1) If I had to describe what I do in 3 sentences I’d say…

I am a PhD student at Birkbeck, University of London, researching science and maths reasoning in adolescence. I spend my time designing experiments, analysing data, and speaking to teachers in schools. My experiments use classroom, behavioural, and neuroimaging methods.

2) This isn’t where I started out, however. My career path to date has looked like this…

I did my undergraduate degree in Psychology, before working as a researcher in both Psychology and Education. I decided that the best of both worlds was Educational Neuroscience, so I undertook an MSc in the subject, and now my PhD is in this area.

3) The reason I decided to join the npj Science of Learning Community is…

To share news, events, and my own views on topics relating to the science of learning. Also to find others who share this information, and to be part of a community where these things are all brought together. I hope this will facilitate discussion between researchers, educators, policymakers, and anyone else who is interested in the science of learning.

4) My key areas of interest, on which I’d especially like to hear from community members, are…

Counter-intuitive reasoning in science and maths, the role of executive functions in reasoning and learning, using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) with children, analysis of fMRI data, and the adolescent brain. Also general Educational Neuroscience issues such as how to increase collaboration between educators and researchers, and how to bring research to policymakers.

5) And if I had to choose one topic on which I’m especially able to answer questions it’d be…

Science and maths reasoning.

If you are interested in my areas of research, I’d love to hear from you. Please feel free to comment below, send me a message or ask a question via Q&A. You can also find out more about me and my work on my personal blog or follow me on Twitter.