Lab Members – Dr. Robert Siegler

pRINCIPAL iNVESTIGATOR

Dr. Robert Siegler

I am the head of the Siegler lab and have been studying cognitive development for more than 50 years. My work focuses on development of mathematical knowledge and cognitive development more generally. To improve understanding of these topics, I have formulated the overlapping waves theory of cognitive development, the integrative theory of numerical development, and microgenetic methods to examine learning as it occurs. my research has been published in more than 300 articles, and my students have become professors at 30 universities around the world.

Curriculum Vitae

cURRENT mEMBERS

Dr. Dake Zhang

I am a Professor of Educational Psychology at Rutgers University. My research focuses on developing assessments and interventions to improve mathematics problem-solving for students with mathematics learning difficulties and disabilities. In 2016, I received a Spencer Postdoctoral Fellowship to investigate problem-solving strategies among struggling students. I have published extensively in mathematics education, educational psychology, and special education journals. I serve as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Disability Policy Studies and on the editorial board of Learning Disability Quarterly. My work has been supported by the Spencer Foundation, the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research, and the Jaffe Foundation. Currently, I lead two Jaffe Foundation–funded projects to develop and evaluate AI-based auto-grading models for diagnosing students’ error types when estimating fractions on a number line.

Yoojin Hahn, Doctoral Student

I am a fifth-year PhD student in the Cognitive Science in Education program. I completed my B.A. in Psychology at Columbia College, Columbia University. My research broadly explores mathematical learning and performance across different age groups. Currently, I am investigating how children and adults understand graphs and how specific aspects of the learning environment influence their learning. In my free time, I enjoy reading, swimming, and exploring different coffee/dessert spots.

Evelyn Tsai, Doctoral Student

I am a second-year PhD student in the Cognitive Science in Education program at Teachers College, Columbia University. My research focuses on children’s graph comprehension, data visualization literacy, and factors influencing mathematical development in children. I completed my BS at New York University in 2022 and am originally from Taipei, Taiwan.

Yuhan Tao, Master’s Student

I am a second-year master’s student in the Cognitive Science in Education program. My research interests focus on how teaching methods influence students’ learning in STEM fields. More specifically, I want to explore theories of why students struggle to learn certain math concepts and design interventions aimed at addressing these problems. Outside of academics, I enjoy reading detective novels by Agatha Christie, Raymond Chandler, Lawrence Block and so on.

Misty Lam, Master’s Student

I am a first-year Master’s student in Developmental Psychology at Teachers College. I earned my undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Education and Psychology from Boston University. I am interested in identifying effective strategies that promote motivation and engagement in young children’s math learning. I enjoy working with young children and strive to create enriching, playful, and meaningful math experiences that support their growth and curiosity.