Ezgi Yüksel is a Cognitive Psychology PhD student with a keen interest in memory, learning, and metacognitive processes within educational contexts. Learn more about her research with the Learning and Transfer lab and her favorite spots in Madison here.
Please describe your research in a way an elementary school student might understand.
I study how people learn and how we can improve their learning. More specifically, imagine you’re trying to learn basic arithmetic: addition, subtraction, and multiplication. Is it better to practice one type of problem at a time, or mix them all together? I try to understand what helps learners remember better.
What inspired you to pursue that research?
As a lifelong learner, and someone who has always loved learning, I became more and more curious about the mechanisms behind it. That curiosity led me to study how people learn and how we can make learning more effective.
What are your hobbies outside of school?
I love running, exploring new places, and spending time with friends. I also really enjoy traveling and trying new food whenever I get the chance!
What are your favorite places or things to do in Madison?
In Madison, I love running by the lakes. The farmers’ market around the Capitol is also one of my favorite weekend activities. I’ve also started loving (!) winter a bit more thanks to ice skating… And just outside of Madison, I loved visiting House on the Rock, definitely one of the most interesting places I’ve seen!
What’s a positive experience from graduate school that will stay with you?
Working closely with my lab and collaborators has been one of the best parts. It’s been really meaningful to see how much my work has been shaped by my partners in science.
Congratulations, you’ve earned your PhD! How will you celebrate and what would you love to do next?
I’ll definitely celebrate with friends and family first. And a trip somewhere warm wouldn’t hurt (so I’ll go home to Turkiye!). After that, I’m excited to continue doing research at the University of Chicago as a postdoc.