News

Undergraduate research opportunities

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We have several openings for students and staff in our lab across multiple projects.

Current openings:

  • Federal work-study student position focusing on lab administrative, outreach, and research support. Apply using the link below. Applicants who include a cover letter detailing why they are interested and how their knowledge/experience applies to this position will be given preference. 
  • Undergraduate research assistants are wanted on multiple projects. See the links below for details about each project. Interested candidates should email a cover letter and CV/resume to Natalie Day (day.836@osu.edu). Cover letters should detail (a) why the student is interested in the position; (b) ability to work as part of a collaborative team; (c) skills/knowledge related to research, early childhood education, and/or language/literacy development; (d) previous experience indicating that they are professional, dependable, and reliable; (e) whether interested in credit, apprenticeship, volunteer, or paid hours; and (f) access to transportation. 

Not a student? Coming soon:

Interested in participating in our research as a participant? Fill out this survey!

We received a new NIH grant!

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Scarlet outlined banner announcing a new $3,900,000 grant awarded
The Early Literacy and Learning Lab Has even more news! We have received another new grant! The National institutes of health has awarded Dr. Shayne Piasta, Dr. Beth Phillips, Dr. Lakeisha Johnson, and Dr. Christopher Schatschneider a $3,900,000 Research grant for the project Optimizing early phonological awareness instruction to support reading and spelling acquisition. In partnership with schools in the Columbus. OH area and Northern Fl.
Scarlet outlined banner detailing the OPAL PROJECT
The OPAL project optimizing phonological awareness learning. Phonological awareness – the “umbrella term” that refers to the ability to hear and manipulate sound units in speech – and phonemic awareness – the ability to hear and manipulate individual phonemes – are represented broadly in educational curricula and learning standards. However, there has been surprisingly little research about how to best teach these. This project aims to contribute to the science of teaching phonological awareness by answering questions about what to teach (phonological or phonemic awareness), to whom, and when. In the long term, the optimization of phonological awareness instruction helps prevent reading difficulties and disparities. This project will consist of two randomized controlled trials in which the team will evaluate three different interventions. The project will fund a new PhD student as a graduate research associate. If you are interested in learning more about this project, please contact EL3@osu.edu.

2024 CCEC Symposium

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We had a great time at the 2024 CCEC Symposium on Children! A few members of our lab got to share some of our research with a broad audience of scholars, educators, and policy makers.

Photo of Hyejin Kim next to poster presentation at 2024 CCEC Symposium on Children
Hyejin Kim. Poster titled “Preschool teachers’ use of scaffolding during shared book reading: Are there differences between classrooms in which children exhibit higher versus lower language gains?
Photo of Zeynep Arslan and Zoe Lightcap next to poster presentation at 2024 CCEC Symposium on Children
Zeynep Arslan and Zoe Lightcap. Poster titled: Central Ohio Grade 1 teachers’ reported use of research-tested language and literacy curricula and interventions

Opening for Ph.D. student in 2025-2026

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Dr. Shayne Piasta will be accepting applications from students seeking to begin a Ph.D. with an early literacy research focus in the 2025-2026 academic year!​

Dr. Piasta is committed to supporting the next generation of early literacy researchers. EL3 Ph.D. trainees join team projects to gain hands-on experience conducting school-based and in-lab research studies (recruitment, intervention, assessment, protocol and measure development, data management). Students are highly engaged in quantitative data analysis and dissemination activities, including dissemination to practitioners and other education stakeholders. Dr. Piasta has funding for at least two new incomng Ph.D. students starting in Autumn, 2025.​

Dr. Piasta’s doctoral advisees enroll in the Literacies, Literature, and Learning specialization in the Department of Teaching and Learning. Ph.D. applications are due December 1, 2024. Applicants are strongly encouraged to reach out to Dr. Piasta (Piasta.1@osu.edu) ahead of application submission to discuss overlap in research interests; in their application, they should indicate in the personal statement that they have interest in working with Dr. Piasta and/or other specific faculty within the program. Questions about the Ph.D. program or application process can be directed to tl-academicservices@osu.edu.