Adrian A
- Research Program Mentor

PhD at University of Utah

Expertise

Science eduation, education, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, learning sciences, educational psychology

Bio

I have a Ph.D. in Learning Sciences, and I am passionate about supporting students new to research! My background includes time spent doing research in psychology, biology, and science education (in physics, biology, and geology education). In mentoring students in research for over six years now, my goal is to help my mentees understand how scientists approach research by doing research! I'm happy to support students on projects focused on education and psychology in particular, as I also currently teach courses in educational psychology for undergraduates. When I'm not nose-deep in research or teaching (or sometimes when I am), I'm probably doing something related to nature, whether I'm out in the mountains of Utah, gardening in my backyard, or tending my houseplants. Fun fact, as part of my Ph.D. research, I got to help run a geology field course for science teachers in Capitol Reef National Park! When I'm really not working, I like to bake, read a good book, make ice cream with my partner, and sing with my community choir.

Project ideas

Project ideas are meant to help inspire student thinking about their own project. Students are in the driver seat of their research and are free to use any or none of the ideas shared by their mentors.

What makes information seem credible?

This project involves exploring what people use to judge the accuracy and credibility of information they get. How does the way information is presented impact how credible the information seems? Does it matter who is providing the information? Is information from personal relationships valued more than expert opinion? Design an experiment to explore how people judge information as accurate/trustworthy.

How do school start times affect students' grades?

This project involves exploring current research on child and adolescent development as it relates to sleep. What do we know about children's and teen's sleep needs? How have some schools responded to this information? Learn how to gather quality information from different sources and synthesize to make a conclusion.

How do we know what we know?

This project will explore current theories on the nature of knowledge, how people acquire new knowledge, and how these theories impact education. Do teachers view knowledge similarly? Learn how educational researchers use interviews to understand how people think by using those interviews to gather information.

Teaching experience

I tutored undergraduate student-athletes in biology, chemistry, English, and psychology for one years. I was an undergraduate teaching assistant for the introductory biology labs for one year. As a graduate student, I have mentored four undergraduate summer interns and three graduate students on educational research projects and one undergraduate student with their senior thesis project on biology education. I have been instructor of record for the Educational Psychology department at the University of Utah since 2024 and teach undergraduate classes that focus on educational theories and teaching how educational research works.