Science Education Doctoral Students

2020-2021

Regina Ayala Chavez
My topics of interest are the creation of meaningful knowledge and the design of programs within informal education about climate change.

Grace Carroll
Conceptualizing how science teachers develop their understanding of scientific modeling as well as ways to assess teacher knowledge of modeling.

Lynn Chesnut
My research interests include barriers to scientific literacy, social justice in science education, and environmental justice.

Karen Collier
Bridging the culture gap between rural and urban students in science and incorporating inquiry learning in low funded classrooms.

Brent Eubanks
My current research interests revolve around rural schools and communities, as well as teacher preparation.

Amanda Hall
Research interests include the relationships between science teachers’ discipline-specific self-efficacy, overall epistemological beliefs, and pedagogical decisions about including inquiry-based practices.

Madeline Hinckle
Research interests include integrating computational thinking skills into different disciplines and informal learning environments, and underrepresented groups in computer science.

Teri Hoffman
Current research involves exploring and comparing event-driven changes in teacher self-efficacy, and resilience in novice teachers from differing licensure routes.

Dorothy Holley
My research investigates factors impacting secondary science teacher retention and commitment in North Carolina.

Pamela Huff
Research interests center around science programs within private schools in NC. I am interested in the science achievement of students who receive an opportunity scholarship from the state.

Kimberly Ideus
Research and career interests are in Science Education teaching and inspiring drive and curiosity in pre-service and in-service teachers.

Vance Kite
Pulling the Plug on Computational Thinking: Preparing Inservice Science Teachers to Bring Unplugged Computational Thinking Experiences to their Students.

Mwenda O. Kudumu
Mwenda is interested in popularizing science and technology in Black communities through increased involvement with informal science education institutions.

Joey D. Marion
A physical therapist and educator with research interests that include postsecondary anatomy and physiology education, teacher epistemological beliefs, and student perceptions.

Katlyn May
I am interested in how people learn about and understand the environment’s impacts on human health, and how to advance environmental health literacy.

Shana McAlexander
My current research investigates the impacts of community partnerships (industry, government, and university) on STEM career interest and awareness.

Katherine McCance
Research interests include professional development for postsecondary science instructors, and career and STEM interests of underserved students.

Julianna Nieuwsma
My research interests include learning and teaching science in both non-formal and formal settings.

Megan Polzin
Research interests include cancer-related alternative conceptions among high school and college students, and teaching cancer in formal education.

Arif Rachmatullah
My research interests include K-16 students’ cognitive processes when learning science, computational thinking and modeling, and assessment development and validation.

Aparajita Rajwade
Understanding positive impacts of Environmental Education on children from underprivileged, disadvantaged communities. Learning to use different assessment methodologies to analyse these impacts.

Emma Refvem
Understanding science teaching career aspirations, the development of science and teaching identities, and how informal science spaces can influence both.

Kathryn Rende
Kathryn is a former museum educator and environmental journalist. Her research interests lie at the intersection of science education and communication.

Matt Reynolds
My research interests include teacher quality, teacher knowledge (i.e. PCK), teacher assessments (i.e. edTPA), and preservice science teacher education.

Stephanie Teeter
Stephanie is interested in the intersection of informal science education and science communication. Her research centers on improving scientists’ public engagement efforts.

Rebecca Ward
Research interests: weather and climate hazards education in formal and informal contexts; risk perceptions of these hazards; and citizen science.

Minnie Webster
Assessing pedagogical approaches to educational labs in undergraduate biology education with a focus on the impact on underprivileged or disadvantaged groups, particularly transfer students.

Gary W. Wright
My research interests include supporting science teachers to embrace gender and sexual diversity-inclusive teaching in their classrooms.