Shiyu (Celia) He was a Postgraduate Researcher in Linguistics at University of Birmingham from 2019 until 2024. During this time she also worked as lab manager for the Out Of Our Minds research group.

Celia’s interest in Linguistics was kindled while studying Translation and Interpreting at Central China Normal University. She holds a Master's degree in Translation Studies at Durham University, UK.

Her PhD research focuses on the transfer of reading habits and skills in Chinese learners of English. As part of her PhD work, she mapped out how eye movements change with proficiency in L1 Chinese learners of L2 English. Merging insights from usage-based linguistics and learning theory, and applying eye-tracking as her main research method, Celia aims to optimize the ways of teaching reading to Chinese EFL learners.