Natalia Contreras Gonzalez

Natalia Contreras Gonzalez is a Researcher at Ramon Llull University, affiliated with the Blanquerna research ecosystem, focusing on transformative practices in primary teacher education through inquiry-based methodologies and collaborative knowledge generation.

Her research centers on pre-service teacher cognition development within inquiry-driven practicums, examining how structured mentoring relationships between school mentors, university tutors, and trainee teachers reshape professional identity formation. Key investigations include epistemological shifts in understanding scientific inquiry during classroom implementation and the co-construction of pedagogical knowledge through reflective dialogue.

Recent work demonstrates evolving trends toward integrating research-practice bridges in teacher education, with emphasis on context-specific knowledge generation rather than theoretical transfer. Her 2024 publication analyzes cognitive transformations in inquiry perception among primary education trainees, revealing significant paradigm shifts after sustained practicum engagement.

Dr. Gonzalez actively contributes to two major research initiatives: (1) the collaborative mentoring project for primary education teachers implementing inquiry-based practices (2022–present), and (2) SINTE (Interuniversity Seminar on Identity and New Educational Trajectories), an AGAUR-funded network (2022–2025) uniting 21 researchers across Catalan universities to investigate educational identity formation. These projects secure institutional funding while advancing systemic mentoring frameworks.

She operates within the SINTE research collective, which functions as a cross-institutional knowledge hub analyzing educational trajectories through qualitative longitudinal studies and inter-university curriculum development workshops.