Dr. Lira earned his PhD in the Learning Sciences from the University of Illinois at Chicago where he investigated how students learn to coordinate their knowledge about mathematical and physical models in undergraduate biology education. He worked as a postdoctoral scholar in the biology department at Purdue University and taught abroad at Koc University in Istanbul, Turkey. At present, he investigates students resources and instructional strategies for using mathematical representations to promote students productive reasoning in biology. He has earned awards that include best conference paper at the International Society for the Psychology of Science and Technology and an award by the Chancellor at the University of Illinois at Chicago for his multidisciplinary work in the Learning Sciences and biology education. I am accepting graduate students. I invite you to apply especially if you hold a background in science (e.g., biology, physics, chemistry) or psychology (e.g., cognitive).