Welcome to From and For Students of Behavior Analysis!

written by Ka’ala Bajo and Sofia Abuin

As students, we spend years learning to speak the language of behavior analysis. Although this training gives us the tools to describe behavior with precision, it can’t be all that we practice. Should we want our science to grow, it seems imperative that we practice writing for a variety of audiences and contexts. Put it in “familiar” terms, this blog is a space where our verbal behavior can come under the control of some new contingencies and contact new reinforcers—that is, it’s a place to play and practice with different styles of writing if you’ve never written for a public audience before.

Equally important, this blog grows out of the conversations we already have as students—those late-night debates, lab-meeting tangents, and shared moments when someone’s question shifts how you see your own work. Much of what we learn comes from social contingencies such as these, which shape our behavior as much as formal training does. If you haven’t had many chances for those exchanges—because you’re studying online, working full time, or just haven’t found that community yet—we hope this space can help fill that gap. By sharing our experiences more widely, we can turn them into new occasions for learning from one another.

Our tagline, “Musings from students of behavior analysis for the inspiration and education of fellow students,” captures this purpose. The blog exists to amplify student voices; encourage reflection and shared learning; and support the growth of clear, public communication. If this mission resonates with you, we’d love for you to be part of it! Below, we’ve outlined a few of the goals that guide this space and the kinds of posts we hope to feature. 

Amplify student voices and perspectives

We want this blog to sound like us: our stories, reflections, and opinions as students, shaped by our experiences in behavior analysis. We welcome posts that share what it’s like to learn at your university, an anecdote from the lab, a memorable supervision moment, or how you’re finding your place in the field. Or perhaps you’ve been exploring a new topic that fascinates you and want to share what makes it so compelling, or call for others to explore it too. Regardless of the topic, we aim to feature a range of student voices so that our perspectives may be heard. 

Encourage discussion and shared learning 

Not only should this blog sound like us, but it should be for us. We all know graduate school comes with a lot to navigate, and so much of what gets us through it is what we learn from each other. Posts that trade lessons, advice, and small victories help keep these conversations going while also broadening them across programs and specializations. Share what you learned from a supervision challenge, how you handled data loss or apparatus failure, or a moment when your understanding of something shifted. Instructional posts are also welcome; share your tips for new conference goers, public speaking pointers, or how-tos on navigating academic relationships.

Develop public communication skills

As with any skill, writing outside of our typical academic contexts takes practice, and most of us haven’t had the opportunity to publish these kinds of pieces before. Our goal is to guide other students through this process. Our student editors will help you refine your topic, stay on track with deadlines, and polish your writing through edits and feedback. It’s a great way to gain experience in professional writing, and since your work will be published online, it’s also something you can proudly show off on your CV. We get to practice our editing, and you get to strengthen your writing—it’s a win for everyone. If you’re interested in contributing, scan to QR code to submit an idea.

Meet the team!

Ka’ala Bajo, M.S.

Student Committee Member (2025-2026) 

My name is Ka’ala Bajo, and I am a doctoral candidate at West Virginia University. My research interests lie broadly in the experimental analysis of behavior and the philosophy of behavior analysis. One of the most rewarding parts of my graduate experience has been the lively conversations I’ve shared with fellow students. From impassioned discussions of free will during class to thoughtful exchanges about how our different cultures might approach behavior-analytic topics, these conversations have been invaluable to my training—not only in deepening my understanding of behavior analysis but also in learning how to communicate more effectively. I’m excited to help provide a space where students of behavior analysis can continue these discussions and connect with a broader community through this blog. My hope is that it becomes a place for sharing ideas, reflecting on our experiences, and supporting one another as we navigate doctoral training together.

Sofia Abuin, M.S., BCBA

Student Committee Member (2025-2026)

My name is Sofia Abuin, and I am a first-year doctoral student studying at Salve Regina University in the Behavior Analysis PhD program. I have conducted both applied and translational research, and my current research area of interest is exploring variables related to effects of procedural fidelity errors during commonly used behavior-analytic interventions. I am very excited to assist with the “From and For Students of Behavior Analysis” blog, as I have thoroughly enjoyed building a community of peers, and friends, during my time as a graduate student. Many of the opportunities that I have had to explore and learn about new areas of behavior-analytic practice and research have been a product of peer-to-peer conversations and collaboration both within and outside of my research lab. Opportunities to discuss research ideas or doctoral training and ask questions with other students pursuing doctoral training has been incredibly inspiring and valuable to my own experience. I hope that this blog serves a similar purpose and allows students from different programs to discuss navigating doctoral training with their own unique insights, experiences, and advice! 

Stephanie H. Jones, Ph.D., BCBA-D

Site Coordinator

My name is Stephanie Jones and I am an assistant professor in Salve Regina University’s graduate programs in Behavior Analysis. I teach a variety of behavior-analytic courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels and am the principal investigator for the Translational Research and Applied Intervention Lab (TRAIL). As a former behavior-analytic doctoral student, my role is to coordinate the blog with the goal of ensuring that students involved with the writing and preparation process have as much power as possible.