My work focuses on the development of beliefs about brilliance to address the continued underrepresentation of women across a variety of academic and industrial positions. My work posits that this pattern is driven by the combined influence of two classes of beliefs: a stereotype that associates exceptional intellectual talent with men over women (i.e., gender brilliance stereotypes), and a set of cultural beliefs that associate success in some fields and careers with brilliance (i.e., field-specific brilliance beliefs).

I am interested in how and when these beliefs develop, and addressing the early sources of these stereotypes, such as parents, teachers, and children’s media.