CONSYLIUM
Research Fellows

We believe that responsible AI integration in schools must be guided by empirical evidence rather than speculation or assumption. The potential benefits and risks of AI can only be discerned through a thorough analysis of data examined from multiple disciplinary, methodological, and experiential lenses. This commitment to evidence-based inquiry anchors our entire organizational approach, and our CONSYLIUM Research Fellows bring this vision to life.

The CONSYLIUM Research Fellows are a distinguished network of scholars and researchers who are actively engaged in empirical investigations at the intersection of AI and K–12 education. Their work focuses on understanding how emerging technologies influence teaching, learning, and the broader educational ecosystem. Grounded in rigorous methodological approaches, their research interrogates the complex and rapidly evolving impacts of artificial intelligence on students, teachers, and school communities.

Fellows investigate various topics including how AI influences students’ cognitive development, socioemotional learning, psychological wellbeing, and academic identity formation, among other key focus areas. By translating complex findings into actionable guidance, our school partners are empowered with robust data that illuminates how AI is shaping the experiences, needs, and aspirations of their students and educators.

By engaging with our Fellows, schools not only deepen their understanding of their own communities, but also contribute to advancing scholarly knowledge about AI in education more broadly. This reciprocal model positions partner schools as leaders in a rapidly evolving landscape, demonstrating a commitment to thoughtful and ethical innovation.

Our network includes scholars from Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania, UCLA, the University of Southern California, the University of Michigan, Teachers College, Columbia University, and other top research institutions across the country.

Ying Xu, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Harvard University
CONSYLIUM Research Fellow

Dr. Ying Xu is an Assistant Professor of AI in Learning and Education at
Harvard University. Her research focuses on the design and evaluation of AI systems that support children's and adolescents’ cognitive
development, academic achievement, and social-emotional well-being. Xu collaborates closely with children, families, educators, and community organizations to conduct field-driven research that informs educational practice and public policy. She also partners with major organizations such as PBS KIDS and Sesame Workshop. Her research is supported by over six million dollars in funding from the National Science Foundation and other philanthropic organizations. Xu earned her Ph.D. in Language, Literacy, and Technology from the University of California, Irvine. Prior to joining Harvard in 2024, she was an Assistant Professor of Learning Sciences and Technology at the University of Michigan from 2022 to 2024.