Curriculum Vitae - Florida International University

Eliza L. Nelson, Ph.D. 

Florida International University Phone: 305-‐348-‐4894 

Department of Psychology Fax: 305-‐348-‐3879 

11200 S.W. 8th Street, DM 276 eliza.nelson@fiu.edu 

Miami, FL 33199 http://faculty.fiu.edu/~elnelson 

Academic Appointments 

8/2012 – Present Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology 

Florida International University, Miami, FL 

8/2010 – 8/2012 NIH/NICHD Postdoctoral Fellow, Center for Developmental Science 

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 

Institutional Training Grant T32-‐HD-‐007376 (Total Award: $78,288) 

Education 

2010 Ph.D., Neuroscience and Behavior, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 

http://scholarworks.umass.edu/open_access_dissertations/299 

Co-‐Chairs: Dr. Neil Berthier and Dr. Melinda Novak 

2007 M.S., Neuroscience and Behavior, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 

http://scholarworks.umass.edu/theses/42 

Chair: Dr. Neil Berthier 

2004 B.S., Psychology and Communication Disorders, Baldwin-‐Wallace College, Berea, OH 

(Now Baldwin Wallace University) 

Fellowships and Awards 

2011 Hennessy-‐Smotherman-‐Wiley Best Student Paper Award Developmental Psychobiology 

2011 NIH Travel Award, International Society on Developmental Psychobiology ($450) 

2010 NIH Travel Award, International Society on Developmental Psychobiology ($300) 

2010 NSB Program 14 th Annual Vincent G. Dethier Award, University of Massachusetts 

2010 Graduate School Travel Grant, University of Massachusetts, ($300) 

2008 Graduate School Travel Grant, University of Massachusetts, ($400) 

2004 Pi Gamma Mu International Social Science Honor Society, Baldwin-‐Wallace College 

2004 Psi Chi National Honor Society in Psychology, Baldwin-‐Wallace College 

2003 2 nd Place SURE Creative Writing Essay Contest, Emory University 

2003 Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) Fellowship, Emory University 

2000 Presidential Scholarship, Baldwin-‐Wallace College (4 years)

Research Interests 

Laterality (handedness, head orientation, posture) 

Motor skill (reaching, movement kinematics) 

Problem solving (motor planning, tool use) 

Publications 

Articles 

NELSON-‐CV-‐2/9 

1. Michel, G.F., Babik, I., Nelson, E.L., Campbell, J.M., & Marcinowski, E.C. (Submitted). How the 

development of handedness could contribute to the development of language. 

2. Nelson, E.L., Campbell, J.M., & Michel, G.F. (In Revision). Early lateralization in infancy predicts 

language ability in toddlers. Developmental Psychology. 

3. Nelson, E.L., Campbell, J.M., & Michel, G.F. (In Revision). Unimanual to bimanual: Tracking the 

development of handedness from 6 to 24 months. Infant Behavior & Development. 

4. Nelson, E.L., Konidaris, G.D., Berthier, N.E., Braun*, M.C., Novak, M.F.S.X., Suomi, S.J. & 

Novak, M.A. (2012). Kinematics of reaching and implications for handedness in rhesus monkey 

infants. Developmental Psychobiology, 54, 460-‐467. DOI:10.1002/dev20604. 

5. Nelson, E.L., Berthier, N.E., Metevier, C.M. & Novak, M.A. (2011). Evidence for motor planning 

in monkeys: Rhesus macaques select efficient grips when transporting spoons. Developmental 

Science, 14, 822-‐831. DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-‐7687.2010.01030.x. 

6. Nelson, E.L., Emery*, M.S., Babcock*, S.M., Novak, M.F.S.X., Suomi, S.J. & Novak, M.A. 

(2011). Head orientation and handedness trajectory in rhesus monkey infants (Macaca mulatta). 

Developmental Psychobiology, 53, 246-‐255. DOI: 10.1002/dev.20517. 

**Selected as the 2011 Hennessy-‐Smotherman-‐Wiley Best Student Paper** 

7. Nelson, E.L., O'Karma*, J.M., Ruperti, F.S. & Novak, M.A. (2009). Laterality in semi-‐free-‐ 

ranging black and white ruffed lemurs (Varecia variegata variegata): Head-‐tilt correlates with 

hand use during feeding. American Journal of Primatology, 71, 1032-‐1040. 

DOI: 10.1002/ajp.20746. 

8. Nelson, E.L., Ruperti, F. & Novak, M.A. (2007). Bridging Science and Tourism: A Preliminary 

Study of the Black and White Ruffed Lemur at Monkeyland. Proceedings of the 18 th Annual 

Conference of PAAZAB (African Association of Zoos & Aquaria), 39-‐41. 

9. Hopkins, W., Cantalupo, C., Freeman, H., Russell, J., Kachin, M. & Nelson, E. (2005) 

Chimpanzees are right-‐handed when recording bouts of hand use. Laterality, 10(2), 121-‐130. 

DOI: 10.1080/13576500342000347.

Book Chapters 


1. Michel, G.F., Nelson, E.L., Babik, I., Campbell, J.M., & Marcinowski, E.C. (Forthcoming). 

Multiple trajectories in the developmental psychobiology of human handedness. To appear in 

“Embodiment and Epigenesis,” Advances in Child Development and Behavior. 

Abstracts 

1. Nelson, E.L., Campbell, J.M., & Michel, G.F. (2012). Stable handedness during infancy predicts 

advanced language skills at two years of age. Developmental Psychobiology, 54, 762. 

2. Nelson, E.L., & Michel, G.F. (2011). Hand use preference and the emergence of problem-‐ 

solving ability: A longitudinal study from 6 to 24 months. Developmental Psychobiology, 53, 760. 

3. Nelson, E.L., Braun*, M.C., Berthier, N.E., Novak, M.F., Suomi, S.J. & Novak, M.A. (2010). Left 

hand specialization for reaching in 5-‐month-‐old rhesus monkeys: Evidence from 2-‐D motion 

analysis. Developmental Psychobiology, 52, 711. 

4. Nelson, E.L., Emery*, M.S., Babcock*, S.M., Suomi, S.J., Songrady, J., Ruggiero, A.M., Miller, 

M., Novak, M.F.S.X. & Novak, M.A. (2010). Head orientation and hand preference during the 

first month of life in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). American Journal of Primatology, 

72(Suppl), 53. 

5. Nelson, E.L., Metevier, C.M., & Novak, M.A. (2009). Individual differences in motor planning in 

rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). American Journal of Primatology, 71(Suppl 1), 38. 

6. Nelson, E.L., Berther, N.E., Locantore*, A.M., & Novak, M.A. (2009). The interaction between 

hand preference and hand performance: Data from rhesus monkeys and human infants. 

American Journal of Primatology, 71(Suppl 1), 49. 

7. Nelson, E.L., Ruperti, F.S., O'Karma*, J.M. & Novak, M.A. (2008). Head-‐tilt and unimanual 

hand use during feeding in Varecia variegata variegata. Primate Eye, 96 (Sp CD-‐ROM iss -‐ IPS 

2008), Abst #571. 

8. Ruperti F., Nelson, E.L. & Novak, M.A. (2008). Bridging science and tourism -‐ A preliminary 

study of the black and white ruffed lemur at Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary, South Africa. Folia 

Primatologica, 79(5), 378-‐379. 

9. Nelson, E.L., Ruperti, F., & M.A. Novak. (2007). Measuring lateral biases during feeding in 

semifree-‐ranging black and white ruffed lemurs (Varecia variegata variegata). American Journal 

of Primatology, 69(S1), 66. 

10. Nelson, E.L., & M.A. Novak. (2007). When to use end-‐state-‐comfort: The effect of handle 

orientation on grip selection in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). American Journal of 

Primatology, 69(S1), 131. 

11. Nelson, E.L., & M.A. Novak. (2006). Motor planning in rhesus macaques as measured by grip 

selection. American Journal of Primatology, 68(S1), 66.

*Denotes undergraduate student mentored. 

Invited Talks 

(2012, April). Mount Olive College, Featured Research Day Speaker. 

(2012, March). University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Developmental Psychology. 

(2011, March). Wake Forest University Primate Center, Comparative Medicine. 

(2010, November). University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Developmental Psychology. 

(2009, November). University of Massachusetts Amherst, Neuroscience and Behavior. 

(2009, November). University of Massachusetts Amherst, Developmental Psychology. 



(2007, February). University of Massachusetts Amherst, Developmental Psychology. 

Professional Presentations 


1. Nelson, E.L., Campbell, J.M., & Michel, G.F. (2012, October). Stable Handedness during Infancy 

Predicts Advanced Language Skills at Two Years of Age. Poster presentation to be given at the 

45 th meeting of the International Society on Developmental Psychobiology, New Orleans, LA, 

USA. 

2. Nelson, E.L., & Michel, G.F. (2012, June). Does Infant Handedness Predict Toddler Handedness? 

A Longitudinal Study Comparing Early Reaching to Later Bimanual Hand Use. Poster 

presentation given at the XVIIIth Biennial International Conference on Infant Studies, 

Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. 

3. Nelson, E.L., & Michel, G.F. (2011, November). Hand use preference and the emergence of 

problem-‐solving ability: A longitudinal study from 6 to 24 months. Poster presentation given at 

the 44 th meeting of the International Society on Developmental Psychobiology, Washington, 

D.C. USA. 

4. Nelson, E.L., Braun*, M.C., Berthier, N.E., Novak, M.F., Suomi, S.J. & Novak, M.A. (2010, 

November). Left hand specialization for reaching in 5-‐month-‐old rhesus monkeys: Evidence from 

2-‐D motion analysis. Poster presentation given at the 43rd meeting of the International Society 

on Developmental Psychobiology, San Diego, California USA. 

5. Nelson, E.L., Braun*, M.C., Berthier, N.E., Novak, M.F., Suomi, S.J. & Novak, M.A. (2010, 

September). Left hand specialization for reaching in 5-‐month-‐old rhesus monkeys: Evidence from 

2-‐D motion analysis. Poster presentation given at the 13th Annual International Institute on 

Developmental Science, New York, New York USA.


6. Nelson, E.L., Emery*, M.S., Babcock*, S.M., Suomi, S.J., Songrady, J., Ruggiero, A.M., Miller, 

M., Novak, M.F.S.X. & Novak, M.A. (2010, June). Head orientation and hand preference during 

the first month of life in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). Poster presentation given at the 33rd 

meeting of the American Society of Primatologists, Louisville, Kentucky USA. 

7. Nelson, E.L., Babcock*, S.M., Suomi, S.J., Songrady, J.C., Ruggiero, A.M., Miller, M. & Novak, 

M.A. (2010, March). Neonatal head orientation preference in rhesus macaques: Do infant monkeys 

resemble human infants? Poster presentation given at the XVIIth Biennial International 

Conference on Infant Studies, Baltimore, Maryland USA. 

8. Nelson, E.L., Metevier, C.M. & Novak, M.A. (2009, September). Individual differences in motor 

planning in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). Oral presentation given at the 32nd meeting of 

the American Society of Primatologists, San Diego, California USA. 

9. Nelson, E.L., Berthier, N.E., Locantore*, A.M. & Novak, M.A. (2009, September). The 

interaction between hand preference and hand performance: Data from rhesus monkeys and 

human infants. Poster presentation given at the 32nd meeting of the American Society of 

Primatologists, San Diego, California USA. 

10. Nelson, E.L., Ruperti, F.S., O'Karma*, J.M. & Novak, M.A. (2008, August). Head-‐tilt and 

unimanual hand use during feeding in Varecia variegata variegata. Poster presentation to be 

given at the XXIInd International Primatological Society Congress, Edinburgh, Scotland. 

11. Nelson, E.L., Konidaris, G.D. & Berthier, N.E. (2008, March). Using real-‐time motion capture to 

measure handedness in infants. Poster presentation given at the XVIth Biennial International 

Conference on Infant Studies, Vancouver, Canada. 

12. Ruperti, F.S., Nelson, E.L. & Novak, M.A. (2007, September). Bridging science and tourism -‐ A 

preliminary study of the black and white ruffed lemur at Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary, South 

Africa. Oral presentation given at the 2nd Congress of the European Federation of Primatology, 

Prague, Czech Republic. 

13. Nelson, E.L., & Novak, M.A. (2007, June). When to use end-‐state-‐comfort: The effect of handle 

orientation on grip selection in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). Oral presentation given at the 

American Society of Primatologists Annual Meeting, Winston-‐Salem, North Carolina USA. 

14. Nelson, E.L., Ruperti, F. & Novak, M.A. (2007, June). Measuring lateral biases during feeding in 

semifree-‐ranging black and white ruffed lemurs (Varecia variegata variegata). Poster given at the 

American Society of Primatologists Annual Meeting, Winston-‐Salem, North Carolina USA. 

15. Nelson, E.L., Ruperti, F. & Novak, M.A. (2007, May). Bridging science and tourism: A preliminary 

study of the black and white ruffed lemur at Monkeyland. Oral presentation given at the African 

Association of Zoos and Aquaria (PAAZAB) Annual Meeting, Plettenberg Bay, South Africa. 

16. Nelson, E.L., & Berthier, N.E. (2007, March). Hand preference and hand performance in 11-‐ 

month-‐old infants. Poster given at the Society for Research in Child Development Biennial 

Meeting, Boston, MA USA.


17. Nelson, E.L., & Novak, M.A (2006, August). Motor planning in rhesus macaques as measured by 

grip selection. Oral presentation given at the American Society of Primatologists Annual 

Meeting, San Antonio, Texas USA. 

18. Nelson, E.L. (2006, March). Hand preference and performance in 11-‐month-‐old human infants. 

Brief report presentation at the Annual New England Mini-‐Conference on Infant Studies 

(NEMCIS), Amherst, Massachusetts USA. 

*Denotes undergraduate student mentored. 

Related Research Experience 

8/2010 – 8/2012 Infant Development Center, PI: Dr. George Michel 

University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 

Position: Postdoctoral Fellow 

Laterality in human infants and toddlers 

8/2010 – 05/2011 Wake Forest University Primate Center, PI: Dr. Allyson Bennett 

Wake Forest University, Winston-‐Salem, NC 

Position: Postdoctoral Fellow 

Social cognition in monkeys (M. fasicularis, M. mulatta, M. radiata) 

9/2004 – 8/2010 UMass Amherst Primate Lab, PI: Dr. Melinda Novak 

University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 

Position: Graduate Research Assistant/Lab Manager [6/2008 – 8/2010] 

Laterality and motor planning in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) 

9/2004 – 8/2010 UMass Child Study Center, PI: Dr. Neil Berthier 

University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 

Position: Graduate Research Assistant 

Laterality in human infants and toddlers 

4/2007 – 6/2007 Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary 

5/2006 – 7/2006 The Crags, Plettenberg Bay, South Africa 

Position: Research Volunteer 

Laterality in black and white ruffed lemurs (Varecia variegata variegata) 

6/2003 – 8/2003 Yerkes National Primate Research Center, PI: Dr. William Hopkins 

Emory University 

Position: Research Intern 

Laterality and cognition in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) 

1/2003 – 5/2003 Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, PI: Dr. Brian Thomas 

Cleveland, OH 

Position: Research Intern (Baldwin-‐Wallace College) 

Behavioral observation of Wolf’s guenons (Cercopithecus wolfi)

Research Supervision 


1. Michelle Emery, Thesis Supervisor and Committee Member 

“Uncovering the Development of Laterality in Infant Rhesus Monkeys (Macaca mulatta) Through Head 

Orientation and Hand Preference”, University of Massachusetts Amherst, December 2009 

2. Yelena Vaydman, Committee Member 

“The Effect of Cognitive Testing on the Well-‐Being of Rhesus Macaques” 

University of Massachusetts Amherst, May 2009 

3. Angela Locantore, Thesis Supervisor 

“Measuring Handedness in Rhesus Monkeys (Macaca mulatta): The Interaction Between Hand 

Preference and Hand Performance”, University of Massachusetts Amherst, May 2009 

4. Jaime O’Karma, Thesis Supervisor 

“Head-‐Tilt and Unimanual Hand Use During Feeding in Varecia variegata variegata” 

University of Massachusetts Amherst, May 2008 

Advanced Training 

2012 Matlab Workshop 

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 

2011 Statistical Modeling Workshop (applied regression, multilevel, and latent variable modeling) 

North Carolina State University 

2009 R Computing SummR Workshop (open-‐source statistical software package) 

University of Massachusetts Amherst 

Ad Hoc Reviews 

Grants 

American Society of Primatologists Conservation Grants (2006-‐2010; Funding 20%) 

Journals 

American Journal of Primatology, Animal Cognition, Child Development, Developmental Psychobiology, 

Developmental Psychology

Professional Affiliations 

2010 – Present International Society for Developmental Psychobiology 

2010 – Present International Society on Infant Studies 

2005 – Present Society for Research in Child Development 

2002 – Present International Primatological Society 

2002 – Present American Society of Primatologists 

Teaching Interests 

Experimental psychology 

Introductory psychology 

Developmental psychobiology 

Primate motor development 

Comparative cognition 

Teaching Experience 

Primary Instructor 

Junior-‐Year Writing in Psychology, University of Massachusetts Amherst 

Seminar Topic: Primate Psychology (Spring ‘08), Conservation Psychology (Fall ‘07) 

Supervised by Dr. Elizabeth Jakob 

Teaching Assistant 

Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Massachusetts Amherst 

Instructor: Dr. Veronica Lopez (Fall ‘09), Dr. Princy Quadros-‐Mennella (Spring ‘05) 


Introduction to Psychology, University of Massachusetts Amherst 

Instructor: Dr. John Bickford (Spring ‘10, Spring ‘09, Fall ‘08), Dr. Tamara Rahhal (Fall ‘04) 

Service 

2012 – Present Psychology Colloquium Committee, Florida International University 

2010 – Present Science Advisors Panel, Wiley 

2004 – Present Class of 2004 Rep Annual Fund Program, Baldwin-‐Wallace College 

2011 – 2012 Webmaster, UNCG Infant Development Center 

2011 Program Committee, American Society of Primatologists 

2010 – 2011 Brain Awareness Council, Wake Forest University 

2008 – 2010 Webmaster, UMass Child Study Center 

2006 – 2010 Conservation Committee, American Society of Primatologists 

2006 – 2010 NSB Graduate Program Historian, UMass Amherst


Fall 2008 NSB Graduate Program Colloquia Committee, UMass Amherst 

Fall 2007, 2008 Orientation Committee Incoming Psych Grad Students, UMass Amherst 

Fall 2005 Co-‐Chair NSB Graduate Program Annual Student Retreat, UMass Amherst 

2004 – 2006 Animal Caregiver, Dakin Animal Shelter (Leverett, MA) 

2001 – 2004 Animal Caregiver and Fundraiser, Berea Animal Rescue Fund (Berea, OH) 

Popular Press and Media 

Featured in Popular Anthropology Online Magazine (March 2010) 

Biographical sketch, contributed photos, and discussion of recent article on handedness in 

black and white ruffed lemurs (American Journal of Primatology, 2009, 71, 1032-‐1040) 

Permanent Link: http://www.popanthro.com/media/issue1/index.html?pageNumber=26 

Featured on 50|50 Television Program in South Africa (July 2007) 

Spotlight on work with black and white ruffed lemurs at Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary 

November 28, 2012

Curriculum Vitae - Florida International University

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