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Assistant Professor in Psychology
Assistant Professor in Psychology
Expertise in Spatial Cognition, Visual Arts (comics) & STEM Learning
Expertise in Spatial Cognition, Visual Arts (comics) & STEM Learning
I am an Assistant Professor in Psychology, at the School of Psychology at Dublin City University (DCU; Ireland, Dublin), where I direct the Cognition in Learning Lab (CLLab); I lead the Communication, Dissemination and Training WP7 of the EU-funded COST network, COS-MICS (Comics and Sciences through Multidisciplinary Investigation and Collaboration); and I established and led the Cognition Theme at DCU Centre for Possibility Studies. Over the years, I have led a series of funded experimental research projects across Europe, including at the University of Cyprus, TU Dublin, and DCU, as well as in the United States at the University of Minnesota. My primary research interests and expertise focus on spatial cognition, STEM learning, and reading comprehension through visual arts (comics).
At DCU, I supervise doctorate, postgraduate and undergraduate students, as well as INTRA placement undergraduates. I also teach and coordinate modules across various programs, including the BSc in Psychology and two DCU Futures initiative programs: the BSc in Psychology and Mathematics and the BSc in Psychology and Disruptive Technologies. My teaching portfolio includes a range of modules, such as Cognition across the Lifespan, Educational Psychology, eJournal Club: Human and Societal Enhancement, Science Communication and Media Skills, and Computational Psychiatry.
Before joining DCU, I was a Post-Doctoral Associate in Learning Analytics and Managing Co-Director at the Learning Informatics Lab at the University of Minnesota (USA, Minnesota, Minneapolis). I also served as a Post-Doctoral Researcher at the SellSTEM Marie Skłodowska-Curie ITN (Ireland, Dublin), where I supervised two PhD MSCA Fellows, one of whom has already completed their doctorate.
I hold a Ph.D. in Cognitive and Experimental Psychology and an MA in Cognitive and Educational Psychology from the University of Cyprus (Cyprus, Nicosia), as well as a BA in Education Sciences in Early Childhood from the University of Thrace (Greece, Alexandroupolis).
During my Ph.D. at the University of Cyprus (Cyprus, Nicosia), I taught and coordinated the modules: Educational Psychology, the Psychology of Happiness and Adaptive Behavior, the R language, and the Neuroscience of Behavior. Additionally, during my Post-Doc at TU Dublin, I was a Visiting Lecturer at the Frederick Institute of Technology (Cyprus, Nicosia), where I taught courses in the modules: Psychology of Learning, and Developmental Psychology.
My diverse experience in teaching and research reflects my commitment to advancing the field of Cognitive & Educational Psychology and fostering the academic growth of my students.
ACADEMIC APPOINTMENT
06/2024-Current Dublin City University (DCU): Assistant Professor in Psychology &
Director of the Cognition in Learning Lab (Cllab) at the School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Science.
06/2024-Current Dublin City University (DCU): Leader of the Cognition Theme at the
DCU Centre for Possibility Studies, at the School of Psychology,Faculty of Health and Science.
08/2023-06/2024 University of Minnesota: Post-Doctoral Associate in Learning Analytics &
Managing Co-Director at the Learning Informatics Lab with the Distinguished McKnight University Professor, Guy Bond Chair in Reading Prof. Panayiota (Pani) Kendeou & with the Assistant Prof. Caitlin Mills at the Department of Educational Psychology, College of Education & Human Development.
06/2021-09/2023 Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin): Post-Doctoral Researcher & Project Manager at the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Innovative Training Network (ITN) of the SellSTEM project with the Professor Gavin Duffy at the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering.
01/2022-06/2023 Frederick Institute of Technology: Visiting Lecturer at the Division of Health and Education
01/2018-06/2021 University of Cyprus: Lecturer (Fixed Term) at the Department of Psychology
09/2015-06/2021 University of Cyprus: Special Scientist (Fixed Term) at the Department of Psychology
09/2013-06/2015 University of Cyprus: Teaching Assistant (Fixed Term) at the Department of Psychology
RESEARCH AFFILIATE
01/2025 - Current Dublin City University: Affiliated Faculty with the CASTeL Research Centre, DCU
06/2025 - Current Dublin City University: Affiliated Faculty with the Centre for Talented Youth Ireland, DCU
08/2023-06/2024 University of Minnesota: Affiliated Post-Doctoral Researcher with Pani Kendeou at the Reading and Learning Lab, with Caitlin Mills at the Affection, Cognition and Computation Lab, and with the Bonnie Westby Huebner Endowed Chair in Education and Technology Assistant Prof. Laura Allen at the Language of Learning Lab at the Department of Educational Psychology, College of Education & Human Development
06/2021-06/2024 Tilburg University: Affiliated Post-Doctoral Researcher with the Professor Neil Cohn at the Visual Language Lab
EDUCATION
01/09/2015-09/06/2021 Doctoral of Philosophy in Psychology - 260 ECTS (with Honors) - Supervisor Prof. Marios Avraamides – University of Cyprus - Faculty of Social Sciences and Education - Department of Psychology,
Grade Point Average: «Excellent», 9/10, Defense thesis: «Excellent with Distinction»
- approved by the examination committee members: Prof. Marios Avraamides (Research Supervisor), Prof. Irene-Anna Diakidoy, Assistant Prof. Alexia Galati, Prof. Neil Cohn, Assistant Prof. Michales Michelides (Committee President) - Doctoral Thesis Title: «Constructing spatial situation models from comics»
02/09/2013-10/06/2015 Master in Cognitive and Educational Psychology - 120 ECTS (with Honors) – University of Cyprus - Faculty of Social Sciences and Education - Department of Psychology,
Grade Point Average: «Excellent», 9.05/10,
Master thesis: «Excellent with distinction», 10/10 - Ranking Order: 1st (5 graduates)
21/09/2009-04/07/2013 Bachelor in Education Sciences in Early Childhood - 240 ECTS (with Honors) – Democritus University of Thrace - Department of Education Sciences in Early Childhood,
Grade Point Average: «Excellent with distinction», 8.56/10,
Bachelor thesis: «Excellent with distinction», 10/10 - Ranking Order: 10th (80 graduates)
ADDITIONAL TRAINING
Research training
2026 Open Research Week 2026, DCU, Queen's University Belfast, University College Cork, University College Dublin and University of Galway
2025 Research Integrity Specialist Course Certificate: Research Involving Human Participants, Second Edition (Ireland), Oxford University Press, epigeum, DCU
2025 Research Integrity Specialist Module 8 Certificate: Communication, Social Responsibility and Impact, Second Edition (Ireland), Oxford University Press, epigeum, DCU
2025 Introduction to Children First, Children First, Tusla Certificate – Child and Family Agency, Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and the HSE
Programming training
2026 3D Modelling for Game Development, CYENS, HRDA-Approved Training Programme, Cyprus
2025 Supervised Machine Learning Certificate: Regression and Classification, Coursera, School of Psychology, DCU
2023 Programming Fundamentals for Social Science Research with Python, Department of Educational Psychology, University of Minnesota
2023 Predictive Analytics with Machine Learning in R, Department of Educational Psychology, University of Minnesota
Teaching training
2021-2023 Train the trainer training: "Karin de Galan training", evidence-based teaching training, SellSTEM, Ireland & Netherlands (Funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network of the SellSTEM project)
2016 Certified Science Communication Mentor: "Train the trainers to become Mentors", Masterclass, SciCo Cyprus
2015 Certified Science Communication Trainer: "Train the finalist Fame-Labers", Masterclass trainings, SciCo
Cyprus, British Council.
2015 Certified Trainer for Non-Formal training against Homophobia in Education: "Shield Against Homophobia in
Education", Pedagogical Institute-Ministry of Education and Culture, Cyprus
2014-2015 Certified Non-Formal Education Trainer: "Training of Non-Formal Learning Instructors", University of Cyprus.
AWARDS
2025 Travel Award, School of Psychology, DCU - €2,000
2024 Excellence in Teaching Team School of Psychology, DCU President's Award 2024, DCU - Stipendiary
2023-2024 Resilience Award - Reading and Learning Lab, Development, University of Minnesota - Stipendiary
2023-2024 Travel Award, College of Education & Human Development, University of Minnesota - $2.000
2021-2023 Travel Award, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, TU Dublin - €10.000
2015-2021 Departmental Travel Award, Department of Psychology, University of Cyprus - €5.000
2017-2018 European sustainability champion for student Halls, HORIZON2020 "SAVES2" - Stipendiary
2015-2016 European sustainability champion for student Halls, HORIZON2020 "SAVES" - Stipendiary
2015-2016 Finalist in the Fame Lab® Cyprus competition in 2015 - Science Communication workshops, British Council
GRANTS & FUNDING
Received
2025-2029 ROLE: Principal Investigator & Principal Supervisor
PHD STUDENT: Mark Brady
INSTITUTION: DCU
PROJECT: Immersive Spatial Training for Computational Thinking in Neurotypical and Twice Exceptional Autistic Students: A Comparative Study (SPARC)
GRANTING AGENCY: Deloitte & Centre for Talented Youth Ireland (CTYI)
TOTAL AMOUNT: €140,000
2025-2029 ROLE: Leader Communication, Dissemination & Training (WP7)
PI: Prof Dr. Virginie Giuliana
INSTITUTION: DCU
PROJECT: Comics and Sciences through Multidisciplinary Investigation and Collaboration (COS-MICs; CA24160)
GRANTING AGENCY: COST Action EU
TOTAL AMOUNT: €600,000
2025 ROLE: Principal Investigator with Dr. Richard Roche
INSTITUTION: DCU, Maynooth & Università di Bologna
PROJECT: Historical Heros of Irish Neuroscience: a Comic Book
GRANTING AGENCY: FENS for Brain Awareness Week 2027 funding
TOTAL AMOUNT: €930
2025 ROLE: Principal Investigator
INSTITUTION: DCU
PROJECT: Spatial Reasoning Training with Extended Reality on STEM and AI Coding: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
GRANTING AGENCY: Faculty of Science & Health: Undergraduate Summer Research Internship 2025
TOTAL AMOUNT: €2,025
2025 ROLE: Principal Investigator with Dr. Ger Loughnane
INSTITUTION: DCU
PROJECT: Equipment: EyeLink 1000 Plus
GRANTING AGENCY: Faculty of Science & Health: Higher Education Research Equipment Grant
TOTAL AMOUNT: €38,651
2025 ROLE: Co-PI with Dr. Lorraine Boran
PHD STUDENT: Post-graduate student Aiswarya Radhakrishnan
INSTITUTION: DCU
PROJECT: Co-designing, with children, caregivers, teachers and experts, a Strength-Based Gamified Intervention for Twice Exceptional children with Autism (2e AS)
GRANTING AGENCY: Centre for Talented Youth Ireland (CTYI)
TOTAL AMOUNT: €136,000
2025 ROLE: Co-PI
PI: Dr. Sarlós Erzsébet
INSTITUTION: DCU
PROJECT: Investigating the Impact of Sensorimotor Training on Primitive Reflexes, Balance, and Cognitive Function in Dementia: An Irish-Hungarian Pilot Study
GRANTING AGENCY: Széchenyi István University
TOTAL AMOUNT: €50,000
2024 ROLE: Co-PI
PI: Dr. Emma Delemere
INSTITUTION: DCU
PROJECT: Education for Sustainable Development Goals within Psychology
GRANTING AGENCY: DCU FSH SATLE Funding
TOTAL AMOUNT: €1.390
2021-2024 ROLE: Post-Doctoral Researcher, Project Manager, Supervisor
PI: Dr. Gavin Duffy
INSTITUTION: TU Dublin
PROJECT: Spatially Enhanced Learning Linked to STEM learning (SellSTEM)
GRANTING AGENCY: European Commission [Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network actions
from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program] – EU agreement ID: 956124
TOTAL AMOUNT: €4.037.154,48
2020-2021 ROLE: Principle Investigator
INSTITUTION: University of Cyprus
PROJECT: Constructing spatial situation models in comics vs texts
GRANTING AGENCY: Doctoral Scholarship from the Department of Psychology
TOTAL AMOUNT: €8.000
2017-2018 ROLE: Principle Investigator
INSTITUTION: University of Cyprus
PROJECT: Constructing spatial situation models in comics
GRANTING AGENCY: Doctoral Scholarship from the Graduate School
TOTAL AMOUNT: €8.000
Successful (not funded; lottery process)
2025 ROLE: Principle Investigator
INSTITUTION: DCU & Università di Bologna
PROJECT: Hues as cues, panels as paths: how color and motion affects spatial understanding when reading comics
GRANTING AGENCY: Possibility Studies Microgrant
TOTAL AMOUNT: €2,000
Pending
2026-2028 ROLE: Supervisor with Dr. Lorraine Boran
LEAD APPLICANT: Elizabeth McEniff
INSTITUTION: DCU
PROJECT: The PPI Informed exploration of the lived experiences of cognitive and sleep problems in women with treatment-induced menopause (PREMISE -PPI)
GRANTING AGENCY: Irish Cancer Society Research, Summer Studentship
TOTAL AMOUNT: €3,250
2026 ROLE: Principal Investigator
POST-DOC: Dr. Sylvia Savvidou
INSTITUTION: DCU
PROJECT: Multiple Content Types in Independent and AI-assisted Learning (MRC-IT)
GRANTING AGENCY: IRC Postdoctoral Fellowship (Government of Ireland)
TOTAL AMOUNT: €117,468
2025 ROLE: Partner with Prof Dr. Vlad Glaveanu
INSTITUTION: DCU
PROJECT: Futures Literacy and Creativity for Entrepreneurial and Innovative Higher
Education Hub (FLUENT)
GRANTING AGENCY: ERASMUS + Capacity building in the field of higher education Strand 2
TOTAL AMOUNT: $ 400.000.000 and $ 800.000.000 Euros. 24 – 36 months
2025-2027 ROLE: Principle Investigator
INSTITUTION: DCU
PROJECT: Board Games as Cognitive Tools: Investigating the Effects of Analog Play on Spatial Reasoning, Creativity, and Possibility Thinking (PLAYSPACE)
GRANTING AGENCY: Game in Lab
TOTAL AMOUNT: €20,000
2026-2030 ROLE: Secondary Proposer
INSTITUTION: DCU
PROJECT: Promoting Regional Networks for Open Science Initiatives (PROGNOSIS)
GRANTING AGENCY: COST Action EU
TOTAL AMOUNT: €600,000
2026-2027 ROLE: Consultant
PI: Björn Brembs
INSTITUTION: University of Regensburg
PROJECT: Science as an expression of human cognition: A multidisciplinary approach to improving science education and documentation.
GRANTING AGENCY: Spencer Foundation
TOTAL AMOUNT: $75,000
2026-2028 ROLE: PI
INSTITUTION: DCU & Rutgers University-New Brunswick
PROJECT: A Dance-based Digital Game for Neurodivergent Populations:
Measuring Health Effect of Embodied Movement Visualized in Digital Space.
GRANTING AGENCY: Life Science Forum, DCU & Rutgers University-New Brunswick
TOTAL AMOUNT: $50,000
2025 ROLE: Co-PI with Prof Dr. Vlad Glaveanu
INSTITUTION: DCU
PROJECT: HOPEFUL COMMONS
GRANTING AGENCY: HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions
TOTAL AMOUNT: €3,468,562.50
2025 ROLE: Co-PI with Prof Dr. Vlad Glaveanu
INSTITUTION: DCU
PROJECT: Arts, Resilience and Transitions in Evidence Mobilization for Inclusive Schooling, Education and Policy (ARTEMIS)
GRANTING AGENCY: HORIZON: Evaluation and use of evidence in education policy and practice
TOTAL AMOUNT: €200,000
Unfunded
2025 ROLE: Co-PI
INSTITUTION: DCU
PROJECT: Good practices for increased autonomy of persons with disabilities, including physical, mental, intellectual and sensory disabilities (LUMINA)
GRANTING AGENCY: HORIZON: Good Practices for increased autonomy of persons with disabilities, including physical, mental, intellectual and sensory disabilities
TOTAL AMOUNT: €3,400,000
2025 ROLE: Co-PI
PI: Dr. Lorraine Boran
INSTITUTION: DCU
PROJECT: Exploring Psychological Vulnerability and Empowerment in Coercive Control for Police Harm Prevention (PAVE)
GRANTING AGENCY: New Foundations 2025 (Research Ireland)
TOTAL AMOUNT: €20,000
2025 ROLE: Co-PI
PI: Dr. Siun Nic Mhuiri
INSTITUTION: DCU
PROJECT: Barriers and enablers as they occur at the levels of curriculum and
Teacher in STEM education
GRANTING AGENCY: New Foundations 2025 (Research Ireland)
TOTAL AMOUNT: €20,000
2026-2030 ROLE: Principal Investigator
PhD STUDENT: Mark Brady
INSTITUTION: DCU
PROJECT: Immersive Spatial Training for Computational Thinking in Neurotypical and Twice-Exceptional Students with Autism: A Comparative Study (SPARC)
GRANTING AGENCY: EPS Postgraduate Application (Government of Ireland & Enterprise Partner)
TOTAL AMOUNT: €136,000
2025-2029 ROLE: Co-PI
PI: Prof Dr. Vlad Glaveanu
INSTITUTION: DCU
PROJECT: Fostering Open Communication on Uncertainty in Science (FOCUS)
GRANTING AGENCY: European Commission [Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network actions
from the European Union’s Horizon Research and Innovation Program]
TOTAL AMOUNT: €4,685,824.08
2026-2027 ROLE: Principal Investigator
PhD STUDENT: Mark Brady
INSTITUTION: DCU
PROJECT: Immersive Spatial Training for Computational Thinking in Neurotypical and Twice-Exceptional Students with Autism: A Comparative Study (SPARC)
GRANTING AGENCY: School of Psychology, DCU
TOTAL AMOUNT: €34,000
2025-2027 ROLE: Principal Investigator
POST-DOC: Dr. Sylvia Savvidou
INSTITUTION: DCU
PROJECT: Multiple texts’ reading outcomes: The influence of claim consistency, argument type and reading goals (MORCCAG)
GRANTING AGENCY: IRC Postdoctoral Fellowship (Government of Ireland)
TOTAL AMOUNT: €111,468
2025-2027 ROLE: Principal Investigator
POST-DOC: Ergi Bufasi
INSTITUTION: DCU
PROJECT: Investigating the role of cognitive factors in success in the Physics Leaving Certificate: A
mixed methods study of Spatial skills and gender inequities (SPACER)
GRANTING AGENCY: IRC Postdoctoral Fellowship (Government of Ireland)
TOTAL AMOUNT: €111,468
MEMBERSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
° Psychonomic Society
° Possibility Studies Network (PSN)
° Society for Text and Discourse (St&D)
° Hellenic Psychological Society (ELPSE)
° European Society for Cognitive Psychology (ESCOP)
° Society for Computation in Psychology (SCiP)
° Society for Computing Association for Machinery (ACM)
SKILLS
° Languages: Greek (native language), English (expert)
° Quantitative research:
Computing: R (expert), Python (advanced), Machine Learning (advanced).
Research software: MS Office, SPSS, JASP, Jamovi, Space Syntax,
PsycoPy & Open Sesame & E-prime for Experiments – (expert), MATLAB & Simulink - (beginner).
Research methods: Advanced Statistics, Applied Data Analysis, Eye-tracking, Virtual Reality, Psychometrics, Meta-science – (expert).
° Qualitative research:
Structured Interview,
Focus Group Discussions,
Thematic & Dialectic Analysis.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Assistant Professor - 5 modules
01/2025-current Science Communication & Media Skills -
School of Psychology, DCU
01/2025-current Computational Psychiatry (teaching the Computational - Machine Learning part) -
School of Psychology, DCU
09/2024-current Cognition across the Lifespan -
School of Psychology, DCU
09/2024-current Educational Psychology -
School of Psychology, DCU
09/2024-current eJournal Club: Human and Societal Enhancement -
School of Psychology, DCU
Visiting Lecturer - 2 courses
09/2022-01/2023 Developmental Psychology -
Division of Health and Education, Frederick Institute of Technology
01/2022-06/2022 Psychology of Learning -
Division of Health and Education, Frederick Institute of Technology
Lecturer - 5 modules
01/2021-06/2021 Psychology of Happiness and Adaptive Behaviour -
Department of Psychology, UCY
01/2020-06/2020 Methodology using R (weekly workshops) -
Department of Social and Political Sciences, UCY
01/2019-06/2019 Educational & Psychology I: Child Development and Educational Applications -
Department of Psychology, UCY
09/2018-01/2019 Educational & Developmental Psychology I: Child Development and Educational Applications -
Department of Psychology, UCY
01/2018-06/2018 Behavioral Neuroscience -
Department of Psychology, UCY
Teaching Assistant - 10 modules
06/2017-08/2017 1. Work & Organizational Psychology
2. Psychology of Happiness and Adaptive Behaviour - Dr. Melina Kyranides
09/2016-01/2017 1. Cognitive Psychology II: Attention & Perception - Dr. Marios Avraamides
2. Educational Psychology II: Learning and Instruction - Dr. Irianna Diakidou
01/2016-06/2016 1. Methodology I: Descriptive Research
2. Multivariate Statistics for The Behavioural Sciences - Dr. Michalis Michaelides
09/2014-01/2015 1. Cognitive Psychology II: Attention & Perception - Dr. Marios Avraamides
2. Methodology II: Correlational & Experimental Research - Dr.Michalis Michaelides
10/2012-06/2013 1. Greek Language
2. Mathematics - Parallel Support for a Turkish-speaking girl - European program for the primary education of Muslim Minority children in Thrace, ESPA 2007-2013
INVITED PUBLIC LECTURES
31/05/2025 “Innovative teaching and assessment practices in Psychology “ – Sipping Point Session, DCU Futures, DCU
03/04/2025 “Brains in Space” – CASTeL, DCU
01/04/2025 “Innovative Research” - School of Psychology, DCU
19/03/2025 “Comics in education"- Possibility Studies Network
19/03/2025 "Illusions"- DCU's Access U First workshops for 5th year secondary school students, DCU
04/12/2024 "From Reality to Comic-land: Exploring how the brain navigates space" - School of Psychology Seminar, DCU
25/11/2024 "The magic of science communication" - Lifelong Learning Program, DCU
13/11/2024 "What is reality?" - Science Week, DCU
08/10/2024 "Open Science" - Postgraduate students, DCU
25/03/2024 "Communicate your science with GenAI" - TU Dublin
17/10/2023 "A journey from surrounding to imaginary environments" - University of Minnesota
12/04/2022 "Career choices and development" - University of Cyprus
12/04/2022 "Can comics improve STEM learning?" - TU Dublin
12/04/2022 "Comics in STEM education" - Tilburg University
05/10/2021 "Spatial mental representations and Comics" - TUDublin
21/09/2021 "Create a research based board-game with comics" - Tilburg University
27/04/2021 "Constructing Spatial Situation Models through Comics" - Tilburg University
SUPERVISION EXPERIENCE
COMPLETED DOCTORAL SUPERVISION
06/2021 - 04/2025 Co-supervisor & Committee member
PhD MSCA Fellow: Eleni Lagoudaki conducted a large-scale educational study to examine the influence of spatial thinking skills training using the online platform RIF3.0 on students’ spatial thinking and mathematical skills in 11-15 years old children in Ireland and Austria, Universität Salzburg, Austria.
CURRENT DOCTORAL SUPERVISION
09/2025-Current Principal Supervisor & Committee member
PhD Student funded by Deloitte & CTYI : Mark Brady will develop an evidence-based extended reality (XR) application to explore how training small- and large-scale spatial reasoning skills (e.g., mental rotation, spatial orientation, perspective-taking, navigation) can improve performance in AI coding, particularly in machine learning at both neurotypical and twice exceptional autistic students in Ireland, DCU, Ireland.
09/2021-Current Co-supervisor & Committee member
PhD Candidate funded by CTYI: Aiswarya Radhakrishnan studies co-designing strength-based Interventions for Twice Exceptional Students with Autism Spectrum (2e-AS) through collaboration from children, teachers, parents and subject experts, DCU
09/2021-11/2025 Co-supervisor & Committee member
PhD MSCA Fellow: Styliani Malkogeorgou studies the relationship between STEM self-efficacy and small- scale spatial abilities in 12-15 aged children around Europe, TU Dublin.
06/2022-Current Consultative support & Committee member
PhD MSCA Fellow: Rohit Mishra studies ways to facilitate children's spatial thinking development linked to STEM by applying Design-Based research, TU Delft.
COMPLETED POSTGRADUATE SUPERVISION
09/2024-09/2025 Principal Supervisor & Committee member
Postgraduate student: Christian Healy studies how levels of expertise in combat sports influence the degree of athletic identity and spatial abilities, DCU.
09/2024-09/2025 Principal Supervisor & Committee member
Postgraduate student: Martha McCready studies the relation of endometriosis and interpersonal relations, relationship dynamics, sexual satisfaction, and social participation, DCU.
CURRENT POSTGRADUATE SUPERVISION
09/2025-Current Principal Supervisor & Committee member:
Postgraduate student: Cormac Ó Tuairisg studies how the level of teachers’ spatial abilities influence the degree of spatializing the Irish Curriculum in Primary education, DCU, Ireland.
09/2024-Current Principal Supervisor & Committee member:
Postgraduate student: Hanna Nowacka studies the relation of stress in working environment for people with MS: a checklist for HR, DCU, Ireland.
COMPLETED UNDERGRADUATE SUPERVISION
09/2024-06/2025 Principal Supervisor & Committee member
Undergraduate student: Rory Barnes studies the link between neurodivergence and spatial abilities, DCU.
09/2024-06/2025 Principal Supervisor & Committee member
Undergraduate student: Gillian Garcia studies mental imagery and reading comprehension, DCU.
09/2024-06/2025 Principal Supervisor & Committee member
Undergraduate student: Julianna Stojek studies the styles of attachment and the use of GenAI, DCU.
CURRENT UNDERGRADUATE SUPERVISION
09/2025-Current Principal Supervisor & Committee member:
Undergraduate student: Conor O’ Flaherty studies Action Video Games as a Form of Spatial Training: Comparing Virtual Reality to Traditional Computers with Relation to Mathematics Ability, DCU, Ireland.
09/2025-teCurrent Principal Supervisor & Committee member:
Undergraduate student: Luke Conroy studies if short form videos affect the impact of the well-known knowledge revision technique refutation texts, DCU, Ireland.
INTRA PLACEMENT SUPERVISION
09/2024-06/2025 Supervisor
Undergraduate students: Ajayi Aliyah at PANO research with Dr. Lorraine Boran, Burton Hannah at PANO research with Dr. Lorraine Boran, Segura Bruna at the DCU Centre for Possibility Studies with Dr. Vlad Glăveanu
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Collaborations
2025 - Current with Cian's Kennels and Dr. Lorraine Boran, School of Psychology, DCU.
2024 - Current with the Bonnie Westby Huebner Endowed Chair in Education and Technology Assistant Prof. Laura Allen at the Language of Learning Lab, University of Minnesota.
2023 - Current with Distinguished McKnight University Professor, Guy Bond Chair in Reading Professor Panayiota Kendeou at the Reading and Learning Lab, University of Minnesota.
2023 - Current with Assistant Professor Caitlin Mills at the ACC Lab, University of Minnesota.
2021 - Current with Professor Gavin Duffy at the CREATE Lab, Technological University Dublin
2021 - Current with Professor Neil Cohn at the Visual Language Lab, Tilburg University.
2013 - Current with Assistant Professor Alexia Galati at the Cognition in Interaction Lab, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
2019 - Current with Associate Professor Andria Shimi at the Memory & Attention Development Lab, UCY.
2016 - Current with the Centre for Applied Neuroscience, UCY.
2013 - Current with Assistant Professor Michalis Michaelides at the Psychometrics and Psychoeducational Assessment Lab, UCY.
2013 - Current with Assistant Professor Irini Kadianaki at the Social Psychology Lab, UCY.
2013 - Current with Professor Marios Avraamides at the Experimental Psychology Lab, UCY.
2009 - Current with Assistant Professor Alexandra Karousou at the Developmental & Cognitive Lab, Democritus University of Thrace.
2009 - Current with Professor Georgios Mavrommatis at the Intercultural educational lab, Democritus University of Thrace.
Mentoring PhD students
2023 - 2025 Two PhD candidates at Reading and Learning Lab and at the ACC Lab, University of Minnesota: Justine Scattarelli, Victoria Johnson
Mentoring Research Assistants
2016 - 2023 Seven undergraduate students at the Experimental Psychology Lab, University of Cyprus: Elya Palatou, Chryso Nicolaou, Seta Terzian, Athina Zavou,
Myria Chatzimichael, Loukia Michaelidou, Melpo Christodoulou.
Completed research projects & collaborations
01/2019-06/2019 Experimental data preparation for examining spatial abilities at early childhood students at the project:
«Early detection of cognitive function, psychoeducational interventions, and operational features of infant, toddler, and preschool care centers that promote early childhood development» - Dr. Konstantinos Petrogiannis and Dr. Alexia Karousou, University of West Attica
01/2019-06/2019 Experimental data collection with primary children both at the lab and in schools for the project:
«Time effects on visual short-term memory development» - Dr. Andria Shimi, Department of Psychology, UCY
12/2017-05/2018 Quantitative data analysis, qualitative research through focus group, and events organization for the Horizon 2020 project:
«Between the representation of the crisis and the crisis of representation. How crisis changed the symbolic background of
European societies and identities. Implication for policies and policy making. » - Dr. Irini Kadianaki, Department of
Psychology, UCY
09/2016-06/2017 Preparation of research protocols and experiments for data collection.
Pilot data collection. Organization and management of databases. - Centre For Applied Neuroscience, Department of
Psychology, UCY
05/2016-06/2016 Field Survey Study with Structured Questionnaires:
«Women's position, degree of participation, opportunities for advancement, women's equality and related good practices in
Cypriot businesses. » - Cypriot Federation of Women Entrepreneurs (KOGEE), University of Cyprus Centre For Field
Studies, Department of Psychology, UCY
11/2015-12/2015 Coordination of data collection for the Horizon 2020 project:
«Between the representation of the crisis and the crisis of representation. How crisis changed the symbolic background of
European societies and identities. Implication for policies and policy making. » - Dr. Irini Kadianaki, Department of
Psychology, UCY
02/2015-06/2015 Architectural analysis on Spatial Memory Abilities with Space Syntax for the Internal program:
«Integration of spatial information within and across modalities. » - Dr. Marios Avraamides, Department of Psychology,
UCY
09/2014-11/2014 Statistical Analysis Assistant in European Project - Dr. Michalis Michaelides, Department of Psychology, UCY
09/2011-06/2013 Coordination and management of databases for the project: «Communication Development Report [CDR] A parent report
instrument for the early screening of communication and language development in Greek-speaking infants and toddlers. » -
Dr. Alexandra Karousou, Department of Education Sciences in Early Childhood, Democritus University of Thrace
SERVICE
EXTERNAL SERVICE
a. Organize Conference & Colloquia
2026 Spatial Cognition Symposium in Ireland: Organize the Spatial Cognition Symposium in Ireland 2026 in collaboration with Dr. Gavin Duffy with invited speakers Prof. Dr. Mary Hegarty and Prof. Dr. Sheryl Sorbyl, Dublin, DCU & TU Dublin
2025 Mathematics Education in Ireland (MEI 10) Conference: Scientific Committee Member & Chair in two sessions of the MEI 10 Mathematics for a Connected World: Integration, Challenges, and Possibilities (MEI10), Dublin, CASTeL, DCU, https://sites.google.com/dcu.ie/meiconference/mei-10
2024 Spatial Cognition 13th International Conference: Program Committee Chair and Poster Chair of the Spatial Cognition XIII, 2024, Dublin, Ireland - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network, TU Dublin, https://eleceng.tudublin.ie/sc2024/
2024 Spatial Cognition 13th International Conference: Organizing Committee Member of the Spatial Cognition XIII, 2024, Dublin, Ireland - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network, TU Dublin, https://eleceng.tudublin.ie/sc2024/
2024 Spring Colloquium – Learning Informatics Lab: Organize the talk for Dr. Scott Crossley Professor of Special Education and Computational Linguistics at Vanderbilt University. From tokens to transformers: Applications in text complexity, University of Minnesota
2023 Fall Colloquium – Learning Informatics Lab: Organize the talk for Dr. Thomas Christie, Director of Learning Engineering, Digital Harbor. LENS: Predictive diagnostics for flexible and efficient assessments, University of Minnesota
b. Design and Organize Innovative PhD Training Program
2025 - Current Co-Design Professional Doctorate in Educational Psychology, School of Psychology - DCU
2025 - 2026 Futures Literacy Module: Co-Design the new Futures Literacy Module for DCU - DCU
2021 - 2023 MSCA ITN Horizon 2020: Project Management & Leading role in the execution and submission of Deliverables for Horizon 2020 in collaboration with TU Dublin Coordinator and with all Principal Investigators and Stakeholders in the consortium of the Spatially Enhanced Learning Linked to STEM education (SellSTEM) project - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network (MSCA ITN), TU Dublin.
2023 MSCA ITN PhD-training: Design innovative modules & Organize the 4th training academic week for the 15 Ph.D. students of the SellSTEM project – MSCA ITN, Universität Salzburg, Austria.
2022 MSCA ITN PhD-training: Design innovative modules & Organize the 3rd training academic week for the 15 Ph.D. students of the SellSTEM project –
MSCA ITN, TU Dublin.
2022 MSCA ITN PhD-training: Design innovative modules & Organize the 2nd training academic week for 15 Ph.D. students of the SellSTEM - MSCA ITN, TU Delft.
2021 MSCA ITN PhD-training: Design innovative modules & Organize the 1st training academic week for 15 Ph.D. students of the SellSTEM - MSCA ITN, TU Dublin.
2021 MSCA ITN PhD Program development: Design modules & assessments (evaluation tasks and ECTS criteria) for online weekly courses & Invite worldwide experts in Cognitive, Educational & Developmental Psychology for the 15 Ph.D. students of the SellSTEM - MSCA ITN, Hybrid: Online & in person at TU Dublin.
2021 MSCA ITN Horizon 2020: Coordinator of social media & Science Communication representative of the SellSTEM - MSCA ITN, TU Dublin.
2021 MSCA ITN Horizon 2020: Web designer of the official website & logos of the SellSTEM - MSCA ITN, TU Dublin.
c. Editor
2024 Editor for the SPATIAL COGNITION XIII, 13th International Conference, Spatial Cognition, Dublin, Ireland, June 25-28, 2024, Proceedings - Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence 14756, Subseries of Lecture Notes in Computer Science
d. Review papers, proceedings & grant proposals
2026 Reviewer for the Discourse Processes Journal
2025 Reviewer for the Frontiers, Virtual Reality and Human Behaviour
2025 Reviewer for the SNAPP, Virtual Reality Journal
2024 Reviewer for the Journal for STEM Education Research
2023 Reviewer for the CHI 2024 conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems
2023 Reviewer for the Frontiers in Education - STEM Education
2023 Reviewer for the Journal of Environmental Psychology
2022 Proposal Reviewer for COST Actions proposals
2021 Reviewer for the International Journal of Technology and Design Education
e. Committee Member
2026 Program Committee Reviewer of the Society for Text and Discourse 2026 Conference, North Caroline, USA
2025 Scientific Committee Member of the MEI 10 Mathematics for a Connected World: Integration, Challenges, and Possibilities (MEI10), CASTeL, DCU
2025 Scientific Committee Reviewer of the MEI 10 Mathematics for a Connected World: Integration, Challenges, and Possibilities (MEI10), CASTeL, DCU
06/2024 - Current Psychology Ethics Committee Member & Reviewer: School of Psychology, DCU ST&D 2026 program committee
2023 Program Committee Reviewer of the Society for Text and Discourse 2023 Conference, Oslo, Norway
INTERNAL SERVICE
2025 DCU Lifelong Learning Program: "The magic of science" - School of Psychology
2025 DCU Science Week: Board game - School of Psychology
2025 Sipping Point: DCU
2025 DCU’s Access U First : School of Psychology
2025 DCU Postgraduate: Masterclass - School of Psychology
2025 DCU Open Day: School of Psychology
2024 DCU Lifelong Learning Program: "The magic of science communication" - School of Psychology
2024 DCU Science Week: "What is reality?" - School of Psychology
2024 DCU Postgraduate: Masterclass "Open Science" - School of Psychology
2024 DCU Open Day: School of Psychology
2024 DCU Higher Options: School of Psychology
2024 - Current Psychology Ethics Committee Member & Reviewer: School of Psychology, DCU
2022 Pint of Science Dublin: Team Leader, Public Event Organizer & Host of the public science communication event "Food for thought", Pint of Science-Dublin, Ireland - Science Foundation of Ireland.
2019 Science Communication Festival: Project Manager of the Science Communication Festival “How to K.I.S.S. better in science!” - Research and Innovation Foundation of Cyprus.
2018 Science Communication Event: Coordinator & Organization for the event “Neurobiology, Simply!”, Coordinate 11 teams to create 5-minute videos & Organize Science Communication Event for Video presentation to the public – Psychology Union Club, UCY.
09/2017-06/2019 University of Cyprus Student Halls: Coordinator of the Resident Assistants, Coordinate resident assistants, Organize activities and events, Model behavior for resident assistants. Administrative duties - Office Housing Program, UCY.
08/2016-05/2020 University of Cyprus Student Halls: Organize event, Model behavior for other tenants, Effective performance of tasks assigned by the Housing Office, Office Hours - Office Housing Program, UCY.
2015-2017 Mediterranean Science Festivals: Organizing member & School Coordinator & Digital Journalist at the 1st and 2nd "Mediterranean Science Festival” in Cyprus– SciCoCY.
2015-2017 University of Cyprus: Organizing Non-Formal Education Workshop, Coordinator & Trainer for Trainers in Non-Formal Education - Academic Affairs and Student Welfare Service, UCY.
VOLUNTEERING SERVICE
2015-Current Member of the “Science-Communication (SciCo) Cyprus”, a Non-Profit Organization focusing on scientific engagement and empowerment, through innovative, interactive, and entertaining means.
2021-2022 Team Leader & Event Organizer: Pint of Science, Ireland - Science Foundation of Ireland.
2017-2020 Ambassador of the European sustainability program for student Halls around Europe: HORIZON2020 "SAVES &
SAVES2 Energy Saving". Awarded winner: 2015-2016 & 2017-2018 Flat sustainability champion - Reduce electricity consumption.
2015-2017 Member & Coordinator in the organizing committee of the 2nd & 3rd two-day Training of Non- Formal Learning Instructors of the University of Cyprus.
2015-2016 Member of the presenter team & the first aid team of TEDxLim2015 - "True Heroes".
2014-2015 Member of the presenter team & the first aid team of TEDxLim2014 - "Everything you know is wrong".
2014-2015 Member of the TEDxUnic2014 speaker team - "LookDeeper".
2014 Member of the “Respect Fest” - UCY.
2013-2014 Member of the committee of the Psychosocial Support Group of the Cyprus Red Cross.
2013-2014 Member of the Association for the Prevention and Response of Domestic Violence, trainee volunteer of Line 1440.
CONFERENCE PARTICIPATIONS
° 5th Virtual Conference Possibility Studies Network, 2026, Online
° 5th International Possibility Studies Network, 2025, Ireland
° 23rd ESCOP Conference (European Society for Cognitive Psychology), Sheffield, 2025, UK.
° 10th Mathematics Education in Ireland (MEI10), Dublin, 2025, Ireland
° 4th Virtual Conference of the Possibility Studies Network, 2025, Online
° 2024 Spatial Cognition Annual Conference SellSTEM, Dublin, 2024, Ireland.
° 34th Society for Text & Discourse Annual Conference, Chicago, 2024, Illinois.
° 53rd Annual Meeting of the Society for Computation in Psychology (SCiP), California, 2023, San Francisco.
° 64th Psychonomic Society Annual Meeting, California, 2023, San Francisco.
° 23rd ESCOP Conference (European Society for Cognitive Psychology), Porto, 2022, Portugal.
° 33rd Society for Text & Discourse Annual Conference, Oslo, 2023, Norway.
° 22nd ESCOP Conference (European Society for Cognitive Psychology), Lille, 2022, France.
° 17th European Conference EWIC (The 17th European Workshop on Imagery and Cognition), Online, 2021, Cambridge.
° 61th Psychonomic Society Annual Meeting, Virtual, 2020.
° 21st ESCOP Conference (European Society for Cognitive Psychology), Tenerife, 2019, Canary Islands.
° 16th European Conference EWIC (The 16th European Workshop on Imagery and Cognition), Padova, 2018, Italy.
° 20th ESCOP Conference, Potsdam, 2017, Germany.
° 4th Panhellenic Conference on Cognitive Psychology, Athens, 2016, Greece.
° Conference of the Cyprus Psychological Association (CYSPA), Nicosia, 2016, Cyprus.
° 19th ESCOP Conference, Paphos, 2015, Cyprus.
° 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th & 11th Annual Scientific Conference of the Center for Applied Neuroscience, Nicosia, Cyprus.
° 14th & 15th Panhellenic Conference on Psychological Research, Alexandroupoli, 2013, Greece & Nicosia, 2015, Cyprus.
° 2nd Panhellenic Conference on Developmental Psychology, Alexandroupoli, 2010, Greece.
° 6th Panhellenic Conference on Natural & Physics Sciences in Preschool Education, Alexandroupoli, 2009, Greece.
CONTINUING EDUCATION
° 2025 Let's talk about race in the higher education sector (Funded by DCU)
° 2024 Conflicts of Interest and Standards Governing Relationships with Business Entities (Funded by University of Minnesota)
° 2023 Information Security Awareness Training (Funded by University of Minnesota)
° 2023 Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response (Funded by University of Minnesota)
° 2023 Social / Behavioral or Humanist Research Investigators and Key Personnel - CITI Program (Funded by University of Minnesota).
° 2022 Academic Project Management (Funded by TU Dublin).
° 2022 Research Data Project Management (Funded by TU Dublin).
° 2022 Media Skills (Funded by TU Dublin).
° 2022 Research Impact & Impact training (Funded by TU Dublin).
° 2022 License to recruit candidates (Funded by TU Dublin).
° 2022 License to interview candidates - cognitive biases (Funded by TU Dublin).
° 2021-2022 Train the trainer: "Karin de Galan", evidence based teaching, SellSTEM, (Funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network of the SellSTEM project).
° 2021-2022 Gender and STEM workshop - VHTO, SellSTEM, Delft, Netherlands (Funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network of the SellSTEM project).
° 2021 Maker Space Education - Waag Future Lab, SellSTEM, Dublin, Netherlands (Funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network of the SellSTEM).
° 2021 Developing Spatial thinking course, SellSTEM, Dublin, Ireland (Funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network of the SellSTEM project).
° 2021 Summer course Comic languages, Instituto Franklin, Virtual.
° 2020 European Summer School on Eye Movements (ESSEM), Virtual.
° 2017 JASP & Open Sesame Workshops, 20th ESCOP Conference (European Society for Cognitive Psychology), Potsdam,
Germany.
° 2015 "Qualitative research methods in Social Psychology". 15th Panhellenic Conference on Psychological Research, Nicosia,
2015, Cyprus.
° 2013 “Are we free to choose? Working with the paradox of freedom of choice and the facts of existence ". 14th Panhellenic
Conference on Psychological Research, Alexandroupoli, Greece.
° 2012-2013 "Weekly Seminars in Psychology and Counseling, 2 semesters", Open Folk University of the Aegean, Greece.
Seminars in Psychology and Counseling, 2 semesters", Open Folk University of the Aegean, Greece.
HOBBIES
° Sports: Swimming (12 years systematic-championship), Diving (Certified diver NAUI), 5K Running, Cycling, Karate Goju-ryu, American Sports Karate (Yellow & Orange belt).
° Music: Saxophone, Flute.
° Author: Poetry, Comics (7 published).
CONTACT:
Email: marianna.pagkratidou@dcu.ie
X (Twitter): @MPagkratidou
Bluesky: @mpagkratidou.bsky.social
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