Biography

Dr Laura Lee is the Research Manager in the Centre for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning (CIRTL). In this role she is responsible for the identification and development of research initiatives, and provides support for the national and international research projects CIRTL is a partner on. She also coordinates new initiatives enacted by the CIRTL team. 

She is currently the institutional lead for the Strategic Alignment of Teaching and Learning Enhancement (SATLE) fund 2020, with an associated budget of €0.5 million. She also led and coordinated the institution-wide response to the SATLE 2019 call, with a budget of almost €0.5 million. This work resulted in 26 Learning and Teaching Enhancement initiatives being awarded to UCC by the Higher Education Authority.

To date, she has coordinated six Erasmus+ Capacity Building and Strategic Partnership projects at a local level, with associated budgets of up to €95,000. She provides high level administrative support to the projects, including reporting to the European Commission, managing logistics of local training events, and budgetary planning and overview.

She has worked in a research and teaching capacity across several Erasmus+ projects, and has gained extensive experience working as a researcher across a variety of projects.

Laura also co-facilitates a Digital Badge in Universal Design for Learning. To date, 59 UCC staff have completed the digital badge. 

With a background in Applied Psychology, she have a keen interest and expertise in research ethics processes and requirements. In her role she has worked to promote an institution-wide culture of ethical rigour in research in learning and teaching. This has included open seminars on same, and one-to-one support to students undertaking the Masters in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education. She also sits on the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education’s Research Ethics Audit Committee, and is a member of UCC’s Social Research Ethics Committee.

Laura completed a BA in Applied Psychology in UCC. She went on to earn a PhD in Applied Psychology. Her most recent qualifications include a Postgraduate Certificate and Diploma in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education. She is currently undertaking a Masters in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education. 

Research Interests

Universal design for learning, inclusive assessment, professional development in learning and teaching in higher education, research ethics in learning and teaching in higher education.

Research Grants

  Project Funding
Body
Start Date End Date Award
Developing and Implementing Technology-Enhanced Teaching and Learning at Georgian HEIs (DITECH) ERASMUS 15-JAN-21 14-JAN-24 €34,473.00
Qualifications recognition support for Ukrainian universities (QuarSU) ERASMUS 15-NOV-19 14-NOV-22 €53,702.00
Alliance of Universities to reform curricula that outcasts radicalism in Asian societies (AURORA) ERASMUS 15-OCT-19 14-OCT-22 €43,048.00
Innovative Teacher Education through personalized learning (InterPearl) ERASMUS 01-OCT-18 01-DEC-21 €95,019.00
Developing an international language of teaching and learning spaces to enhance student learning Higher Education Authority (HEA) 01-MAY-18 31-DEC-18 €8,640.00
Teaching across cultural strengths Higher Education Authority (HEA) 01-OCT-18 31-MAY-19 €16,500.00
Assessment Tools for New Learning Environments in Higher Education Institutions ERASMUS 01-OCT-17 01-OCT-20 €988,000.00
Transforming Assessment Practices in Large Enrollment First Year Education ERASMUS 10-OCT-16 10-OCT-19 €508,118.00
Teaching Excellence in Israel (TeachEx) ERASMUS 15-OCT-15 14-OCT-18 €47,984.00

Books

  Year Publication
(2020) Personalized Learning within Teacher Education: A Framework and Guidelines.
Stefanija Alisauskiene, Hafdís Guðjónsdóttir, Jónína Vala Kristinsdóttir, Tracey Connolly, Catherine O'Mahony, Laura Lee, Lina Milteniene, Rita Meliene, Lina Kaminskiene, Ausra Rutkiene, Vita Venslovaite, Simona Kontrimiene, Ausra Kazlauskiene, & Anna Katarzyna Wozniczka (2020) Personalized Learning within Teacher Education: A Framework and Guidelines. Geneva: UNESCO International Bureau of Education. [Details]

Published Reports

  Year Publication
(2017) Connecting, Listening, and Enhancing: Placing Student Perceptions of their Educational Experience at the Heart of Decision Making at UCC.
Lee, L., O' Halloran, J., Noonan, E., Byrne, M., & Irwin, S. (2017) Connecting, Listening, and Enhancing: Placing Student Perceptions of their Educational Experience at the Heart of Decision Making at UCC. University College Cork, Cork. [ Publisher's Version] [Details]

Peer Reviewed Journals

  Year Publication
(2016) 'The Effects of Mindfulness Interventions on Prenatal Well-being: A Systematic Review'
Matvienko-Sikar, K., Lee, L., Murphy, G., & Murphy, L. (2016) 'The Effects of Mindfulness Interventions on Prenatal Well-being: A Systematic Review'. Psychology and Health, [Details]

Other Journals

  Year Publication
(2014) 'When teaching is not enough: Exploring educational computer games as a method of improving reading ability'
Lee, L. (2014) 'When teaching is not enough: Exploring educational computer games as a method of improving reading ability' The Boolean, :56-61. [Details]

Education

  Year Institution Qualification Subject
2020 UCC Diploma in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education Teaching and Learning in Higher Education
2019 UCC Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education Teaching and Learning in Higher Education
2017 University College Cork PhD Applied Psychology
2010 University College Cork BA - PSYCHOLOGY - UCC Applied Psychology

Employment

  Employer Position From / To
Centre for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning Research Manager 17-JUL-17 /
Dublin City University Undergraduate Research Tutor 20-OCT-17 /
Office of the Vice President for Teaching and Learning Postdoctoral Research Assistant 01-FEB-17 / 30-JUN-17
St. Nicholas Montessori College Lecturer 01-SEP-16 / 31-JAN-17
School of Applied Psychology, UCC Research Assistant 01-JUN-16 / 31-AUG-16
Librazo Ltd Researcher 01-JUN-16 / 31-MAR-17
School of Applied Psychology, UCC Lecturer 01-SEP-15 / 31-JAN-16
School of Applied Psychology, UCC Teaching Assistant 01-SEP-11 / 30-SEP-14

Conference Contributions

  Year Publication
(2021) AHEAD Conference 2021,
Lee, L., and Butler, B. (2021) Universal Design for Learning at UCC: Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going. [Oral Presentation], AHEAD Conference 2021, Online . [Details]
(2020) EMINENT: Student Voice and Engagement in Programme Self-Evaluation,
Lee, L., O'Mahony, C. and Cronin, J. (2020) Gathering and using student feedback to inform teaching, learning and assessment. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], EMINENT: Student Voice and Engagement in Programme Self-Evaluation, Online , 20-NOV-20 - 20-NOV-20. [Details]
(2018) Learning Spaces: Cutting Edge Research at UCL,
Lee, L. (2018) Rethinking Learning Spaces Together: Reflections on a Research and Practice Exchange between University College Cork, University College London, and University of Bergen. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], Learning Spaces: Cutting Edge Research at UCL, University College London , 20-NOV-18 - 20-NOV-18. [Details]
(2018) International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning,
Lee, L., & O Mahony, C. (2018) Professional Development in Teaching and Learning: Interpreting Experiences and Responding to Needs. [Poster Presentation], International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, Bergen, Norway , 26-OCT-18 - 26-OCT-18. [Details]
(2018) International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning,
Supple, B., & Lee, L. (2018) “We Shape Our Buildings and Afterwards the Buildings Shape Us”: Space as a Catalyst for SoTL. [Poster Presentation], International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, Bergen, Norway , 26-OCT-18 - 26-OCT-18. [Details]
(2017) European Association of Work and Organizational Psychology,
Linehan, C., Dockray, S., & Lee, L. (2017) “Anyone shout at you today Mum?”: Mapping the physiological and subjective impacts of emotional labour demands on pharmacy staff. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], European Association of Work and Organizational Psychology, University College Dublin . [Details]
(2016) PhD Symposium,
Lee, L. (2016) Reading fluency: Exploring a critical reading construct in monolingual and bilingual learners. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], PhD Symposium, Maynooth University . [Details]
(2015) Annual Nursing & Midwifery Research Conference,
O’ Leary, K., Lee, L., Murphy, G., & Murphy, L. (2015) A Review of Mindfulness Intervention Effects on Prenatal Stress, Depression and Anxiety. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], Annual Nursing & Midwifery Research Conference, University College Cork . [Details]
(2015) The Psychological Society of Ireland Conference for Early Career Psychologists,
L. Lee (2015) Evaluating Reading Interventions in Real Life Settings: What Works?. [Poster Presentation], The Psychological Society of Ireland Conference for Early Career Psychologists, National University of Ireland Galway , 28-FEB-15 - 28-FEB-15. [Details]
(2014) Postgraduate Research Conference, Graduate School, College of Arts, Celtic Studies & Social Sciences University College Cork,
L. Lee (2014) Supplemental Reading Fluency Instruction: What works?. [Oral Presentation], Postgraduate Research Conference, Graduate School, College of Arts, Celtic Studies & Social Sciences University College Cork, University College Cork . [Details]
(2014) 28th International Congress of Applied Psychology,
L.Lee, M. Szczerbinski, A. Ní Cheartaigh, H. O' Donoghue (2014) Going Back to Basics: Evaluating Paired Reading as a Method of Improving Reading Fluency and Comprehension. [Oral Presentation], 28th International Congress of Applied Psychology, Paris , 08-JUL-14 - 13-MAR-15. [Details]
(2013) Joint Annual Conference of the BPS Developmental and Cognitive Sections,
L. Lee, M. Szczerbinski , J. Piotrowska, A. Keurulainen (2013) The use of computerised intervention to support reading fluency development in primary school children. [Poster Presentation], Joint Annual Conference of the BPS Developmental and Cognitive Sections, University of Reading , 04-SEP-13 - 06-SEP-13. [Details]
(2013) The 14th Educational Technology Conference of the Irish Learning Technology Association (ILTA),
L. Lee, M. Szczerbinski , J. Piotrowska, A. Keurulainen (2013) Online computer games as a tool for reading fluency training. [Poster Presentation], The 14th Educational Technology Conference of the Irish Learning Technology Association (ILTA), University College Cork , 30-MAY-13 - 31-MAY-13. [Details]

Committees

  Committee Function From / To
Social Research Ethics Committee Member 2019 /
National Forum Research Ethics Audit Committee Member 2019 /

Professional Associations

  Association Function From / To
International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Member 27-JUN-18 /

Honours and Awards

  Year Title Awarding Body
2015 Postgraduate Research Travel Bursary College of Arts, Celtic Studies, and Social Sciences
2013 Conference Bursary Teaching and Learning Centre, University College Cork
2008 College Scholar University College Cork
2007 Entrance Scholarship University College Cork

Other Activities

  Description

May 2018: Reviewer, Teaching & Learning Research and Enhancement Fund 2018 

February 2017 - April 2018: Reviewer, Psychology of Language and Communication Journal

June 2015: Reviewer, The ACM SIGCHI Annual Symposium on Computer-Human Interaction in Play

June 2015: Reviewer, The Boolean Journal

July 2013 - Sept 2013: Volunteer, Together Razem Centre. I offered weekly individual support sessions to a 6-year-old bilingual child struggling with English spoken language and reading.

Sept 2012 - June 2015: Advisor, Suas Educational Development.  I collaborated with the Suas Educational Development organisation to facilitate the development of the Suas Literacy Support Programme. My responsibilities involved advising on effective literacy interventions, training Suas mentors in the practice of Paired Reading, and evaluating the effectiveness of Paired Reading programmes using both quantitative and qualitative means.

Sept 2008 - Jan 2009: Volunteer, Suas Educational Development Homework Club. I offered weekly support sessions to primary school children, assisting them with their school work.