Sandra Camargo Salamanca
Postdoctoral Researcher, Educational Psychology

Camargo Salamanca was awarded a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology and Research Methodology from Purdue University. She holds double master's degrees: one in Education from Purdue University and another in Psychology from Universidad Nacional de Colombia, where her thesis on the concept of validity received Laureate recognition.

Tell us about your research interests and expertise.

My research primarily focuses on improving the quality of inferences drawn from assessment instruments and ensuring that the results are used more effectively in classrooms, schools, communities, and countries. I have extensive experience in psychometric analysis, meta-analysis, and quantitative methods research.

Mia Chudzik
Postdoctoral Researcher, Special Education

Chudzik completed her Ph.D. in Special Education from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2024.

What are the areas of your scholarship?

My research focuses on the use of trauma-informed care in early childhood special education. Particularly, I partner with early childhood special education professionals (e.g., preschool teachers, early interventionists) and caregivers to identify ways in which early childhood programming can support children with disabilities who have experienced trauma.

Nitasha Mathayas
Postdoctoral Researcher, Curriculum & Instruction

Mathayas completed her Ph.D. in Curriculum & Instruction from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2020.

Tell us about your research experience and background.

I am a science educator and learning scientist dedicated to reimagining how children engage with science and STEM more broadly. With a background as a K-8 classroom teacher and curriculum developer, she is passionate about creating playful and engaging science experiences for young learners and supporting teachers to improve their practice towards responsive and adaptive teaching. Her research spans a range of educational topics, including teacher professional development, developing innovative classroom technologies, embodied cognition in learning, and the intersection of these fields with science education.