Welcome to the Mazzocco Math and Numeracy Lab

The Math and Numeracy Lab  focuses on the role of cognitive development and function on numerical and mathematical thinking.  

Our research includes studies focused on early childhood and adulthood. Our current projects concern individual differences in the cognitive skills underlying mathematical thinking; influences on children’s attention to numerosity; correlates of math anxiety in young adults; and the potential influence of numerical and ordinality skills on word level language comprehension and concepts.  

We also engage in applied research relevant to preschool learning environments and the role of family support professionals in parent engagement in early math.  

We are particularly interested in the early development of numeracy skills, how those and other cognitive skills interact to affect and predict long term mathematics achievement outcomes, how pathways to mathematical learning differ across students progressing at very different achievement levels, and what individual differences in numerical processing persist through adulthood. We make efforts to collaborate with applied researchers and to engage in work with practitioners. The laboratory has national and international collaborators and was  involved in two formal U.S. research networks. (DREME and the Early Learning Research Network).

Our research occurs primarily at the Institute of Child Development; when applicable, our work occurs with community partners int the greater Minneapolis/St. Paul communities, other regions of Minnesota, or in collaboration with colleagues throughout the U.S. and abroad.

Prospective Students

Dr. Mazzocco encourages prospective graduate students interested in joining the Mazzocco research lab team to contact her for more information. Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA) are sometimes available for various new, ongoing, or secondary data analysis projects. However, Dr. Mazzocco will not be taking on new students for the 2026/2027 academic year. 

Opportunities for Undergraduate Research

Undergraduate students interested in pursuing research in the Math and Numeracy lab are also encouraged to contact Dr. Mazzocco or apply online. Opportunities include supervised research experiences for academic credit or potential honors thesis projects.

Get Involved!

There are other ways to get involved with the Math and Numeracy Lab. Please contact us to learn more!