Serene Wang, PhD

Dr.

Serene

Wang is a language scientist and educator. She received her Ph.D. in Psychology (Psycholinguistics) from Cornell University, with her dissertation research focusing on the cognitive science of second language learning, chunking, and processing. Outside of the laboratory, she also worked closely with second language learners and speakers in the classroom and language support settings.

During her time at Cornell, she taught a reading and writing course for heritage Chinese speakers, two Mandarin Language Across the Curriculum sections attached to Psychology courses, and facilitated English and Mandarin Conversation Hours at the LRC for three years. Dr. Wang is currently working as a local language instructor in Ithaca, teaching ESL at TST BOCES and Mandarin at Raft Education.

Adult Education ESL Instructor at TST BOCES (02/2026 – Present)

• Classroom instruction at intermediate-advanced course level
• Administer proficiency assessments (BEST PLUS 3.0)
• Generate detailed test reports and individualized recommendations
• Develop course materials
• Design classroom activities
• Provide academic and professional writing consultation
• Host weekly book club meetings
• Assist with initial intake and case management

Doctoral Researcher at Cognitive Science of Language Lab, Department of Psychology, Cornell University (08/2020 – 12/2025)

Dissertation projects: 1. Chunking and online sentence processing in the second language; 2. Measuring real-time second language proficiency; 3. The role of chunk-based language skills in memory retention of academic content. Other projects: 1. The interchangeability hypothesis in first and second language communication; 2. Production facilitated statistical learning of phonological regularities.

• Lab management: oversaw general lab operations; coordinated communication and collaborations; organized lab meetings
• Led journal club article selections and discussions
• Recruited, trained, and mentored undergraduate research assistants
• Supervised undergraduate honor's theses

Graduate Teaching Assistant at Department of Psychology, Cornell University (08/2020 – 05/2025)

Courses: Psychology of Language (SP25, SP24, SP21), Introduction to Cognitive Science (SU24, SU23, SU22), Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience (FA23), Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood (SP23), Early Multilingualism and Multiculturalism (FA22), Adult Psychopathology (SP22), Introduction to Behavioral Neuroscience (FA21), Statistics and Research Design (FA20)

Chinese Language Instructor at Department of Asian Studies, Cornell University (09/2024 – 12/2024)

Course: Intermediate Chinese Reading and Writing for Students of Chinese Heritage

• Classroom instruction
• Lesson preparation in accordance with course syllabus developed by supervising teacher
• Graded quizzes
• Graded assignments
• Corrected and graded student essays
• Hosted office hours
• Course admin

Language Across the Curriculum Instructor at College of Arts and Sciences, Cornell University (09/2023 – 05/2024)

Courses: Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience (FA23), Psychology of Language (SP24)

• Developed course syllabi
• Classroom instruction
• Lesson preparation
• Facilitated discussions in the target language
• Designed and graded assignments
• Hosted office hours
• Course admin

Lab Manager, Post-bacc Researcher at Furman Memory Lab, Department of Psychology, Furman University (01/2020 – 08/2020)

Research projects: 1. Collective memory for American leaders; 2. Lexical acquisition and the testing effect in advanced-level second language learners.

• Set up new lab space
• Developed new filing and organizational system
• Facilitated lab meetings and research projects
• Composed lab manual

Undergraduate Teaching Assistant at Department of Psychology, Furman University (01/2018 – 05/2020)

Courses: Childhood & Adolescence (SP20), General Psychology (SP20), Research Methods and Statistics (FA19), General Psychology (SP18)

Graduate Student Intern at Language Resource Center, Cornell University (09/2023 – 12/2025)

• Contributed to and expanded existing language support initiatives
• Served as a reviewer for LRC grant proposals
• Peer reviewed a chapter for LRC Handbook 2025
• Wrote a manuscript (under review) on advocating for academic support for ESL students
• Developing a website providing resources and academic support for international students

Conversation Hour Facilitator at Language Resource Center, Cornell University (09/2023 – 12/2025)

Languages: English, Mandarin Chinese

ESL Speaking Group Facilitator at English Language Support Office, Cornell University (09/2021 – 05/2024)

Ph.D. in Psychology (Perception, Cognition, and Development - Psycholinguistics) – Cornell University (08/2020 – 12/2025)

B.S. in Psychology – Furman University (08/2016 – 12/2019)