Daniela Popa, PhD, is an associate professor and Director of the Teachers’ Training Department at Transilvania University of Brașov, Romania. Her research focuses on educational psychology, special needs education, and intercultural communication, with particular emphasis on supporting vulnerable populations.
Dr. Popa currently coordinates the Language Buddy project (AMIF-2023-TF2-AG-CALL), which enhances language learning for students (12-17 years) with refugee/migrant backgrounds through mentoring and buddy systems. She has coordinated multiple international projects addressing disability inclusion (DECIDE, E-PSY) and has published extensively on therapeutic approaches for communication disorders, intercultural competence, and inclusive education practices.
Her interdisciplinary approach bridges psychology, education, and social inclusion, aligning closely with the Research Lab’s mission. As a member of the Romanian Association for Educational Research (ARCE) and the European Educational Research Association (EERA), she brings extensive experience in collaborative, cross-border research addressing diversity and equity in education.