Ahmad Ahmadi
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
What I do
I am a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Marsico Institute for Early Learning. I support projects across the Marsico Institute through organization of research tasks and thought partnership in analyzing what we are learning through our work. Additionally, I am extending my previous work in studying early academic skills by pursuing my own projects within the goals of the institute.
Specializations
Early Academic Skills
Executive Function
Project Management
Measurement invariance
Professional Biography
Dr. Ahmad Ahmadi completed a Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies from Oregon State University under the mentorship of Dr. Megan McClelland. His doctoral research focused on assessing children’s executive functioning (EF) and the relationships between EF and early academic skills (e.g., early math) across Iranian and American children. His experience includes working on several grants, evaluating young children’s EF and school readiness, and developing interventions to enhance these skills. He has developed early math training and EF training programs, both of which have proven effective in improving their respective target domains. He served in a leadership role within the evaluation team, training and mentoring undergraduate research assistants in conducting assessments related to school readiness and cognitive development. Additionally, he managed data processes, contributed to grant codebooks, and co-reviewed papers for top-tier journals.
Degree(s)
Ph.D., Human Development and Family Studies, Oregon State University
Research
Self-regulation
Executive function
Early mathematics development
Neurodiverse learners
Featured Publications
Book Chapters
McClelland, M. M., Ahmadi, A. & Wanless, S. B. (2023). Self-regulation. In F. Howard et al., (Eds.), Encyclopedia of mental health. Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-91497-0.00042-4.
Journal Articles in English
Ahmadi, A., Chuang, S. S., McClelland, M. M., Gonzales, C. R., & Beh-Pajooh, A. (2023). Executive Functioning and Early Math Skills in Young Children at Risk for Mathematical Difficulties: Evaluation of Interventions Efficacy and Transfer Effects. Early Education and Development. 10.1080/10409289.2023.2298166
Kenny, S. A., Cameron, C. E., Jasmine, K., Ahmadi, A., Braithwaite, P., & McClelland, M. (2023). A meta-analysis of the validity of the Head-Toes-Knees-Shoulders task in predicting young children’s academic performance. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1124235
Pirnazar, T., Pourmohamadreza-Tajrishi, M., Zadeh Mohammadi, A., Haidarian, M., & Ahmadi, A. (2022). The Efficacy of Therapeutic Use of Play on Improving Attention Span of Mild Intellectually Disabled Children. Iranian Rehabilitation Journal, 20(3), 3-10.
Fathi-Ashtiani, A., Ahmadi, A., Ghobari-Bonab, B., Azizi, M. P., & Saheb-Alzamani, S. M. (2015). Randomized trial of psychological interventions to preventing postpartum depression among Iranian first-time mothers. International journal of preventive medicine, 6.https://doi.org/10.4103/2008-7802.169078
Abed, E. H., Mirzaie, H., & Ahmadi, A. (2014). Cognitive Behavioral Stress Management program and mothers of children with Oppositional Defiant Disorder. Iranian Rehabilitation Journal, 12 (21), 43-47.
Ahmadi, A., sharifi,E., Azizi Zalani, H., bolouk, S., & Amrai, K.(2011). The needs of Iranian families of children with autism spectrum disorder, cross- cultural study. Journal of Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences, 15 (2011) 321–326. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.03.094
Beh-Pajooh, A., Ahmadi, A., Shokoohi–Yekta, M., Asgary, A. (2011). The effect of social stories on reduction of challenging behaviours in autistic children. Journal of Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences, 15 (2011) 351–355. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.03.100
Shokoohi–Yekta, M., Parand, A., & Ahmadi, A. (2011). Effects of teaching problem solving strategies to parents of pre-teens: a study of family relationship. Journal of Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences, 15 (2011) 957–960. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.03.220
Shokoohi–Yekta, M., Zamani, N., & Ahmadi, A. (2011). Anger management training for mothers of mildly mentally retarded and slow learner children: effects on mother-child relationship. Journal of Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences, 15 (2011) 722–726. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.03.172
Performances
Presentations
Ahmadi, A., Tominey, S. L., Scott, P., & Ramos-Montañez, S., (2023). A Systematic Review of Family-based Intervention on Young Children’s Executive Function. Poster presentation at the Society for Research in Child Development.
Ahmadi, A., Merculief A., & Ozenbaugh I. (2022). Training Executive Function in Young Children: Effects on Working Memory and Basic Math Skills. Poster presented at the Society for Research in Child Development Conference, St. Louis, Missouri.
Carlson S. L., Elliot A., Karing J., Bradetich A., Merculief A., Ozenbaugh I., Ahmadi A., & McClelland M. M. (2022). The Relationship between Parent Stress and Preschool Children's Self-Regulation in Families with Low-Income. Poster presented at the International Society for the Study of Behavioral Development, Greece, Rhodes.
Ahmadi, A., McClelland, M. M., Chuang, S., & Beh-Pajooh, A., (2021). The Development and
Evaluation of the Basic Math Curriculum Among Iranian Young Children at-Risk for
Mathematic Difficulties. Poster presented at the Society for Research in Child Development Conference, Minneapolis, MN.
Awards
Recipient, SRCD travel award ($1,000), St. Louis, Missouri. (2022)
Non-resident tuition waiver scholarship for Ph.D. | Oregon State University
Full Fellowship for PhD. | Tehran University
Full Fellowship for M.A. | Tehran University
Full Fellowship for B.Sc. | Isfahan University
Key Projects
Kindergarten Readiness Lab