I am a Postdoctoral Scholar in the Department of Psychological Sciences at Kent State University, working with Dr. Dana Miller-Cotto. I earned my Ph.D. in Human Development at University of Maryland, College Park, where I was advised by Dr. Richard Prather.
In my research, I aim to understand the cognitive factors that contribute to mathematical and scientific thinking and learning. Specifically, I examine how individuals engage domain-general skills, such as executive functioning and spatial/relational reasoning, while doing mathematical and scientific tasks. I do this by integrating methods from areas of developmental, cognitive, and educational psychology. The goal is to inform efforts in improving students’ learning, as early mathematical and scientific skills affect later academic achievement, career, and daily life.
News
- April 2024: I am excited to attend the Modern Meta-Analysis Research Institute for an intensive five-day workshop on meta-analysis in Washington, DC.
- April 2024: My undergraduate mentees presented at the Undergraduate Symposium for Research, Scholarship and Creative Endeavors. One of them received first place among Psychological Sciences posters.
- March 2024: I presented my first poster as a postdoc at Cognitive Development Society in Pasadena, CA.
- October 2023: I defended my dissertation.
- September 2023: I started a new position as Postdoctoral Scholar at Kent State University!
- January 2023: My literature review “Rethinking executive functions in mathematical cognition” was accepted at Journal of Cognition and Development. A preprint is available here.
- October 2022: Published with Natalie Crnosija (Public Health), Richard Prather, and Devon Payne-Sturges (Public Health) on “Bridging the environment and neurodevelopment for children’s health: Associations between real-time air pollutant exposures and cognitive outcomes” in Frontiers in Psychology.
- May 2022: Published with Richard Prather and others on “What does cognitive science do for people?” in Cognitive Science. A preprint is available here.
- April 2022: Received a Diversity Award from Cognitive Development Society. Posters and talks were presented on our project on air pollution exposure and cognitive and math skills.
- May 2020: Published with Joshua Jaffe, Doug Lombardi, and others on “Students’ scientific evaluations of water” as part of a special issue in the Water journal PDF.