Dr. Shichen Fang, one of the newest professors in the Department of Psychology at the University of Lethbridge, has an interest for uncovering the nuances of human development and helping students connect theory with practice. From innovative research to hands-on teaching methods, Fang's approach is all about creating growth and understanding. Get to know her better in this Q&A.
Can you tell us a bit about your background and what brought you to ULethbridge?
In 2019, I received my PhD in Psychology with a specialization in Developmental Science from the University of Alberta. After graduation, I worked as a postdoctoral research scholar at the Pennsylvania State University and a postdoctoral fellow and research associate at Concordia University.
Trained as a quantitative developmental scientist, I believed that my methodology background and research interests complement and augment existing strengths in the Department of Psychology at the University of Lethbridge.
What are you most excited about in your new role here?
I'm excited to teach and mentor undergraduate and graduate students here and start my independent research program.
Another thing I like is the small instructor to students ratio. I'll be teaching methods and statistics — for someone who had undergraduate statistics training in smaller classrooms and tutorials at a not so massive university (Simon Fraser), I appreciate that we get to work with smaller groups of students at the University of Lethbridge and they have the opportunity to work closely with graduate teaching assistant in tutorials on a regular basis. This kind of environment definitely fosters learning, in my experience.
What are your research interests or areas of expertise, and why are they important to you?
My general research interest is to examine psychosocial development from adolescence through young adulthood. My research utilizes advanced quantitative research methods and I have worked with large-scale survey data and accumulated extensive experience navigating and managing complex datasets.
I consider development during the transition to adulthood as a very important life stage that has been understudied, and I hope to learn more about it and help both youth and parents better navigate this period of life.
How do you approach your teaching philosophy, and what methods do you use to engage students?
I consider teaching, including mentoring, as an integral part of my professional identity. I view teaching and mentoring as valuable opportunities to disseminate knowledge and support others’ academic, professional, and personal growth. I also believe teaching and mentoring are beneficial to my own growth as these experiences often strengthen my understanding of concepts, theories, and methods, enhance my communication and problem-solving skills, and stimulate new ideas and collaborations.
For large classrooms, I try to create opportunities for students to share their input such as live polling given that public speaking can be stressful for many people in a large class. For smaller classrooms, I design different class activities for students to work together and work on real example from research to deepen their understanding of collaborative scientific research.
What are some interesting facts or hobbies about yourself that you’d like to share?
I have two cats who are tremendously helpful when I'm stressed. I also enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking and paddling.