Pathways & Opportunity
Policies, programs, and institutional structures that shape educational and economic trajectories.
Higher Education Research Analysis Lab
Higher Education,Research,& Analysis.
Professor & HERA Lab DirectorHERA Lab is at the forefront of exploring key challenges and opportunities in higher education. Our team uses data driven insights to inform educational policies and practices that improve student outcomes, enhance institutional effectiveness, and foster equity.
OnlineLearningSTEMEquityStudentSupport
CollegePathwaysWorkforceTrainingTeachingPractice
Research fields
Explore the work behind each fieldLearning Design and Engagement
Teaching, peers, online environments, and technology and how they shape learning, belonging, engagement, and persistence.
Institutions & Systems
How colleges and systems redesign practices, implement evidence, and improve student success at scale.
Featured research
PeerSpace
Designing and studying a digital space that helps college students find peers, learn together, and access timely support.
Explore project
California's AB 705 Reform
A statewide study of AB 705 and its effects on community college pathways, equity, academic progress, and long-term outcomes.
Explore project
From Training to Employment
A multi-part study of Virginia's FastForward noncredit workforce programs, their outcomes, funding model, and value to employers.
Explore projectFilterable by research area, status and year.
People behind the research
Di Xu
Professor & HERA Lab Director
Sabrina Solanki
PERI Research & Program Director & HERA Lab Associate Director
Madina Safdari
Staff Research Associate II
Yiwen Wu
AI Education Applications Developer
Leanna Fong
Lab Manager
Daman Chhikara
Postdoctoral Scholar
Michael Cooper
Postdoctoral Scholar
XunFei Li
Postdoctoral Scholar
Yan Feng
Graduate Student Researcher
Jinwon Kim
Graduate Student Researcher
Gala M. Ledezma
Graduate Student Researcher
Jenny Lee
Graduate Student Researcher
Hongjiao Li
Graduate Student Researcher
Michael Span
Graduate Student Researcher
Winnie Yee
Graduate Student Researcher
Yumeng Zhang
Graduate Student Researcher
Yuxuan Xiong
Graduate Student Researcher
Albert Li
Alumni
Recent news
View all news →HERA Lab Members to Present at 2026 AERA ConferenceHERA members will present work on corequisite reform, online learning, student belonging, humanized instruction, and AB 705 at the AERA Annual Meeting in Los Angeles.TalkHERA Lab Members to Present at 2026 AEFP ConferenceHERA members will share research on corequisite support, online learning, student services, developmental education, zero-textbook-cost programs, and workforce training in Chicago.TalkAscendium Education Group awards Di Xu and team $1.6 million grant to investigate noncredit workforce training programsThe 50-month grant supports research on Virginia's FastForward programs, funding mechanisms, program quality, industry credentials, and equity.Award