Hernan Castillo-Hermosilla
Graduate Teaching Assistant
Gifted, Creative, and Talented Studies,
Educational Studies
About
Hernan Castillo-Hermosilla (PhD (c), MScEd, MPsy) is a PhD candidate in educational studies with a concentration in gifted, creative, and talented studies at Purdue University. His research interests include talent development, identification practices, and cross-cultural studies. He is the recipient of a NAGC Carolyn Callahan Doctoral Student Award, Marcia Gentry Influence Scholar Award, Mensa Foundation Gifted Education Fellowship, Dean’s Doctoral Fellowship, Dean’s Dissertation Scholarship, and Feldhusen Doctoral Student Fellowship in Education, and Fulbright Scholarship. He is a former Counseling and Residential Life Coordinator of the Gifted Education Research and Resource Institute at Purdue University and Gifted Programs Coordinator at Universidad Mayor. He has been involved in gifted education since 2011 in diverse roles. Teacher, researcher, curriculum and program designer, and gifted program coordinator in Chile and the US. Hernán aims to bridge gaps between Academia and other societal levels using evidence-based practices to create effective opportunities for gifted and talented students internationally.
Education
Degrees
- Purdue University. West Lafayette, IN, USA. Expected Graduation: 2026
Doctor of Philosophy in Gifted, Creative, and Talented Studies - Purdue University. West Lafayette, IN, USA. 2025
Master of Science in Education. Concentration: Gifted Education. - Centro di Terapia Strategica (CTS). Santiago, Chile. 2018
Master of Psychology in Strategic Brief Therapy - Universidad de los Andes. Santiago, Chile. 2014
Professional Title of Psychology - Universidad de los Andes. Santiago, Chile. 2013
Bachelor of Psychology
Professional Diplomas and Certifications
- Universidad Mayor. Santiago, Chile. 2021
Professional Diploma in Creativity and Design Thinking - Centro di Terapia Strategica (CTS). Sucre, Bolivia. 2021
Professional Diploma in Strategic Brief Therapy - Universidad de los Andes. Santiago, Chile. 2019
Professional Diploma in Psychoeducational Interventions for High-Ability Students - Universidad de los Andes. Santiago, Chile. 2013
Professional Diploma in Clinical Adult Psychology
Awards & Honors
- NAGC Carolyn Callahan Doctoral Student Award. National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC). 2025-2026.
- Dean’s Dissertation Scholarship. Purdue University. 2025-2026
- Feldhusen Doctoral Student Fellowship in Education. Purdue University. 2024-2025
- Marcia Gentry Influence Scholar Award. University of Denver. 2023-2024
- Mensa Foundation Gifted Education Fellowship. Mensa Foundation. 2023-2024
- Dean’s Doctoral Fellowship. Purdue University. 2021-2025
- Fulbright Scholarship. Fulbright Commission. Ministry of Science (Chile). 2019-2025
Professional Affiliations/Memberships
- National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC)
- American Educational Research Association (AERA)
Research & Publications
Research interests: talent development, identification practices, and cross-cultural studies
Selected Publications
- Zhang, Y., Pereira, N., Arthur, D., Castillo-Hermosilla, H., Ozen, Z., & Chang, H. (in press). Using topic modeling in gifted education research: Drawing insights from open-ended survey responses. Gifted Child Quarterly.
- Makel, M., Castillo-Hermosilla, H., Steenbergen-Hu, S., Rambo-Hernandez, K., & Peters, S. (2025). NAGC Position Statement Paper on Grouping for Gifted Learners. National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC). Retrieved from https://assets.noviams.com/novi-file-uploads/nagc/Position_Statements/NAGC_Grouping_Aug25FINAL.pdf
- Ozen, Z., Pereira, N., Karatas, T., Castillo-Hermosilla, H., & Maeda, Y. (2025). A meta-analytic evaluation: Investigating evidence for the validity of the Cognitive Abilities Test. Gifted Child Quarterly. 69(1). https://doi.org/10.1177/00169862241285593
- Pereira, N., Bright, S., Ozen, Z., Safitri, S., Castillo-Hermosilla, H., Matos, B., Karatas, T., & Fonseca, P. (2025). A multitiered approach to computer science talent development. Gifted Child Quarterly, 69(2). 130-146 https://doi.org/10.1177/00169862241307662
- Gómez-Arízaga, M. P., Navarro, M., Martin, A., Roa-Tampe, K., Conejeros-Solar, M. L., Kronborg, L., Valdivia-Lefort, M., Castillo-Hermosilla, H., & Rivera-Lino, B. (2020). Socio-Emotional dimensions in gifted Chilean high school students with interests in STEM: Influence of gender and university enrichment program participation. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 16(12), em1929. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/9374
- Gómez-Arízaga, M. P., Navarro, M., Roa-Tampe, K., Conejeros-Solar, M. L., Martin, A., Rivera-Lino, B., Valdivia-Lefort, M., & Castillo-Hermosilla, H. (2020). Exploration of the academic decisions of highly able students. Cadernos de Pesquisa, 50(178), 1041-1059. https://doi.org/10.1590/198053147054
- Gómez-Arízaga, M., Valdivia-Lefort, M., Castillo-Hermosilla, H., Hébert, T., & Conejeros-Solar, M. (2020). Tales from within: Gifted students’ lived experiences with teaching practices in regular classrooms. Education Sciences, 10(5), 137. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci10050137
- Roa-Tampe, K., Castillo-Hermosilla, H., Valdivia-Lefort, M., Briseño Ossandon, M., Gómez-Arízaga, M., Navarro, M., Martin, A., Rivera-Lino, B., & Conejeros-Solar, M. (2020). Autoconcepto y alta capacidad: Influencia de estereotipos de género y programas de enriquecimiento [Self-Concept and high ability: Influence of gender stereotypes and enrichment programs]. Espacios, 41(17), 14.
Advisor
Research Area / Dissertation Topic
Cross-cultural studies, inequity, social justice in education, intersectionality, and identification and intervention for underrepresented populations of gifted students