About
I am a cognitive neuroscientist and researcher interested in how technology can support multilingual learners and strengthen the active use of minority and heritage languages. My work explores how people engage with AI-powered learning tools, including interactive storybooks, conversational agents, and speech technologies, with a focus on equity, usability, and cultural relevance.
I bring a background in developmental science, human-computer interaction, cognitive neuroscience, and bilingual education, and I am committed to designing inclusive technologies that reflect the linguistic and cultural diversity of their users. I recently completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, where I studied how children engage with AI-driven learning tools. I now continue as a Visiting Scholar, supporting ongoing research and exploring new opportunities at the intersection of cognitive science, multilingual learning, and educational technology.
Research Journey
My work bridges cognitive neuroscience, child-computer interaction, and multilingual education. I began by studying how we process foreign-accented speech: what our brains do when we hear someone speak differently than expected.
During my Ph.D. at the Basque Center on Cognition, Brain, and Language, I explored how speaker identity influences cognitive effort, attention, and comprehension using EEG and behavioral methods. At the University of Michigan and Harvard Graduate School of Education, I extended this work to examine how children interact with AI storytelling characters, speech technologies, and bilingual learning tools.
What began as an interest in how conversational partners shape learning and attention has evolved into a focus on the cognitive and behavioral effects of interacting with AI. I am particularly interested in how these interactions influence learning processes, both positively and critically. More broadly, my research asks how we speak, understand, and learn in a multilingual, increasingly technology-mediated world.
What Drives My Work
Across my projects, I focus on designing and evaluating tools that are:
- inclusive of diverse language backgrounds
- grounded in science
- ethically designed to support families and educators
I collaborate on the development and evaluation of bilingual dialogic eBooks, STEM learning tools, and automatic speech recognition systems, all with the goal of helping children learn through responsive, human-centered technologies.
A Vision for AI and Language Equity
As AI rapidly advances for dominant languages like English, there is a real risk that heritage and minoritized languages will be sidelined. Children who use tools that do not support their home languages may feel discouraged from maintaining them. My long-term goal is to develop and evaluate AI-driven tools that actively promote minority and heritage language use, revitalization, and pride.
I am also invested in making sure that access to AI does not become a new axis of educational inequality, where some learners gain unfair advantages while others are left behind. As AI becomes increasingly embedded in learning and everyday life, I believe it is essential that people understand not only how to use these tools, but also the risks of misuse, from overreliance and loss of critical thinking to the spread of misinformation. Technology should empower, not marginalize.
Community Engagement
Science is for everyone. While social media can be useful for scientific dissemination, I believe that local, micro-community engagement is also critical. I advocate for more researchers to get involved in community-based efforts, not just as a side project, but as a central part of what it means to do science in an inclusive and socially responsible way.
Pint of Science
Pint of Science is a global initiative that gives scientists and the public the opportunity to come together over informal conversation and science. Local events create space for researchers to share their work in accessible settings, with discussion encouraged.
Brain Awareness Week
Brain Awareness Week is dedicated to making brain science engaging for young learners. Through interactive activities and hands-on demonstrations, children can explore how their brains work, from perception and memory to language and emotion.
Immigrant and Community Support
As a foreigner living in the Basque Country, I witnessed firsthand the challenges many immigrants face when trying to build a new life in a different cultural and linguistic context. I have supported community organizations in Donostia, including immigrant-support and anti-racism efforts connected to La Red de Acogida and SOS Racismo.
Community AI Literacy
Most recently, I have become interested in supporting AI literacy for children and families, especially as tools like ChatGPT and voice assistants become part of everyday life. I am exploring hands-on workshops, tutorials, and resources that help families understand how AI works, what it can and cannot do, and how to use it responsibly.
If you're developing programs or looking to collaborate on educational outreach in this area, let's chat! Send me a message on LinkedIn.