OUR RESEARCH GROUP

Michelle is the Principle Investigator of the Science Thinking Research. Her scientific interests in cognitive science, neuroscience, cognitive development and education are the reason why we are all here. She's often heard telling people that INSTRUCT exists because of her own excitement about the science of cognition and her desire to work with teachers/schools so that our children can be empowered by an education that is improved by research about what makes learning most exciting and successful. See Michelle's profiles with The Faculty of Education webpage and Cambridge Neuroscience or download a copy of her recent curriculum vitae. In addition to her research, she is a bye-fellow, undergraduate tutor and Director of Studies for Education at Gonville and Caius College.

Rui is a PhD student under the supervision of Prof Michelle Ellefson. She obtained her BA in International Liberal Art at Waseda University (Japan) and MPhil in Education and Psychology at University of Cambridge. Her research focuses on investigating the role of executive functions in the suppression of naïve science misconceptions using quantitative research methods. Her research topic as important meaning for understanding science education and pedagogy design. In addition, she has interests on psycholinguistic and social psychology. Rui is funded by Cambridge Trust-CSC scholarship. 

After completion of an Mphil in Psychology and Education in Cambridge, Lei is pursuing a PhD in the same field of study. She is fascinated about cognitive science and its potential in informing educational strategies and interventions. In particular, she is interested to investigate the association between domain-general cognitive skills and academic outcomes. Lei's research project focuses on the specific role of cognitive flexibility or shifting – a component of executive functioning – in mathematics achievement. A cross-cultural comparison will be conducted to explore the universality versus cultural specificity of the interplay between shifting and mathematics skills.

Konstantinos holds a BSc in Physics and a MSc in Educational Planning and Teaching both awarded from the University of Athens. Ηe is currently studying for a PhD in Education, under the supervision of Professor Michelle R. Ellefson. His research focuses on investigating executive functions and their role in science learning. He has been teaching Physics to senior High School students for almost 15 years, preparing them for their National Physics examinations. Through his research, Konstantinos aims to utilize all the experience he has gained from his engagement with students' University entrance examinations to enhance both students' problem-solving skills and their ability to face challenging academic events. Konstantinos is supported by a grant of the A.G. Leventis Foundation.

Jiayin is a PhD student under the supervision of Prof Michelle Ellefson who is the PI of the Cognition and Science Thinking project. Her research focuses on the direct and indirect impacts of urbanicity and socioeconomic status on preschoolers’ executive function, and whether the impacts are mediated by the quality of teacher-child relationship and teacher-child interaction in schools. She is interested in conducting quantitative research to examine the association between school context and children’s early-stage cognitive development and inform educational practices and policymaking accordingly.

Chang Liu is a postgraduate student reading MPhil Research in Second Language Education at the University of Cambridge. She is interested in sociolinguistics and ESL/EFL education with a special focus on language investment, linguistic identity, informal learning, digital literacies, and social inequalities. Her current research explores the role of digital technologies in shaping disadvantaged Chinese EFL learners’ language investment and identity constructions. Prior to her master’s studies, she completed a BA in Education Studies from University College London, where she examined Chinese international students’ ESL investment in the context of multilingual Singapore.