Sara A. Smith, Ph.D. received her doctorate in Applied Linguistics and Second Language Acquisition from the Department of Education at the University of Oxford, followed by postdoctoral research in the Brain.Experience.Education Lab at Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Faculty Directory
Sara Smith, Ph.D.
The goals of her research program are to: 1) generate predictive theories of language acquisition that incorporate language environment and individual differences; and 2) develop scalable technology-enhanced solutions for enabling learning, informed by the first goal. She also has expertise in disability and atypical speech and language development.
She has published over 40 academic papers, holds a patent for a system of language instruction via AR, and has been an invited speaker at both academic and industry events. Smith has been PI or Co-PI on over $4M in grants, including from the National Science Foundation (NSF), Institute of Education Sciences (IES), and the Department of Education.
Smith is available for doctoral advising. She welcomes students with interests in bilingualism/multilingualism, language learning, and emerging technologies.
Education
- Doctor of Philosophy in Education, Concentration: Applied Linguistics and Second Language Acquisition, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
- Master of Science with Distinction (Honors), Applied Linguistics and Second Language Acquisition, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
- Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and Spanish, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Research Interests
- Language Learning
- Language Development
- Bilingualism and Biliteracy
- Cognition
- Dual Language Learners
- ESOL
- Foreign Language Learning
- Learning Sciences
- Technology
- Executive Functioning
- Reading
- Quantitative Research
Professional Appointments
- 2026-present Associate Professor, Department of Language, Literacy, Exceptional Ed, Ed.D., Physical Education, 色色研究所
- 2023-2025 Associate Professor, School of Teaching and Learning, University of Florida
- 2017-2023 Assistant Professor, Department of Language, Literacy, Exceptional Ed, Ed.D., Physical Education, 色色研究所
- 2014-2017 Assistant Professor, Department of Human Development and Women鈥檚 Studies, California State University East Bay
- 2014-2014 Lecturer, Department of Applied Linguistics, University of Massachusetts Boston
- 2013-2014 Visiting Professor, Department of Special Education & Communication Disorders, Bridgewater State University
- 2013-2014 Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Brain Experience Education Lab, Harvard University Graduate School of Education
Awards and Honors
- 2024-2026 BO Smith Research Professor, University of Florida
Affiliate Faculty, UF Institute for Advanced Learning Technologies (IALT) - 2022 Dr. Kathleen Moore Faculty Excellence Award, 色色研究所 Women in Leadership and Philanthropy
- 2021 Reimagine Education Awards, VR/AR Award, Shortlisted Finalist
- 2020 Excellence in Innovation Award, 色色研究所
- 2020 Cade Prize, Fibonacci Finalist
- 2017 California State University East Bay, Provost鈥檚 Award Outstanding Researchers
