Dr. Darren Yeo
Director, Numera Lab
Assistant Professor, Nanyang Technological University
Education
Ph.D. in Neuroscience (2021)
Vanderbilt University, USA
M.Ed. in Child Studies (2016)
Vanderbilt University, USA
PGDE in Primary Education (2010)
National Institute of Education, Singapore
B. Soc. Sci. (Honours) in Psychology (2009)
National University of Singapore
Dr. Darren Yeo, Ph.D., M.Ed., PGDE, is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Psychology at the School of Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Singapore, and the founding director of Numera Lab.
Dr. Yeo’s academic journey began in the classroom. A passionate educator at heart, he started his career teaching mathematics and other subjects in Singapore’s primary schools and educational institutions. He earned his Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) in primary education from the National Institute of Education (NIE), Singapore, in 2010, and spent four years as a classroom teacher.
His growing interest in how children learn led him to pursue a Master’s in Education (Child Studies) at Vanderbilt University, USA, where he deepened his understanding of child development and learning science. In 2016, he was awarded the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences International PhD Scholarship from NTU — co-funded by Singapore’s Ministry of Education under the Singapore Teaching and Academic Research Talent (START) scheme — to complete his doctoral studies in Neuroscience at Vanderbilt. He completed his PhD in 2021, focusing on how learning changes the brain and how the brain supports learning and development.
Since returning to Singapore and joining NTU in 2021, Dr. Yeo’s research has explored the cognitive and neural foundations of numeracy and mathematical thinking, using behavioral methods and neuroimaging techniques such as functional MRI. He is especially interested in individual differences in mathematical learning — why some students struggle while others thrive — and how instructional strategies can be designed to support all learners.
Dr. Yeo’s work sits at the intersection of cognitive science, education, and classroom practice. He conducts research not only in the lab, but also in real-world school settings, aiming to translate scientific findings into more effective teaching and learning strategies. His research also extends to broader questions of learning and metacognition across STEM domains.
Beyond his research, Dr. Yeo remains an active educator, teaching undergraduate courses in psychology and mentoring the next generation of researchers. He is also a co-author of two internationally adopted primary mathematics textbook series: Primary Mathematics (2022 Edition) and My Pals are Here! Mathematics (4th Edition), both published by Marshall Cavendish Education and used in the United States, Middle East, Southeast Asia, and beyond.