Department: Research & Test Development - Research Assistants

Role/Grade	Cúntóir Taighde/Research Assistant
Team	Forbairt Tástála – TLUDC/TLLDC / Test Development – DTEN/DTEL
Research Interests	Litearthacht, An Ghaeilge, Anailís Inscneach/Literacy, Irish language, Gendered Analysis
Professional profile	Tá B.Sc bainte amach ag Róisín sa tSocheolaíocht agus sa Chóir Shóisialta agus tá Máistreacht bainte amach aici sa Staidéar Inscne. Bhain sí an dá chéim seo amach i gColáiste na hOllscoile, Baile Átha Cliath. Róisín holds a B.Sc. in Sociology & Social Justice and an M.A. in Gender Studies, both from University College Dublin.

Kervin Soobrayen is a Research Assistant at the Educational Research Centre since April 2024. He is currently working on the mathematical domain of PISA 2022. In addition, he previously worked on the Cultivating Creativity report. Kervin holds a BA in History and Linguistics from University College Dublin. He then went on to study psychology in UCD. Having graduated, Kervin went on to complete his MSc in Psychology at the same institution.

Peggy is a research assistant at the ERC since September 2024. She is currently working on the NAMER (National Assessments of Mathematics and English Reading) project. Peggy has previously worked as a second-level mathematics teacher for 15 years, as a mathematics education lecturer at the University of Adelaide and was National Coordinator of the PDMT (Professional Diploma in Mathematics for Teaching) working in EPI*STEM at the University of Limerick. She is a member of both the Teaching Council and the Irish Mathematics Teachers’ Association (IMTA).

Andrew joined the ERC in April 2024. Andrew joined to help with the implementation of the Programme for International Student Assessment 2025. He holds a B.Sc in Chemistry and a H.Dip in Psychology from University College Dublin

Jasmine joined the ERC as a Research Assistant in April 2024. She is currently working on the Progress in International Reading and Literacy Study (PIRLS) 2026, which examines reading achievement in 4^th class pupils. She holds a B.A. in Psychology and Sociology, and an M.A. in Psychology, both from the University of Limerick.

Natasha joined the ERC as a research assistant in March 2021 to work on the new online testing system for primary and post- primary schools. She holds a B.A. in Psychology & Sociology from the University of Limerick and a M.Sc. in Government and Politics from University College Cork.

Role/Grade	Research Assistant
Team	Test Development (DTEN/DTEL)
Research Interests	Test development, psychometrics, numeracy, educational disadvantage, Irish language, speakers of English as an additional language, child wellbeing, spatial inequalities, health behaviours, lifecourse studies.
Professional profile	Keishia joined the ERC as a Research Assistant in October 2022. She holds a M.Sc. in Applied Social Research from Trinity College Dublin and has studied at the Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London.
Researcher Profiles	www.researchgate.net/profile/Keishia-Taylor

Role/Grade	Research Assistant
Team	Test Development
Research Interests	Test Development Literacy Educational Disadvantage Digital Learning Evaluation
Professional profile	Eva has been a member of staff at the ERC since 2008. She currently works as a member of the Test Development team, on the PPAD-E test (Post-Primary Assessment and Diagnosis- English). She has previously worked on the evaluation of the Digital Learning Framework and has also worked on the evaluation of the SSP (Schools Support Programme) under DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools). She holds a B.Sc. in Psychology from the University of Ulster, and a M.Sc. in Evidence based Social Intervention from the University of Oxford.