Principal Investigator
Dr. Bethany Rittle-Johnson
Dr. Rittle-Johnson's research focuses on understanding how knowledge change occurs. Her specific interests are in how children learn problem-solving procedures and key concepts in mathematics. For example, what roles do comparison or generating explanations have in promoting learning of concepts and procedures? What early math knowledge supports later math knowledge?This research bridges between psychological theory and educational practice, and Professor Rittle-Johnson also collaborates with teachers and educational researchers to apply and test her research in educational settings.
To view her faculty page, click here (Psychological Sciences) or here (Peabody).
PhD Candidates
Shang Li
Shang (Irene) is a second-year PhD student in Psychological Sciences at Vanderbilt University. She earned a B.S. in Applied Mathematics and Computational Sciences from Duke Kunshan University and Duke University in 2022. Before beginning her PhD at Vanderbilt, she completed an M.A. in Education with a concentration in Social Research Methodologies (Quantitative) at UCLA. Her research interests focus on children’s cognitive development in mathematics learning, in order to develop content to enhance their mathematical thinking and learning.
Xinran Wang
Xinran (Wendy) is a PhD student in Psychological Sciences at Vanderbilt University. She is co-advised by Dr. Cristina Zepeda and Dr. Bethany Rittle-Johnson. She earned her B.A. in Psychology from UCLA in 2022 and completed her M.S. in Cognitive Psychology in Context at Vanderbilt University. She is interested in understanding the profound interplay between metacognition, motivation, and the art of mastering new knowledge in STEM. Outside of academics, she enjoys anime, musicals, modern art, and pottery.
Master's Students
Edith Garner
Edith is a second-year master's student in Child Studies on the Clinical and Developmental Research Track. She earned her B.S. in Psychology from Georgia Institute of Technology. Her primary interests are in academic motivation, grit, and educational psychology. In her free time, she enjoys ballroom dancing, gardening, and sampling coffee shops around Nashville.
Qianhui Hu
Qianhui is a first-year master's student in the Cognitive and Developmental Psychology in Context program at Vanderbilt. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Her research interests sit at the intersection of metacognition and how design environments shape the way people learn and process information. Outside of academics, she enjoys watching TV shows and exploring different cuisines.
Huiyu Chen
Huiyu (Jaden) is a first-year master's student in Cognitive and Developmental Psychology in Context. She graduated from Sichuan University with a BA in Education, then earned an MA in Education from the University of Birmingham in 2020. After working as a teacher for six years, an experience sparked a shift in her interest, pivoting from the learning environment to the inner workings of cognitive development. Outside of research, she enjoys cooking, traveling, and watching movies.
Staff
Shakira Abdul-Rauf
Shakira earned her B.A. from Wesleyan University, majoring in Psychology and African American Studies with a minor in Chemistry. Currently a full-time research assistant, she is passionate about directly serving diverse youth populations and contributing to the implementation and sustainment of evidence-based practices in educational settings.
Current Undergraduate RAs - 2026
- Samira Abdirahman
Samira is a senior studying Medicine, Health, and Society. Her research interests include child development, learning, and how students use metacognitive strategies to improve their understanding and academic performance. Currently, she is a research assistant on the Exit Tickets Research Project. Outside of the lab, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, playing volleyball and flag football, and exploring her interests in health and education.
- Amy He
Amy is a junior majoring in Elementary Education and Psychology. She is also in the Early Start master’s student in the Reading Education program. Currently, she is a research assistant on the Exit Tickets Research Project. Her research interests include educational psychology and self-motivation. Beyond the lab, she enjoys painting, doing yoga, and visiting glass museums.
- Katelyn Herrera
Katelyn is a senior majoring in Elementary Education and Child Development. Currently, she is the CLL's Lab Manager. Her research interests are how children develop relational thinking in math within classroom environments and how instruction can be adapted to account for children's home experiences. Outside of the lab, she enjoys reading, going out on walks, and cleaning!
- Chengze Li
Chengze (Chelsea) is a senior majoring in Child Studies and an Early Start master's student in the Applied Behavior Analysis program. Currently, she is a research assistant on the Numerical Patterns Research Project. Her research interests focus on designing and implementing evidence-based behavioral and instructional interventions to support children's learning and well-being across educational and clinical settings. Currently, she is a research assistant on the Numerical Patterns Research Project. In her free time, she enjoys crocheting and watching Chinese dramas.
- Vivienne Loigman
Vivienne is a senior majoring in Child Development with minors in Special Education and Human and Organizational Development. Her research interests center on improving the educational experiences of students with disabilities. In particular, she is interested in how researchers and educators can work collaboratively with students with disabilities to develop and implement interventions that are responsive to their individual needs and support more positive and meaningful learning experiences. Currently, she is a research assistant on the Exit Tickets Research Project. Outside of lab, she loves trying new restaurants around Nashville with friends and playing tennis!
- Thalia Nguyen-Khoa
Thalia is a sophomore majoring in Child Development and Psychology with a minor in Math. Her research interests focuses on the development of children’s concepts of math and exploring novel interventions enabling children to succeed in math. In the future, she hopes to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology, specifically on how to treat children with internalizing disorders. Currently, she is a research assistant on the Numerical Patterns Research Project. Beyond the lab, she enjoys singing, playing violin, and solving word games!
- Hanyan Sun
Hanyan (Michelle) is a senior studying HOD and Cognitive Studies. She is interested in how children’s learning is shaped by their environments, including how social, educational, and contextual factors influence their learning and development. Currently, she is a research assistant on the Numerical Patterns Research Project. Outside of the lab, she enjoys boxing, baking and hanging out with friends.
Lab Alumni
Keep up with our lab's alum!