Dr Seah Lay Hoon is a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies, National University of Singapore. She currently leads two projects commissioned by local charities. Before joining IPS, she spent three years at the Social Service Research Centre supporting the development of research capabilities among social service professionals through advisory work, mentoring, and specialised training.
Formally trained as an education researcher and secondary school teacher, Lay Hoon spent over a decade at the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, where she actively engaged in participatory intervention research with school practitioners and contributed to teacher training.
She earned her Master of Education and PhD (Education) from the University of Melbourne, Australia, and completed her postdoctoral training at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
Research Interests
Educational equity and social mobility: how community resources shape learning opportunities; Community-based support for children and youths; Language issues in content learning; Food support for vulnerable households
Publications
- Seah, L. H., Tay, P. L. L., & Chia, T. T. (2026). Examining primary school students’ perceptions of language used in science classrooms. Language and Education, 40(1),156–173. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500782.2025.2519588
- Tay, P. L. L., Seah, L. H., & Chia, T. T. (2025). Assessing science teachers’ adaptive expertise in teaching disciplinary literacy using the AEDLi Framework. Teaching and Teacher Education, 159, 104999. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2025.104999
- Seah, L.H., Lui, H.M.F & Ang, J.B. (2024). A Guide to Using Observation Rubrics for Evaluating Group Work Programmes. National University of Singapore, Social Service Research Centre.
- Lui H. M. F., Ang, J. B. & Seah, L. H. (2024). Reflections on a Collaborative Inquiry Approach to Evaluating the Brotherhood Programme. Snippet. National University of Singapore, Social Service Research Centre
- Seah, L. H., Silver, R. E., & Baildon, M. C. (Eds.). (2022). The Role of Language in Content Pedagogy: A Framework for Teachers’ Knowledge. Springer Verlag, Singapore.
Courses Taught
- “An introduction to diverse methods for collecting data from children”, Social Service Research Centre, National University of Singapore
- “Research skills mentoring”, Social Service Research Centre, National University of Singapore
- “The language demands of science: Research-based insights and strategies”, workshop for primary and secondary schools