Maria’s research focuses on designing effective learning environments and applying insights from cognitive science and neuroscience to improve teaching, training, and educational practice. Her work explores how people learn and how evidence-informed instructional design and learner-centred pedagogies can support meaningful learning, and skill development (e.g., decision-making competence) across educational and professional contexts. While much of her earlier research focused on primary science education, her recent projects increasingly examine university student experience, including equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI), student engagement, belonging, and graduate employability.

Maria completed her doctoral studies in Psychology and Education at the Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge, where she investigated the effects of different learning environments on primary school children’s decision-making in socio-scientific issues. She also holds an MPhil in Educational Research (Cantab) and an MA in Science Education (University of Athens). A primary school teacher by training, her research has a strong applied focus and draws extensively on cognitive psychology to improve teaching, learning, and training design. She is also committed to open science and reproducible research practices.

Alongside her academic work, Maria collaborates with organisations and research networks (e.g., The World Bank, UKRN) on the design, evaluation, and improvement of training and professional development programmes. Her consultancy work focuses on developing evidence-informed learning experiences and evaluating whether training programmes lead to meaningful and measurable impact.