research overview
- As a biology education researcher, I have three primary branches of investigation: 1) I study how community-engaged research experiences influence predictors of students future scientific civic engagement, such as their self-efficacy in engaging, the value they believe scientific civic engagement holds, their knowledge of how to engage effectively, and their intentions to engage in the future. Our lab studies these outcomes with the intention of increasing experiences that help students to develop both scientific and civic identities and motivation to act in pro-social ways after college. 2) I study teaching and learning in biology with the aim of understanding what drives students to persist in biology research endeavors when they encounter challenges, setbacks, and ambiguity. My focus is on students' development of motivation, grit, and resiliency in scientific research pursuits and how we, as instructors, can provide students with opportunities to develop these characteristics. 3) Finally, I study how community college faculty develop skills and self-efficacy in performing discipline based education research and in offering research experiences in their classrooms.
