Zachary Hawes
Lab Director
Zack Hawes holds a PhD in Cognitive, Developmental, and Brain Sciences from Western University. Zack's primary research interests involve studying the relation between spatial thinking and mathematics (and the other STEM disciplines) and how to use this knowledge to design more accessible and engaging learning opportunities. Zack has also worked closely with educational industry partners, such as TVO, and consulted for large-scale organizations, such as the Ontario Ministry of Education. Zack's hobbies include painting, running, and playing basketball.
Xia (Emily) Yang
PhD Candidate
Developmental Psychology and Education
Xia (Emily) Yang is a PhD student in the Developmental Psychology and Education program at OISE. She holds a Master of Mathematics from the University of Waterloo and a Master of Science from the University of Pennsylvania. With approximately seven years of teaching mathematics in Shanghai, she developed a bilingual mathematics curriculum that integrates the strengths of both Shanghai mathematics and the US Common Core Standards. Beyond curriculum design, she has a passion for teaching Mathematics Competitions like the AMC. Her research focuses on developing students' advanced mathematical thinking by exploring strategies that enhance logical reasoning, problem-solving, abstraction, and generalization. Personal Website
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Jessica Shapiro
Jessica is a M.A. student in School and Clinical Child Psychology at OISE. As an aspiring School Psychologist, she wants to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children, youth, and families. Her research interests include the development of mathematics and identifying factors that affect children's mathematical development. For her Master's thesis, she will examine the role of spatial thinking and reasoning in children with and without learning disabilities in mathematics, aiming to better understand how cognitive factors, such as spatial skills, contribute to the development of mathematics. Jessica's hobbies include baking, yoga, and playing guitar.
MA Candidate
School and Clinical Child Psychology
Haoyi Wang is a PhD student in the Developmental Psychology and Education program at OISE. She holds a Master of Education from Harvard Graduate School of Education and a Bachelor of Mathematics from Carleton College. Her research focuses on mathematical problem-solving. In particular, she is intellectually curious about the abstraction of mathematical structures, psychological, and conative factors that explain individual differences in mathematical competence, and the broader social context of mathematical learning. Personal Website / LinkedIn
Haoyi Wang
PhD Candidate
Developmental Psychology and Education
Collaborative Specialization in Neuroscience
Zeyana Ayesha Musthafa
Zeyana holds a BA in Computer Science from the University of California, Berkeley. She has worked as a software engineer and math content developer, and has independently developed educational games to support middle school math learning. Her research interests include virtual manipulatives, technology-based math interventions, and the role of spatial thinking in mathematical understanding. In her free time, Zeyana enjoys watching video essays, playing video games, and weightlifting. Personal Website
Researcher/Educational Technology Consultant
Tanya Kaur Talwar
Researcher/Lab Manager
Tanya Kaur Talwar is a fourth-year undergraduate Lester B. Pearson Scholar at the University of Toronto, Scarborough. Tanya is a budding cognitive psychologist and researcher currently pursuing her undergraduate degree specializing in Psychology and a Minor in Applied Statistics. She is interested in research lying at the intersection of cognitive psychology and educational psychology. Her previous research endeavors have involved identifying spatial abilities in scholastically classified slow learners. Tanya is motivated to research and understand the cognitive developmental trajectory of young children and aims to utilize her findings to positively impact educational practices. Outside of research, Tanya enjoys playing badminton, singing, and exploring new dessert spots in Toronto.
Lauren Gainsbrook
Lauren is a Master of Arts student in Curriculum and Pedagogy at OISE. She holds a Bachelor of Education from Queen's University and has taught in schools worldwide since 2011. As an Ontario College of Teachers Mathematics Specialist, she has focused her career on personalizing elementary mathematics instruction and assessment to create more equitable and engaging learning experiences. Lauren's research interests include mathematics anxiety and identity, enacted curriculum, and assessment. When she is not deep into mathematics research, Lauren is often found at the climbing gym, the hockey arena, or exploring new coffee shops around Toronto.
Researcher
Kimia is currently a master's student in the developmental psychology and education program. She is interested in children's understanding of probability and sample space. Kimia also has years of experience with children as a private math tutor and calligraphy teacher. Her hobbies include yoga, calligraphy, and dancing.
Kimia Alipour
Researcher
Alvin Cheng
MEd Candidate
Developmental Psychology & Human Development
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Alvin Cheng is a M.Ed student in Developmental Psychology and Education at OISE. He holds a Bachelor of Applied Sciences in Human Behaviour from McMaster University. He currently serves as a Director at the GATI Global Program, which provides acceleration opportunities for high school students worldwide. Through this initiative, students gain hands-on lab experience, collaborate directly with professors, and pursue publication in international journals. Alvin's research focuses on the design and optimization of educational systems, with a particular interest in how structure and pedagogy can better support student growth and innovation. Outside of academics and professional work, Alvin is an avid rock climber and badminton player, and he trains regularly for triathlons. He also enjoys exploring both Easter and Western philosophy.
Ingrid D'Silva
Researcher
Ingrid is a Ph.D. student in Curriculum and Pedagogy at OISE. She has been teaching math for the last 15 years with the Toronto District School Board. She has an M.A. from OISE in which she investigated Supporting Grade 9 Students in Destreamed Mathematics Classrooms. Ingrid also has taken on roles in educational publishing, creating numerous titles in K-12 mathematics. Her research interests are in the areas of secondary school mathematics, including mathematical readiness, accessibility, assessment, and professional development. Ingrid enjoys baking, running, yoga and historical fiction.
Mackenzie Crawford
Researcher
Mackenzie is currently a teacher candidate in the Master of Arts in Child Study and Education program at OISE at the University of Toronto. As a teacher candidate, she is interested in how to make mathematics engaging, enjoyable, and fun for her students while effectively teaching the curriculum. Mackenzie has had years of experience in the school system as an educational assistant, student teacher, and as a volunteer. When she is not in school, she can be found tossing a rugby ball, playing with her dog, or watching movies.
Joe Singh
Doctor of Education Candidate
Joe Singh is a Doctor of Education candidate at the Ontario Institute of Studies in Education/University of Toronto. He holds a Master of Arts in Early Childhood Studies from the Toronto Metropolitan University. Joe is also an Elementary Teacher with the Toronto District School Board where he works in Model Schools for Inner Cities. Joe’s focus in the Doctor of Education program in Child Studies and Education is to examine how STEAM education can be used to help students learn about issues of power, harm and inequality. Joe is an amateur mixologist and his hobbies include playing board games, hanging out with his cousins, and collecting Funko Pops.
Hannah Whitehead
Researcher
Hannah Whitehead is a PhD student in the Developmental Psychology and Education program at OISE. She holds an MA from the University of Toronto and a B.Sc. (Hons.) in Psychology from the University of Western Ontario. Her research interests are in the development of literacy and numeracy and the relations between the two skills.
Julia Turco
Researcher
Julia holds a B.A.Sc. in Human Behaviour from McMaster University and is a Teacher Candidate in the Master of Arts in Child Study and Education program at OISE - University of Toronto. Julia is interested in learning more about how different approaches to mathematics teaching can impact students’ learning. Julia has also worked as an instructor and assistant centre director at a math centre, a classroom tutor in the school system, and a student teacher. Her hobbies include fitness, baking, and crafting.
Lab Alumni
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Myah Birrell (2022-2024)
Abdullah Zafar (2019-2023)
Yue Cai (2021-2024)