What does it mean to know something, and how do we come to know what we know and understand what things mean? Words offer a unique window into these questions: they encode knowledge while also being both products of learning and tools for learning. Dr Korochkina’s research therefore focuses on how we learn and use words, and in particular on how the experience we build up, both within and beyond language, sculpts our thinking and processing; how new learning is shaped by what we already know; how learning changes with age; and how it adapts across settings and instructional conditions. She draws on a range of methods in her research, from behavioural and electrophysiological experimentation to NLP and computational modelling.

 

Dr Korochkina uses rigorous, state-of-the-art statistical methods, develops bespoke analytical approaches where needed, and advocates for open, transparent, and reproducible research. Her work to improve research methods and practices was recognised with the British Neuroscience Association’s Credibility Prize in 2023. She also works with teachers, educators, and policymakers to make research more accessible and ensure that diverse perspectives inform both the research process and its impact. You can read more about Dr Korochkina’s engagement with education stakeholders here. 

 

Prior to joining Aston, Dr Korochkina was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Rastle lab at Royal Holloway, University of London. She earned a PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience through the IDEALAB PhD programme at the University of Potsdam (Germany) and Macquarie University (Australia).