As a researcherI am using qualitative methods, being interested in creative research methodologies, ethnographic research and longitudinal studies.
I am interested in researching:
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Current projects:
Psychological Safety, Emotional Security, Sense of Belonging
In 2013, I began working to build a school where children could experience a sense of safety - with a bit of inspiration from the school I grew up into and that was my safe space.
The idea of being in a place where people can be themselves, protected and cared for, so that learning can happen in a calm and creative way, stayed with me throughout those years.
Over time, learning brought not only answers, but more questions, and with deeper understanding came a new set of questions, more complex and more demanding.
In 2020, I decided to write these questions down and explore which of them could become the foundation for a research project - one in which I would no longer teach children or teachers, but instead deepen my own understanding and, perhaps, generate new questions and understandings.
Since 2020, I have been working on this research project that explores what makes alternative schools (especially self-directed learning environments and nature-based schools) feel safe, secure, and experienced as places of belonging.
Along this journey, I developed a methodology, tested it during a visiting research period in the United States, learned from early trials and mistakes, and returned to the work with greater humility and curiosity.
I pursued additional training to better understand key concepts from a practitioner’s perspective, began reading beyond what initially seemed directly connected to my topic, redesigned my methodology, and conducted a new phase of data collection.
I now find myself in a place where I can say: I have the right questions.
And the next step is to travel and ask them.
In 2026, I plan to visit schools in France, The United Kingdom, and Spain to collect data for this project.
The idea of being in a place where people can be themselves, protected and cared for, so that learning can happen in a calm and creative way, stayed with me throughout those years.
Over time, learning brought not only answers, but more questions, and with deeper understanding came a new set of questions, more complex and more demanding.
In 2020, I decided to write these questions down and explore which of them could become the foundation for a research project - one in which I would no longer teach children or teachers, but instead deepen my own understanding and, perhaps, generate new questions and understandings.
Since 2020, I have been working on this research project that explores what makes alternative schools (especially self-directed learning environments and nature-based schools) feel safe, secure, and experienced as places of belonging.
Along this journey, I developed a methodology, tested it during a visiting research period in the United States, learned from early trials and mistakes, and returned to the work with greater humility and curiosity.
I pursued additional training to better understand key concepts from a practitioner’s perspective, began reading beyond what initially seemed directly connected to my topic, redesigned my methodology, and conducted a new phase of data collection.
I now find myself in a place where I can say: I have the right questions.
And the next step is to travel and ask them.
In 2026, I plan to visit schools in France, The United Kingdom, and Spain to collect data for this project.
Well-being in primary school
In 2026 I started a new research project focused on well-being in primary school.
The 3-phases study
In the first phase of the project, the study explores how primary school children in Cluj-Napoca experience and define well-being across different educational models and settings: conventional schools or alternative schools, state or private.
In the second phase, it invites former students to take a close retrospective look at two specific practices (offerings/ activities) developed within Green School Romania. We will build understanding from those reflections and see if the practices are transferable.
In the third phase, I plan an intervention in 2 different schools in Cluj-Napoca to see if the appreciated and recommended practices from the first two phases can be transferred to different schools and in what conditions and with what results.
For the first two phases, data collection is planned for April-June 2026, through child-centred focus groups using participatory methods.
A submission for this project is currently under review for a special issue of an international peer-reviewed journal on school well-being of primary school children.
You can stay connected to my research journey on Substack, where I share a research diary and ongoing reflections from the field. Sometimes I post few of my experiences on instagram and facebook too.
The 3-phases study
In the first phase of the project, the study explores how primary school children in Cluj-Napoca experience and define well-being across different educational models and settings: conventional schools or alternative schools, state or private.
In the second phase, it invites former students to take a close retrospective look at two specific practices (offerings/ activities) developed within Green School Romania. We will build understanding from those reflections and see if the practices are transferable.
In the third phase, I plan an intervention in 2 different schools in Cluj-Napoca to see if the appreciated and recommended practices from the first two phases can be transferred to different schools and in what conditions and with what results.
For the first two phases, data collection is planned for April-June 2026, through child-centred focus groups using participatory methods.
A submission for this project is currently under review for a special issue of an international peer-reviewed journal on school well-being of primary school children.
You can stay connected to my research journey on Substack, where I share a research diary and ongoing reflections from the field. Sometimes I post few of my experiences on instagram and facebook too.
