Hector Research Institute of Education Sciences and Psychology

Dr. Skylor Zhitian Zhang

Dr. Skylor Zhitian Zhang is a Research Scientist at the Hector Research Institute of Education Sciences and Psychology, specializing in creativity, gifted education, and talent development.

Her work focuses on exploring effective techniques and interventions—including motivation strategies, self-regulation training, and game-based methods—to foster talent and creativity. A certified LEGO® Serious Play (LSP) facilitator, she utilizes this playful methodology in workshops to drive innovation. She conducts regular LSP workshops on the topic of Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation at the Transdisciplinary Course Programm.

In addition to her research, Dr. Zhang is active in science management. She has served as the Project Manager and Lead Researcher for the EU-FairPlay project (BMBF-funded, Nov 2023 onwards), focused on using game-based learning to address educational equity gaps. Since November 2024, she has been the Innovation Project Manager and coordinator for the AI in Education Future Fund.

She also supports prospective and early career researchers through coaching, mentoring in the Athene Mentoring Program, and collaboration with the DAAD.

Address

Universität Tübingen
Hector Research Institute of Education Sciences and Psychology
Walter-Simon-Straße 12
72072 Tübingen
Raum 5

Contact

07071 / 29-73949
zhitian.zhangspam prevention@uni-tuebingen.de
zhangzhitian1122@gmai.com


 

Follow me:

ResearchGate
LinkedIn
Personal Website


 

Publications

  • Zhang, Z. S., & Fischer, H. (2025). Förderung der Kreativität durch Digital Game Based Learning: Mechanismen, Anwendungen und Implementierung. In Handbuch E-Learning. Wolters Kluwer.
  • Zhang, Z. S., Seemann, M., Joos, R., Suren, M., Fischer, H., & Hofmann, M. (2025). Fostering creativity through game‐based approaches: A scoping review. The Journal of Creative Behavior, 59(1), e1536. https://doi.org/10.1002/jocb.1536
  • Li, P., Zhang, Z. S., Hopp, M., Luo, L., & Wang, C. (2024). Is stereotypical masculinity and femininity in women associated with their creativity? An examination of gender roles and creativity. Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts. https://doi.org/10.1037/aca0000714
  • Stein, C., & Zhang, Z. S. (2023). Fostering self-regulation, motivation, and creativity through gamification software iWrite. In Proceedings of the 17th European Conference on Games Based Learning / Work in Progress, 17(1).
  • Li, P., Zhang, Z. S., & Zhang, Y. (2022). How creative self‐concept leads to happiness: A multilevel chain mediating model. The Journal of Creative Behavior, 56(4), 540–552. https://doi.org/10.1002/jocb.545
  • Liu, T., Li, P., Zhang, S. Z., & Liu, W. (2022). Using daily creativity planning to promote creative behavior. The Journal of Creative Behavior, 57(1), 82–95. https://doi.org/10.1002/jocb.563
  • Li, P., Zhang, Z. S., Zhang, J., Nunez, M., & Shi, J. (2021). From implicit theories to creative achievements: The mediating role of creativity motivation in the relationship between stereotypes, growth mindset, and creative achievement. The Journal of Creative Behavior, 55(1), 199–214. https://doi.org/10.1002/jocb.446
  • Zhang, Z. (2021). To be or not to be creative, why? Exploring motivational aspects of creativity. (Doctoral dissertation). Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU).
  • Zhang, Z. S., Hoxha, L., Aljughaiman, A., Arënliu, A., Gomez‐Arizaga, M. P., Gucyeter, S., ... Ziegler, A. (2021). Social environmental factors and personal motivational factors associated with creative achievement: A cross‐cultural perspective. The Journal of Creative Behavior, 55(2), 410–432. https://doi.org/10.1002/jocb.463
  • Zhang, Z. S., Hopp, M., Vialle, W., & Ziegler, A. (2020). Social perceptions of a creative person: Stereotypes and prejudice of a creative student among German adolescents. Creativity Research Journal, 32(3), 246–258. https://doi.org/10.1080/10400419.2020.1821565
  • Hopp, M. D., Zhang, Z. S., Hinch, L., O'Reilly, C., & Ziegler, A. (2019). Creative, thus connected: The power of sociometric creativity on friendship formation in gifted adolescents—A longitudinal network analysis of gifted students. New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development, 2019(168), 47–73. https://doi.org/10.1002/cad.20324
  • Zhang, Z. (2018). Creativity motivation construct development and cross-cultural validation. Psychological Test and Assessment Modeling, 60(4), 517–530.
  • Zhang, Z. (2017). Gifted education in China. Cogent Education, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2017.1364881
  • Reutlinger, M., Ballmann, A., Vialle, W., Zhang, Z., & Ziegler, A. (2015). Parental goal orientations for their kindergarten children: Introducing the Nuremberg Parental Goal Orientation Scales (NuPaGOS). Psychological Test and Assessment Modeling, 57(2), 163–178.

Workshops and Seminars

  • Baue deine Zukunft mit LEGO Serious Play Methoden
  • Team Building with the LEGO Serious Play Method
  • Fostering Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation through LEGO Serious Play
  • Co-creation Workshop: Game-based Learning and Educational Equity
  • Using Game-based Learning in Teaching Chinese
  • Creative Thinking Workshop: Six-Thinking-Hats
  • Online Workshop: How Do we Measure Creativity?
  • Introduction to Gifted Education and Talent Development
  • Motivating Creative Talents
  • Nurturing Creativity: Research Guided Programs and Strategies
  • Introduction to Gifted Education in School
  • Nurturing Creativity in the Classroom
  • Creativity and Motivation Psychology

Conferences

  • Crosstalk with Rober Rasmussen and Dr. Skylor Zhitian Zhang: Building Creativity and Equity Brick by Brick. EU-FairPlay Cross-talk Series, Online, 2024
  • Fostering Creativity with Game-based Approaches: a Scoping Review. 2024 Creativity Conference at SOU, 05/2024
  • EU-FairPlay: Educational Equity with Digital Game-based Learning.17th European Conference on Games Based Learning (ECGBL), Enschede, Netherlands, 10/2023
  • Creative, thus connected: The Power of Perceived Creativity on Friendship Formation among Gifted Students – A Longitudinal and Social Network Analysis. 2nd European-American Summit on Talent Development, Nürnberg, Deutschland, 09/2018
  • What makes them creatively gifted? A cross-cultural study of personal and environment factors associated with creativity achievement. 16th Conference of the European Council for High Ability (ECHA), Dublin, Ireland, 2018
     

Awards

  • Winner of the INNOSPARKS Competition
    Educational Innovation Program, University of Tübingen [ 12/2023 ]
  • Research Funding for Creativity Promotion through the LEGO Serious Play Method
    Postdoctoral Academy for Research and Education (PACE) [ 08/2023 ]
  • Full Scholarship for Doctoral Researchers Abroad
    Chinese Scholarship Council (CSC) [ Oct 2015 ]
    Full Scholarship from the Chinese Scholarship Council (CSC) for Doctoral Researchers Abroad (48 months)
  • Short-term Scholarships for Master’s Degree Exchange Students in Germany
    German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) [ Oct 2014 ]
    Short-term Scholarships for Master’s Degree Exchange Students in Germany (3 months)
  • The First Prize Scholarship for Master Students
    Beijing Normal University [ 2012 ]
  • The Provincial Government Scholarship
    Yanbian Univerisity [ 2010 ]
  • The First Prize Scholarship
    Yanbian University [ 2008 ]

Volunteer Work

  • Since 09/2024: Career Coach for Prospective and Early Career Researchers (DAAD and Alumni Deutschland)
  • Since 2023: Mentor, Athene-Mentoring-Programm for Female Researchers

Curriculum Vitae

Since 11/2022
Research scientist and project manager

at the Hector Research Institute of Education Sciences and Psychology

11/2017 - 10/2021
Researcher, technical writer and education content designer

at the World Giftedness Center in Nuremberg

10/2015 - 11/2021
PhD in Educational Psychology

at University of Erlangen-Nuremberg

2015 - 2021
Research associate and lecturer

at University of Erlangen-Nuremberg

08/2012 - 07/2015
Master of Arts in Educational Assessment and Evaluation

at Beijing Normal University (China)

08/2008 - 07/2012
Bachelor of Science in Chemistry

at Yanbian University (China)