Laura Pires Gifford

About Laura

Originally from Brazil, Laura moved to the United States in 2018 to pursue higher education. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Industrial-Organizational Psychology with a minor in Statistics and is currently a PhD student in Educational Psychology. She focuses on educational and psychological measurement, with a particular interest in spatial analysis. Her work aims to investigate the relationship between contextual factors in individuals’ lives and their outcomes, focusing on how these relationships can change across space.

Laura is involved with the Washington Assessment of the Risks and Needs of Students (WARNS). WARNS is designed to help schools, courts, and youth service providers to gather information on the specific risks and needs of individuals, which may contribute to truancy or school failure, enabling them to target interventions accordingly. Laura’s work with WARNS involves participating in research, managing daily operations, communicating with users, and training new users on the system.

Outside of her professional life, Laura enjoys exploring new cultures, engaging in outdoor activities, and spending quality time with friends and family. She is an avid reader and loves to travel.