Lab Members
Principal Investigator
Ziva R. Hassenfeld is the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Assistant Professor in Jewish Education at Brandeis University. She studies reading comprehension from a sociocultural perspective, focusing on how children develop interpretations of the Hebrew Bible as a case of student reading development. She uses a variety of qualitative methods including ethnographic observation, stimulated recall interviewing and think-aloud interviewing. In her work on literacy she has also studied multimodal literacies, specifically the connection between computer programming and literacy in early childhood. Her courses at Brandeis include Reading (and Talking Back) to Research on Education (ED 165a), Religious Education in America (ED 161b), and The Reading Wars: What is Reading? How Do We Learn to Do It? And Why Do We Love to Fight About It?. She has previously taught The Centrality of Literacies in Teaching and Learning, a required course for all teacher candidates in the Stanford Teacher Education Program.
Dr. Michal Shapira-Junger is a Jewish education researcher specializing in teachers' professional identity and pedagogical practices across diverse contexts. Her research focuses on teachers' personal and professional identity and teaching practices at multicultural intersections, such as teaching emissaries in the Jewish diaspora and bi-national schools in Israel. Currently, she is conducting postdoctoral research at Brandeis University under the supervision of Professor Hassenfeld, focusing on teaching Biblical Hebrew as a second language. Alongside her Hebrew teaching research, Dr. Shapira-Junger continues her studies on educational emissaries.
Student Researchers
Agbarakwe (Abraham) Chukwuemeka is a physician and trained qualitative researcher who is currently a MS '26 post-graduate student in Global Health Policy and Management at Brandeis University. With experience leading and collaborating with over 15 research projects spanning health, education, and inequities, he brings strong expertise in qualitative inquiry, thematic analysis, and inclusive research practices. He has co-led NIHR-funded studies, curated regional photovoice exhibitions with 30,000+ viewers, and trained thousands of students as a research tutor. He is passionate about exploring how individuals' faith and background shape their approach to education.
Jacob Elstein is a first year graduate student in the Department of Classical and Early Mediterranean Studies. He graduated from Rutgers University New Brunswick (Class of '25) with B.A.s in Classics and Religious Studies and minors in History and Jewish studies. His research interests lie at the intersection of classical and religious studies particularly in how mythology and ritual coincide. Although new to the field of qualitative research he looks forward to applying his knowledge of religious studies to the program.
Ayden Kligfeld (she/her) is a senior majoring in psychology and education studies. In addition to working at SCRoLL, she teaches at Temple Shir Tikva Hebrew school and is an on-campus crisis peer counselor. Ayden is passionate about the structure of language and child development, and is excited to continue her work in the SCRoLL lab. She is particularly interested in language acquisition and how it contributes to students’ understanding of the biblical text.
Adina Saks is a sophomore at Brandeis University majoring in Psychology and Business, with a minor in Hebrew Language, Literature, and Culture. Growing up in Israeli, American, and Modern Orthodox environments developed her fascination with the intersections of religion, language, and learning. She is particularly interested in the psychological processes involved in absorbing language through ancient texts. Outside the lab, she works as Treasurer for Sharsheret at Brandeis and volunteers with SPECTRUM, supporting children with disabilities.
Hannah Shapiro is a sophomore at Brandeis, double majoring in History and English and minoring in Journalism and Legal Studies. She has always been fascinated by the study of religious texts and spent a year before college pursuing advanced Talmud studies. She is particularly interested in researching the ways in which students develop linguistic skills through the study of sacred texts, and how this experience varies between faith backgrounds. She is excited to bring her background in Aramaic and Biblical Hebrew to the team. At Brandeis, Hannah is an MLK Fellow and serves on the boards for Undergraduate Theater Collective and Shira Chadasha.
Kenny Sicat is a third-year student studying biology, H.S.S.P., and Hispanic studies. As a new member of the SCRoLL Lab, he is very excited to use his interests in world language and cultures and contribute to the SCRoLL Lab’s research. On campus, he serves as the co-president of the Southeast Asia Club, a Bridge to Wellness peer health educator, a volunteer coordinator and instructor in the Language Empowering Action Project, the World Languages and Cultures Fellow, and a community advisor.