Silke Göbel

Professor Silke Göbel is a leading academic in Numerical Cognition and Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of York, where she leads the Numerical Cognition Lab. She holds a Visiting Professorship at the University of Oslo (since 2019) and is a Co-director of the ESRC Centre for Early Mathematics Learning at Loughborough University (since 2022). Her academic journey includes a Diplom from Goethe University Frankfurt, a DPhil from Oxford, and postdoctoral research in Oxford before joining York.

Her research focuses on numerical processing in typical/atypical development, cross-cultural differences, dyscalculia, and the interplay between language and mathematics. Key methodologies include longitudinal studies, EEG/fMRI, and eye-tracking. She has secured significant grants, including £347k (2023-2026) for studying conceptual spaces and £454k (2022-2025) on rational numbers understanding.

Teaching roles include directing the MSc in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience and teaching modules on mathematical cognition. She has supervised students like Eleanor Redfern (PhD) and contributes to textbooks such as *An Introduction to Mathematical Cognition*. Her work bridges cognitive science, education, and clinical neuroscience, addressing fundamental questions about how children acquire numerical skills and why some struggle.

Collaborators include leading researchers in Germany, Austria, and France. Her lab’s work has implications for educational interventions targeting math learning difficulties and cross-cultural disparities in mathematics performance.