Marie T. Banich uses brain imaging techniques to understand the neural systems that enable us to direct actions and thoughts in a goal-oriented manner, often referred to as executive function. Her research findings have been published in leading journals, including Science. Among her professional experiences, Prof. Banich has been a member of the MacArthur Foundation on Adolescent Development and Juvenile Justice, a Fulbright Senior Scholar in Verona, Italy, and a recipient of a James Cattell sabbatical award. Currently she serves as the co-Principal Investigator for Colorado site of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study, an unprecedented ten-year longitudinal study that uses neuroimaging to provide an unrivaled window on development of the adolescent brain and its influences on cognitive and emotional development.