional intent. UDC Law Review · May 4, 2016. Law Journal Library - HeinOnline.org

Chow, J. C., Boyle, J., Ramos-Torres, S., Granger, K. L., (2025). Contextual and systems-level factors that influence outcomes for families of students with EBD. In F. E. Obiakor and J. P. Bakken (Eds.), Special Education (Advances in Special Education, Vol. 39). Emerald Publishing Limited. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1108/S0270-401320250000039003

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