Lecturer, School of Behavioural, Cognitive and Social Sciences, University of New England Dr Coventry research is primarily in quantitative genetics: using twin and family studies to tease apart the influence of genes and the environment in explaining individual differences. Current research is on the NAPLAN tests (school assessments of literacy and numeracy): assessing if individual differences on these tests are genetic or environmental in origin. Previous research involved in researching all aspects of literacy in young children (i.e. prior to and during the early years of school) and their environmental correlates and interactions. As a by-product of this research, research was conducted in the genetic and environmental etiology of second language acquisition.