Mirela Cengher

Mirela Cengher is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). She specializes in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and Behavioral Psychology, with a focus on enhancing learning outcomes for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and developmental disabilities. Her research emphasizes variables influencing language development, concept formation, and functional assessment of problem behavior.

Dr. Cengher holds a Ph.D. from the Graduate Center, City University of New York (2017), and additional training at the Kennedy Krieger Institute and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She teaches courses including Measurement in ABA, Verbal Behavior, and Learning Principles. Her lab is located in Sondheim Hall, and she maintains a research website.

Her training opportunities include accepting new Ph.D. students in Applied Developmental Psychology and M.A. students in ABA. Undergraduate students also gain research experience in her lab, focusing on data collection, manuscript preparation, and conference presentations. Dr. Cengher's work prioritizes mentorship to develop well-rounded researchers and practitioners.

Recent research trends include studies on stimulus equivalence, schedule thinning methodologies, and peer review practices in behavior analytic journals. Her publications span Behavioral Interventions, Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, and Clinical Case Studies.