Rachel Katz, Ph.D., is an applied developmental scientist working at the nexus of research, policy, and practice. As director of research and evaluation at Start Early, she is responsible for providing strategic thought leadership and engaging in cross-organizational and mission-critical research and evaluation initiatives including the Educare Learning Network (ELN) and the National Center on Parent, Family, & Community Engagement (NCPFCE).

At Start Early, Dr. Katz works to advance the research design, methods, and analysis of ELN research and engages in research translation to synthesize and amplify research findings for a variety of audiences. She also leads the research and evaluation work for the NCPFCE including strategy development, research and evaluation partnerships, data collection, analysis, reporting, and translation.

Dr. Katz has an extensive background in research and evaluation, developmental research methods, advanced statistical techniques, foundational theories of child development, and research-practice-policy integration. She explores the influence of early experiences on development, including how development can be shaped by factors such as early childhood education, home visiting experiences, caregiver-child relationships, adverse childhood experiences, and sociocultural inequities.

Dr. Katz holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Bates College and a Doctorate of Philosophy in child study and human development from Tufts University. Dr. Katz resides in Concord, Massachusetts, with her husband, three-year-old son, and their dog, Reuben. Outside of her research, she is an avid musician and loves spending time at the piano, singing, and composing music. She has recorded an album of original songs and has a deep appreciation for the performing arts, with a particular passion for dance and musical theater.