Dr. Firat Soylu
Associate Professor of Educational Psychology and Neuroscience Program Coordinator, Educational Neuroscience BS Program Department of Educational Studies, College of Education, The University of Alabama |
Office: Tom Barnes Education Center, Room 1038
Lab: ELDEN Lab (elden.ua.edu), Tom Barnes Education Center, Room 1057 Email: fsoylu@ua.edu Mailbox: The University of Alabama, College of Education, Box 870231, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 |
Research
I use perspectives and methods from learning sciences, cognitive science, and neuroscience to explore mechanisms of learning and cognition and to design learning environments for STEM domains. I am particularly interested in how bodily systems support mathematical cognition and the evolution of mathematical abilities. I use both experimental (behavioral, fMRI & EEG/ERP), and design-based research methods in my studies. Being a dad to three kids, I also consider myself an "action researcher."
Short Bio
My hometown is Ankara, the capital of Turkey. After graduating from TED Ankara High School, I received a BS degree in computer education and instructional technology, and took graduate courses in cognitive science at the Middle East Technical University. I completed my dissertation on the embodiment of arithmetic processing in the Cognitive Neuroimaging Lab, and received a dual PhD in Instructional Systems Technology and Cognitive Science from Indiana University, Bloomington in 2011. Following that, I was a postdoctoral fellow at the Center for Connected Learning and Computer Based Modeling at Northwestern University for three years.
In 2014, I started working as an assistant professor of Educational Psychology and Neuroscience in the Department of Educational Studies, at the University of Alabama. While at UA, I have led the development of the Educational Neuroscience PhD Concentration and the Educational Neuroscience BSc program at UA (http://edneuro.ua.edu), in addition to establishing the ELDEN Lab.
I use perspectives and methods from learning sciences, cognitive science, and neuroscience to explore mechanisms of learning and cognition and to design learning environments for STEM domains. I am particularly interested in how bodily systems support mathematical cognition and the evolution of mathematical abilities. I use both experimental (behavioral, fMRI & EEG/ERP), and design-based research methods in my studies. Being a dad to three kids, I also consider myself an "action researcher."
Short Bio
My hometown is Ankara, the capital of Turkey. After graduating from TED Ankara High School, I received a BS degree in computer education and instructional technology, and took graduate courses in cognitive science at the Middle East Technical University. I completed my dissertation on the embodiment of arithmetic processing in the Cognitive Neuroimaging Lab, and received a dual PhD in Instructional Systems Technology and Cognitive Science from Indiana University, Bloomington in 2011. Following that, I was a postdoctoral fellow at the Center for Connected Learning and Computer Based Modeling at Northwestern University for three years.
In 2014, I started working as an assistant professor of Educational Psychology and Neuroscience in the Department of Educational Studies, at the University of Alabama. While at UA, I have led the development of the Educational Neuroscience PhD Concentration and the Educational Neuroscience BSc program at UA (http://edneuro.ua.edu), in addition to establishing the ELDEN Lab.