Welcome to the Reading and Language Lab!

Broadly, in the Reading and Language Lab, our research explores the cognitive and linguistic skills that are involved in learning to read and write. For example, we study how children use their phonological knowledge and their knowledge of letter names to try to make sense of writing systems of English and other languages.

Other studies examine the cognitive processes used by skilled readers and spellers, with an eye toward testing and developing models that may account for these processes.

We are also analyzing the patterns in the English writing system itself, showing that the system is not as unprincipled as often believed.

Much of our research deals with normally progressing children and literate adults, but some studies have examined the special issues faced by dyslexic children and by deaf children.


Young female adult and female child read books in bookstore while sitting on the floor
Interested in participating in our research?

If you are a current undergraduate student at Wash U, head to the portal for research participation here and look for our studies, which are usually about reading and spelling!


If you are a parent or member of the greater St. Louis community interested in participating in our research, please call or email to find out what studies you may be able to participate in. 


Please note: we are an academic research laboratory and do not offer speech and language services.

Interested in joining our lab?

If you are a potential graduate student and interested in joining our lab, feel free to email Dr. Rebecca Treiman with any questions or inquiries. 


If you are a current undergraduate student at Wash U and interested in joining our lab as a research assistant, please email Dr. Rebecca Treiman.

In your email, you should express (at minimum):

  • your class year,
  • your major(s), minor(s), and concentrations,
  • our lab’s current or past projects that interest you,
  • your commitment intentions,
  • any previous research experience (though not required!).