Dr. Michelle Rivers (she/they) is an Assistant Professor at Santa Clara University near San Jose, California. They specialize in research on metacognition, STEM learning, and how test expectancy influences students’ study decisions. They earned their Ph.D. from Kent State University in 2021.

Dr. Rivers’ research applies theories of learning and memory to enhance educational practice. They are particularly interested in investigating factors that contribute to students’ metacognitive judgments. Their work has been published in leading peer-reviewed academic journals, and recognized by the National Science Foundation, the American Psychological Association, and the Psychonomic Society.

Dr. Rivers is passionate about science communication and mentoring LGBTQ+ students interested in STEM fields. They founded the blog Cogbites (bite-sized cognition), where early-career scientists work together to translate research about the study of mental processes to the general public. They have taught hands-on science and engineering topics to elementary students, tutored high school students, and taught undergraduate and graduate courses focused on research and cognitive science.

Additional languages spoken: Spanish (beginner)

Recommended research publication: Rivers, M. L. (2021). Metacognition about practice testing: A review of learners’ beliefs, monitoring, and control of test-enhanced learning. Educational Psychology Review, 33(3), 823-862.