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BETHANY RITTLE-JOHNSON
Principal Investigator
Professor 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.
GRADUATE STUDENTS
REBECCA ADLER
Rebecca is a fifth-year PhD student in Psychological Sciences at Vanderbilt University, working with Dr. Bethany Rittle-Johnson. She graduated from Northwestern University in 2018 with a B.A. in psychology and cognitive science. After graduation, she worked under Dr. Nora Newcombe at Temple University. She is interested in mathematical problem solving, motivation, and metacognition. Outside of the lab, Rebecca enjoys playing volleyball, solving puzzles, and cooking.
SHANG LI
Shang (Irene) is a first-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.
CAMILLE MSALL
Camille is a fifth-year PhD student in Psychological Sciences (Developmental concentration) at Vanderbilt University, working with Bethany Rittle-Johnson. She graduated from Cornell College in 2017 with a B.A. in psychology. After graduation, she worked under with David Uttal at Northwestern University. She is interested in young children's learning and cognitive development around mathematics.
LINGFEI CAO
Lingfei (Fay) is a second-year master’s student in Cognitive Psychology in Context at Vanderbilt University. She currently works in the Children’s Learning Lab and is interested in understanding the relationship between self-regulated learning strategies in mathematics and educational interventions. She is also interested in learning how educational intervention can help students' self-regulated learning.
XINRAN WANG
Xinran (Wendy) Wang is a PhD student in Psychological Science. 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.
Chunxu Zong
Chunxu (Teddy) is a first-year master's student in Quantitative Methods at Vanderbilt University. His research interests include motivation, individual differences, and positive psychology, particularly in promoting students' academic achievement and well-being. Outside of the lab, he enjoys practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Staff members
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.
JANESSA MADISON
Janessa earned her B.S. in psychology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2024 and now serves as a lab manager. She is interested in how certain factors like discriminatory experiences, chronic illnesses, and exposure to violence contribute to psychosocial health outcomes.
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
Isabella Beyer
Izabella Burghardt
Kenzy Elmessiry
Gabriel Martinez
Comfort Randolph
LAB PHOTO (2024)
END-OF-YEAR CELEBRATION (2023)
PARTIAL LAB PHOTO (2022)
IES PATTERNS AND MATH TEAM (2018)
COMPARISON TEAM (2018)
Former PhD Students
Jake Kaufman (2023 graduate; Research and Development Consultant at Premier Sport Psychology)
Ashli-Ann Douglas (2022 Graduate, Research Associate II, WestEd)
Abbey Loehr (2018 Graduate, Co-Director of Partnership for Educational Equity Research (PEER) at Metro Nashville Public Schools)
*Emily Fyfe (2015 graduate; Associate Professor at Indiana University)
*Katherine McEldoon (2014 graduate; Senior Research Scientist at Pearson)
Kelley Durkin (2012 graduate; Research Assistant Professor at Peabody Research Institute)
*Percival Matthews (2010 graduate; Associate Professor at University of Wisconsin Madison)
*Read an article about the work of these former students here
Former Postdoctoral Scholars
Ashli-Ann Douglas (2022-2023, Research Associate II, WestEd)
Erica Zippert (2016-2020; Postdoctoral Scholar at the University of Pittsburgh)
Michael Miller (2011-2013; Research Associate, Children's Health Research Institute and Department of Pediatrics, Western University)
Marci DeCaro (2009-2011; Associate Professor at University of Louisville)