Research Staff
We draw upon the intellectual resources of our research scientists as they contribute to research and innovation in the early childhood sector from various backgrounds and disciplines. Our research staff are actively involved in current research projects, share their expertise at presentations, advise and mentor junior scholars, and author working papers that inform evidence-based interventions and program evaluations.
Early Intervention & Prevention Studies
Raymond Biggar, Jr., PhD
Senior Research Scientist
Dr. Biggar has expertise in Applied Psychology and Counselor Education. His research focuses on juvenile justice, behavioral health, and prevention, and he has experience evaluating program processes, implementation, and outcomes. Dr. Biggar also collaborates with other faculty and investigators within the Center, in the Colleges of Education and Liberal Arts, and other University scholars as well as faculty and researchers at other academic institutions. He has built valuable research partnerships relevant to early intervention and prevention programs in the state, nationally and internationally.
Read more about Dr. Biggar and his recent work.
Kat Penna, MPH
Research Associate
As an integral part of our research team, Penna focuses on applied research that will inform public policy as it relates to early intervention and prevention programs. Penna has over 10 years of experience in health services research with a focus on the impact of health literacy and other health systems factors on a person’s ability to successfully navigate healthcare. Research experience and interests extend across various contexts and include disease prevention, chronic disease self-management, medication safety, and effective ‘low-literacy’ intervention strategies to help individuals promote, protect, and manage their health.
Read more about Kat and her recent work.
Research Associate
Dr. Saptarshi Chakraberty is an accomplished data scientist with a strong academic foundation and over 7 years’ experience of delivering statistical models for quantifying results across diverse sectors. Holding a Ph.D. and dual master’s degrees in Statistics, he has demonstrated a keen ability to apply critical thinking to contribute pioneering research initiatives, leveraging his profound understanding of machine learning and deep learning methodologies. His notable achievements include predicting the University of Louisiana at Lafayette's trajectory towards attaining Research 1 status, reflecting his exceptional analytical prowess.
Read more about Saptarshi and his recent work
Early Childhood Education Studies
Early Childhood Programs: Assessment & Evaluation
Kara Farmer-Primeaux, MS, CCC-SLP
Project Director
Ms. Farmer-Primeaux has nearly ten years of experience working in evaluative research in the areas of early childhood and education. She has previously worked as a speech language pathologist in the public school system. Her research interests include early language and literacy development, multicultural issues, and the use of qualitative methods to learn more about the social world of human communication and development. Farmer-Primeaux is involved in the implementation of an early childhood quality monitoring program in various early childhood settings across Louisiana. Her work involves supervising the administration of the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS), which is used to evaluate the effectiveness of teacher-child interactions in toddler and preschool classrooms. She also trains individuals to become certified observers using the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) tool. She works on various community projects evaluating local efforts to promote literacy for young children.
Read more about Kara and her recent work.
Brandi Harrison
Project Coordinator
Bio coming soon
Read more about Brandi and her work at the Center.