Faculty in Residence
Cowlings & Ilium Residential Colleges
Professor of Psychology
Email: Lbaker@usc.edu
Phone: 213.740.2261
Education:
BA, MA, PhD
Bio + Fun Facts:
Laura is a Professor of Psychology at USC, where she does research on the gene-environment interplay in human behavior. She directs a large-scale longitudinal study of twins on the development of externalizing problems including aggression and antisocial behavior. She teaches courses in Behavioral Genetics, Human Sexuality, Multivariate Statistics and Contemplative Neuroscience, and is a member of the Centers for Mindful Science and Addiction Research at USC. Laura is also a Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher, and teaches yoga in the USC Religious Center, as well as in the residence halls. Laura brings her dual interests in contemporary Psychology and Eastern contemplative practices into the classroom in undergraduate courses in Contemplative Neuroscience, to both Freshman (through a GE Life Sciences Seminar) and upper division undergraduates in Psychology. She lives in Cowlings-Ilium along with her cat, Sophie, and her grown children who visit or live periodically. As a Faculty in Residence, Laura enjoys hosting cooking classes and book clubs with residents, teaching yoga, and taking them off campus to explore the rich art and culture of Los Angeles.