School of Modeling, Simulation, and Training Professor Roger Azevedo, who also serves as director of the SMART Lab at UCF’s Institute for Simulation and Training (IST), is one of 29 exemplary scholars announced as Fellows of the American Educational Research Association (AERA) 2025.
Azevedo’s research focuses on human interactions with intelligent learning systems to study learning, performance and transfer in various contexts.
“This recognition affirms my contributions to multidisciplinary research,” Azevedo says. “It opens doors to new research partnerships, funding opportunities, and AI-based technological innovations.”
Azevedo’s work aims to develop adaptive learning systems that model and enhance human-machine collaboration, with applications in healthcare, defense, and education, advancing training technologies for the 21st-century workforce.
“Dr. Azevedo’s selection as an AERA Fellow is a testament to his dedication to advancing the field of educational research,” says officials with the Pegasus Research Institute (PRI) at UCF. “His work not only enhances IST’s mission to push the boundaries of learning technologies but also reflects our ongoing commitment to innovation and excellence in research.”
Nominated by their peers, the 2025 Fellows were selected by the fellows committee and approved by the AERA Council, the association’s elected governing body. Azevedo will be inducted alongside colleagues from prestigious institutions such as the University of Virginia, UCLA and Johns Hopkins University. The induction ceremony occurs at the 2025 Annual Meeting in Denver on April 24.
“Being inducted as a Fellow of AERA is a significant milestone in recognizing the quality and impact of our interdisciplinary research,” Azevedo says. “It also enhances my research and professional goals by providing greater visibility and opportunities for collaboration across disciplines.”
About SMART Lab
The SMART Lab explores human interactions with intelligent learning and training systems. Using multimodal data, researchers analyze cognitive and behavioral processes to improve adaptive learning technologies. Their work informs the development of systems that personalize training, enhance decision-making, and optimize performance in diverse fields, from education to high-stakes environments like healthcare and defense.
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