Current courses
Dr. Faria Sana
Dr. Faria Sana
Associate Professor
Contact information
Email: fsana@athabascau.ca
Dr. Faria Sana is an Associate Professor in Psychology at Athabasca University and an Adjunct Professor in Psychology at McMaster University and the University of Alberta. Her research examines how fundamental principles of memory, attention, and learning can be applied to improve educational practice. Drawing on cognitive psychology, her work investigates how strategies such as retrieval practice, spacing, interleaving, and productive errors influence durable learning, as well as how factors like multitasking, boredom, and digital distractions affect students’ ability to focus and retain information in modern learning environments.
A central goal of Dr. Sana’s research program is to translate cognitive science into practical strategies that students, instructors, and educational institutions can use to support effective learning. Her work bridges theory and practice by testing cognitive principles in realistic learning contexts, including classrooms and online learning environments.
Dr. Sana’s research program is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). Her work has been featured in major media outlets including The New York Times, The Atlantic, and The Globe and Mail.
Research interests
- Science of learning
- Memory
- Attention
- Applied cognition
- Education
Educational credentials
- 2015 PhD, Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University
- 2009 BA, Honours in Psychology & Sociology, McMaster University
Professional affiliations
- Adjunct Professor, Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University
- Adjunct Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Alberta