AI and Education Initiative Human and Machine Learning Lunch Series with Ola Ozernov-Palchik, PhD

Speaker: Ola Ozernov-Palchik, PhD, Research Faculty at Wheelock College and AI and Education Initiative at Boston University; McGovern Institute at MIT

Talk Title: Neurocognitive mechanisms in reading development and the promise of AI

Abstract: Reading is a complex cognitive process that requires extracting meaning from often noisy and ambiguous text signals. Individual variability in reading skills is largely explained by two key abilities: word identification and language comprehension. In this talk, I will first describe the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying these components and illustrate how they interact in both typical and atypical reading development. Next, I will discuss current efforts to leverage AI-based methods to gain insights into naturalistic language learning, optimize speech recognition for children, and develop precise measurements and targeted interventions for learners with disabilities. I will conclude with a discussion of the transformative potential of integrating cognitive neuroscience, AI, and education to advance equity in educational outcomes.

Bio: Ola Ozernov-Palchik is a research assistant professor at Boston University Wheelock College of Education & Human Development and core faculty at the AI & Education Initiative. She is also a research scientist at MIT’s McGovern Institute for Brain Research. Dr. Ozernov-Palchik’s multi-disciplinary research centers on the cognitive neuroscience of language and literacy development, with a strong emphasis on translational work aimed at advancing learning for all students and promoting educational equity. Her recent line of research includes harnessing and advancing AI to create effective, personalized, and scalable tools for literacy.

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