Zilu Jiang, Ph.D., is an Assistant Research Scientist at the Center for Social Organization of Schools in the Johns Hopkins University School of Education. Her research bridges educational psychology and learning technologies to examine how motivation, engagement, and achievement develop over time and across diverse learning contexts. Approaching learning as a dynamic, context-sensitive process, she employs longitudinal, situational, and advanced quantitative methods to investigate how educational settings, instructional conditions, and support structures shape learners’ experiences and academic outcomes. Her research spans K–12 and higher education, with particular attention to online, blended, and technology-enhanced learning environments, and offers evidence-based insights for designing learning experiences and supports that adapt to students’ evolving needs and pathways to success.

Extending this empirical foundation, Jiang integrates educational theory, analytic evidence, and applied design within a broader program of translational research. She designs and evaluates educational interventions, technology applications, and AI-supported systems that promote student learning and development while strengthening educators’ capacity to provide responsive support. Across these interconnected strands, her scholarship advances evidence-based solutions that translate research into informed action.

Through this integrated program of research, Jiang fosters a more connected relationship among educational theory, empirical evidence, technological development, and practice. Her work contributes to a deeper understanding of learning and supports the continued improvement of educational systems in meeting the needs of all students.