People

Lindsey Richland is a Professor and Associate Dean of the graduate program in the School of Education at the University of California, Irvine. Previously, she was an Associate Professor at the University of Chicago, and she received her Ph.D in psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Richland's research examines the ways that children develop complex reasoning skills, a crucial tool for success in the 21st century. She examines children's reasoning development in and out of schools, with her classroom research focusing on teaching and learning mathematics. She examines the mechanisms underpinning children's capacity to think flexibly, with studies focusing on the roles of cognitive maturation and individual differences, primary caregiver language and socialization practices, and school routines. She also examines factors shaping children's tendencies to engage in higher order thinking when opportunities are available. Her classroom work focuses on mathematics, investigating effective teaching practices for increasing higher order thinking and reducing opportunity gaps. Recently, some of her work has shifted to attend to the roles of pressure and anxiety in exacerbating such gaps【Curriculum Vitae】

Collaborating Scholars

Emel Ünver Sezer is an Assistant Professor in Mathematics and Science Education at Istanbul Aydın University. Her academic journey began with a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Science Education from Middle East Technical University, followed by M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Secondary Science and Mathematics Education from the same institution. She also pursued part of her doctoral studies at Boğaziçi University. Her extensive experience teaching Mathematics at university and high school levels in Istanbul has been instrumental in her research. Her Master’s Thesis involved a comprehensive analysis of standard Turkish textbooks and teacher-generated analogies on functions for her Master’s Thesis. Her doctoral research is a deep dive into classroom analogy use in Turkish function lessons. Her ongoing research concentrates on higher-order thinking in mathematics and investigates the most effective approaches to support math learning within and beyond classroom settings.

Postdoctoral Scholars and Graduate Students

Shuyuan Yu is a postdoctoral researcher in the School of Education. She received her Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from The Ohio State University and previously held a postdoctoral position in the Department of Cognitive Science at Carleton University. Her research broadly examines how children learn mathematics, and how instruction can better support their learning. Specifically, her research focuses on 1) leveraging relational reasoning to scaffold mathematics learning, 2) exploring the use of generative AI to support children’s mathematical thinking, and 3) investigating developmental trajectories of foundational numerical skills. She is also passionate about co-designing instruction with educators to create effective learning experiences for all children.

Banu Karyagdi is a Ph.D. student in the UCI School of Education, specializing in Teaching, Learning, and Educational Improvement (TLEI). She received her B.Sc. in Mathematics Education and her M.Sc. in Mathematics and Science Education from Boğaziçi University. During her master's, she worked as a researcher at BounAdaptiveTestLab, which focuses on assessing academic achievement and psychological constructs through adaptive testing. Her contributions included creating routine and non-routine math problems, implementing them in schools, and preparing student data to assess 4th graders' mathematical abilities at the end of elementary school. Her research interests center on mathematics learning, children's reasoning, and AI in education. At UC Irvine, she works with her advisor, Dr. Lindsey Richland, in the Science of Learning Lab. She is currently a researcher on the project titled "Harnessing AI to Train Mindsets for Mathematical Higher Order Thinking", which investigates how generative AI chatbots can support children's higher order thinking in math

Ella Rose is a Ph.D. student in the School of Education, specializing in Human Development in Context (HDiC). She earned her B.A. in Education Sciences from UC Irvine, with specializations in Educational Research and Evaluation and Children’s Learning and Development. After graduating, she worked as the lab manager for the Science of Learning Lab at UC Irvine where she gained experience studying the development of relational reasoning and executive functions, and how these relate to family and cultural practices. In addition, she contributed to studies examining how to best support mathematics learning. As a Ph.D. student, she is interested in studying the development of relational reasoning and identity beliefs in early childhood, especially in mathematical contexts.

Lab Manager

Maryam Cheraghi graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles, in 2023 with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Applied Developmental Psychology. After graduation, she worked with foster youth and children with PTSD, gaining insights into the effects of trauma and developing interventions to reduce its negative impacts. Her research interests also include exploring the links between different areas of development and creating age-appropriate activities and curricula. She has been a research assistant at the Science of Learning Lab since June 2024. She plans to pursue a PhD in Developmental Psychology to positively impact children's lives and development.

Research Assistants

Ebrar Aslaner is a senior undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Science Education at the Bogazici University. Her research interests include investigating the process of human thinking as well as revealing the link between mathematical thinking and everyday life situations. After graduation, she plans to work on mathematics learning and design content that helps improve mathematical reasoning in a digitalizing world.

Janaki Nair is a third-year undergraduate student pursuing a B.S. in Psychology at UC Irvine. She is deeply passionate about exploring how early childhood mindfulness training can support the development of emotional intelligence. Janaki loves working and spending time with children, and is eager to contribute to the field of child and adolescent mental health. In the future, she aspires to earn a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology and bridge the gap between academia and the education system, bringing research-based mindfulness practices into classrooms

Dianna Rose Dominguez is a fourth-year undergraduate student at UCI, double-majoring in Political Science and Education Sciences. Her research interests center on education policy, particularly in examining how policy initiatives enhance learning experiences, allocate resources effectively, and address issues of social inequality within educational systems. In the long term, she aspires to work in education policy or law. To prepare for this path, she plans to first earn her teaching credentials and gain hands-on experience in a K–12 classroom to develop a deeper understanding of the educational environment.

Caitlin Liu is an undergraduate student pursuing a B.S in Psychology and B.A in Education Sciences at the University of California, Irvine. Her research interests include the aging brain and the impact of early childhood exposure to number sense on later mathematical achievement. Caitlin hopes to continue exploring the fields of beginning and end of life development with goals to best understand serving those populations.

Melinda Radilla is a first-generation UCI School of Education and Ecology undergraduate student. She is double majoring in Psychological and Education Sciences to become an Education Psychologist and researcher. She is interested in using learning analytics to answer questions about how trauma and stress manifest in higher education learning to support students' success. As a 2024 CP-LEADS (Career Pathways for Research in Learning and Education, Analytics and Data Science) fellow, she is being mentored and preparing to improve education. After graduating, Melinda will apply to the Ph.D. program to further her understanding of how to bring valuable changes to pedagogy for higher education students. She is passionate about serving the neurodivergent, first-generation, BIPOC (black, indigenous people of color), LGBTQ+, and underserved low socio-economic status communities.

Junehee Son is a fourth-year student studying Education Sciences, B.A. and International Studies, B.A. at University of California, Irvine. Growing up as a missionary kid, her life has unfolded across Mongolia, South Africa, and the United States; this instilled in her a commitment to global education as a force for equity, a lens through which she hopes to examine the interplay of policy, culture, and human development. She seeks to contribute to institutional/governmental efforts that advance education equity and reach disadvantaged children on a global scale.

Helen Hoang is a fourth-year undergraduate student pursuing a B.A. in Education Sciences and a B.A. in Psychological Science at the University of California, Irvine. Her research interests focus on how pedagogical strategies shape learning experiences to foster inclusive spaces, enjoyment for learning, and meaningful student engagement. In the future, she plans to pursue a master’s in Education and teaching credentials. As a future educator, she is committed to designing intentional, student-centered classrooms where students are driven by intrinsic curiosity.

Natzumy Zavala is an undergraduate student pursuing a B.A. in Social Ecology with a double major in Psychological Science at the University of California, Irvine. Their research interests focus on the intersection of criminology, child cognitive development, and education, with a goal of understanding how early reasoning and learning abilities influence behavior and decision-making processes relevant to criminal investigation. Natzumy aims to integrate educational principles into their future career as a criminal investigator to better serve and support communities through evidence-based approaches. Being a part of the lab has enhanced their skills in data management, collaborative research, and bilingual communication, while providing valuable mentorship opportunities to navigate interdisciplinary research that bridges social ecology, psychology, and criminology.

Patrisha Martinez is a senior undergraduate student in Education Sciences at UC Irvine.
With nearly 10 years of experience as a special education aide, she is dedicated to
enhancing educational practices to support students with diverse abilities and needs.
Her research interests focus on understanding the challenges faced by these students
and developing personalized strategies to foster academic success. She plans to
pursue graduate school and continue working in the field of special education, aiming to
improve learning outcomes for all students.

Pamela Castillo is a second year undergraduate student majoring in Psychological Science with plans of double majoring in Sociology. Her research interests include cross-cultural studies and the impact one’s social, cultural, and economic background has on child development and overall human development. After graduation, she hopes to continue her education in the field of psychology and attend graduate school to receive a PhD in Clinical Psychology.

Krystal Reynoso is a third-year undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Psychological Science. Her research interests include developmental and educational psychology with an interest in cultural relativity of social science in Latinx cultures and behavior change. As a current student in the UCI Social Ecology Advanced Field Study (AFS) program, she hopes to focus on how certain social and environmental factors affect children’s learning abilities and academic performance. After graduation, Krystal will apply to a master's program in school psychology and further her research experience in child development. She later plans on attending graduate school to receive a PhD in developmental psychology and teach students at a university level.

Atlas King is a second year undergraduate student at UCI currently majoring in Education Sciences and hoping to double major with Psychological Sciences. His research interests lie in the development of children and how said development affects the way children of all ages learn. After graduating, his current goals focus on obtaining a Master’s degree in high school eduction to bring education to children in disadvantaged communities and possibly research better ways to help children who need it.

Sevanna Shaverdian is a senior undergraduate majoring in Education Sciences with a minor in Criminology, Law, and Society. Her research interests include understanding learning and how a child's cultural and social environment impacts their learning capabilities. After graduating from UCI, she plans to get a master's in Education Policy and Student Affairs and later attend Law school to become an Education Attorney.

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