Dr. Zenaida Aguirre-Muñoz is a Professor of Cognitive Science at UCM. Dr. Aguirre-Muñoz completed two bachelor's degrees from UC Santa Barbara in Psychology and Spanish. Aguirre-Muñoz received her Ph.D. in Psychological Studies in Education from the UC, Los Angeles. She began her professional career as a research scientist at the UCLA Center for Research, Evaluation, Standards, and Student Testing (CRESST). She was a faculty member at Texas Tech University and the University of Houston prior to joining the UC, Merced faculty. Her research integrates cognitive science, language, learning sciences, and assessment applied to the following research interests: (a) STEM education; (b) model-based assessment and instruction of dual language learners; (c) the impact of opportunity to learn on learning and achievement; and (d) content-area literacy development for dual language learners. Her research projects have been funded by organizations such as NSF, NIH, Department of Energy, and the US Department of Education.
