Cognitive development throughout adolescence is known to reflect our early life experiences, but which structures and processes in the brain are responsible for this? In this interview, Shady El Damaty, Ph.D. student at Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington D.C, USA, discusses his fascinating research into childhood brain development and the technologies that facilitate his work. A particular interest of the project is discerning the developmental impact of adverse outcomes, such as violence and economic disparity on the brain maturation in adolescents.