Hello from Dr. Melo!

Short-haired woman with funky eyeglasses smiling and wearing a blue plaid vest over a long-sleeved collared white shirt. — Dr. Melo-Jean Yap AKA Dr. Melo

I am a versatile, compassionate, & enthusiastic visionary! 🌍👓🙌🏽📊⭐️

I am passionate about data & people! My superpower is merging the technical with the human to make an impact!

I am a creative analytics researcher & impact-driven program leader. I have a passion for advancing innovation through end-to-end research, program evaluation, & community building in cross-functional teams.

As a Senior Education Research Consultant at Johns Hopkins University, I currently evaluate federally-funded grants totaling approximately $11 million in close collaboration with Johns Hopkins faculty.

I am open to opportunities for consulting, especially in regards to research, data analytics, program evaluation, program management, and implementation science.

I am also available to facilitate and speak on these topics. I teach a multi-day workshop entitled “Introduction to Education Research” where I instruct Johns Hopkins faculty, administrators, staff, and graduate students how to design and conduct research in their classroom to assess effects of an innovation they would like to try out in the classroom or their department. Here’s a learner testimonial (now an NIH Program Manager) from 2024:

“I had the best time last week while participating in training on education research led by the incredible Melo-Jean Yap. It was an absolute pleasure to learn from such a knowledgeable and inspiring instructor who truly knows how to engage and empower learners.

What made this experience even more special was the amazing group of fellow participants who brought diverse perspectives and experiences to the table. The collaborative atmosphere fostered deep discussions and meaningful connections that will be so incredibly helpful as I move forward.

From exploring new methodologies to gaining insights into best practices, l walked away from the training feeling equipped with a fresh perspective and renewed passion for my work. I’m confident that the knowledge and skills I’ve gained will positively impact how I approach my projects and contribute to the field of education research.

A huge thank you to Dr. Melo and my fellow participants for making this workshop.”

Dr. Melo with folks (professors, deans, directors, university staff, and graduate students) who took “Introduction to Education Research” in 2024 at Johns Hopkins.

Aside from my extensive experience in academic settings, I’ve also previously worked in an edtech non-profit and a marketing research startup. All’s that to say is that I easily adapt to different people in all kinds of teams. I enjoy connecting with folks from all persuasions of life.

Lifelong learner

I believe that everyone has the capacity to produce knowledge, regardless of your age, class, or background. I value learning in the classroom, outside the classroom, and in the school of life. This is why I think I can learn from just about anybody I meet, and vice versa.

In terms of my formal education, I have an interdisciplinary background in Education, Biology, and Ethnic Studies with training in mixed methods approaches.

Ph.D in Education @ UCLA
M.S. Biology @ California State University, Los Angeles (CalState L.A.)
B.S. Physiology & B.A. Black Studies (now Africana Studies) @ San Francisco State University

As a lifelong learner, I continue to take professional development opportunities because I enjoy exploring different ways of thinking and working. Here are my recent training:

Project Management Professional (PMP) license [2025, in progress]
Executive Certificate in Organizational Leadership from Johns Hopkins Carey Business School [2024]
Lean Six Sigma Green & Yellow Belts [2023]
Professional Scrum Master (PSM) I [2021]

Here are some of the grants that I have been working on:

**Dr. Melo with Dr. Ben Hobbs (Principal Investigator of NSF Global Center Award # 2330450: Electric Power Innovation for a Carbon-free Society (EPICS), $5 Million)**

Left: Dr. Melo with Dr. Tilak Ratnanater (Principal Investigator of NIH Award # R25DC020698: STEMM opportunities for college students with Hearing loss to Engage in Auditory Research (STEMM-HEAR), $500K). Right: Dr. Melo with Dr. Emily Braley (Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Academic Affairs)

Check out some of my scholarly writings:

Critical Mixed Methods Social Network Analysis

Family Helps Transform The STEM Pathways of Community College Women of Color STEM Majors (2024)
“Even though their parents and elderly family members may not have had the chance to go to college, these family members still influenced them and shaped their STEM career trajectory….themes emerged that aligned with…community capital wealth: (1) aspirational capital from relatives (especially mothers) who encouraged participants to enjoy learning science and pursuing it; (2) familial capital from older siblings who cultivated their knowledge and passed on academic resources; and (3) resistant capital from witnessing their loves ones undergo medical racism and negligence.”
Centering From The Margins: The Standpoint of Women of Color STEM Majors in The Community College (2022)