Ph.D. Student Specializing in Learning, Cognition, and Development

Ph.D. student Nayssan Safavian has been awarded an AERA fellowhip to participate in the Division E Graduate Student Seminars at the April 2009 AERA Annual Meeting in San Diego, California. Division E awards a limited number of fellowships to outstanding full-time, advanced level doctoral students who are approaching the dissertation phase of their programs. Recipients of a fellowship must be members of Division E and nominated by a professor who is a member of Division E.

During the seminars, students receive mentoring and advice from current faculty members and have opportunities to develop professional relationships with current and future leaders within the field. Students also work with faculty in small groups to discuss the student's dissertation research and receive guidance and suggestions. The seminars are intended to encourage informal exchange of ideas about research, particularly the research plans of the students; to demystify the process of becoming a researcher; and encourage inter-university connections for those with common interests. Some of the seminar presentations explore topics such as surviving the dissertation process, and grants and funding opportunities. A panel discussion provides information on teaching, research, and publishing within the context.

In addition to participating in the Graduate Student Seminars, fellowship recipients attend conference presentations, participate in social events, and meet with distinguished researchers.

Ms. Safavian is in her second year of study for the Ph.D. in Education. Her research interests include motivation, adolescent mental health, learning through arts, adolescent identity development, and student self-efficacy beliefs.