Education

Ph.D. University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education  (August, 2019)

Thesis Title: When Biology Learning Paradigms Shift: What Middle School Students Know, Think, and Learn about Synthetic Biology

 

Dissertation Committee: Yasmin B. Kafai (chair), Iris Tabak, Sigal Ben-Porath 

 

M.S. University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science (May, 2012)

Concentration: Biopharmaceutical & Engineering Biotechnologies

Advisor: Scott L. Diamond

 

B.S. University of Miami College of Arts and Sciences (May, 2005)

Concentration: Biology and English Literature

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs Elicit Apoptosis in Colon Cancer Cells via Caspase-dependent Pathways 

Advisor: Michael S. Gaines

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Research & Professional Experience

The University of Texas at El Paso

Assistant Professor (2020-Current)

Teacher Education | College of Education

Biology (by courtesy) | College of Science

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University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education

Research Assistant (2015-19)

Post Doctoral Fellow (2019-2020)                                   

Principal Investigator: Yasmin B. Kafai

National Science Foundation Grant #1623018, #1509245, #1450877 #1840933

 

University of Pennsylvania College of Arts and Sciences (2012-13)

Principal Investigator: Brian D. Gregory.

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University of Miami College of Arts and Sciences (2002-05)

Principal Investigator: James H. Wyche

Howard Hughes Medical Institute Grant # 52003758

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University Teaching Experience

The University of Texas at El Paso

Teaching Science in Secondary School (2020-Current)

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University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education

Video Games and Virtual Worlds, Guest Lecturer (November, 2018) 

Science Education Methods, Instructor (summer, 2019)

Video Games and Virtual Worlds, Co-Instructor (fall, 2019)

 

LaSalle University Department of Biology

Cellular Biology and Genetics Laboratory  (fall, 2019)

 

University of Pennsylvania, College of Arts and Sciences                                      

Advanced Biochemistry Teaching Assistant (spring, 2011; fall, 2012)                      

Introduction to Biology Teaching Assistant  (spring, 2012) 

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Professional Memberships

International Society of the Learning Sciences (2016-current)

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American Educational Research Association (2015-current)

Division C: Learning and Instruction

Division K: Teacher and Teacher Education

SIG-Advanced Technologies for Learning

SIG-Learning Sciences

Multicultural/Multiethnic Education: Theory, Research and Practice, Awards Committee Co-Chair

Science Teaching and Learning

 

National Science Teachers Association (2015-current)

 

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (2015-current)

 

Smithsonian Institute (2014-current)

National Museum of African American History and Culture Ambassador

 

DC Canes University of Miami Alumni Club (2013-16)

 

Mid-Atlantic International Baccalaureate Association of World Schools (2014-15)

Board Member At-Large

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. (2002-present)   

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Journal Reviewer

The Journal of Negro Education (2016-current)

The American Education Research Association (2016-current)

SIG-Learning Sciences

SIG-Science Teaching and Learning

Interactive Learning Environments (2018-current)

FabLearn (2018-current)

International Journal of Child-Computer Interaction (2019-current)

Information and Learning Sciences (2020-current)

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Professional Service

University of Pennsylvania Fontaine Society Fellowship (2015-2019)   

Coordinating Committee Treasurer

 

Massachusetts Institute of Technology Global Community Bio Summit (2018-current)

Organizing Committee

 

SynBioBeta Conference (fall, 2018)

Media Committee Volunteer

 

University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education                                                                          

Commencement Marshall  (spring 2017; 2018)

Committee on Degrees (2016-17)

Faculty Promotions Committee (fall, 2017)

Awards Committee (spring, 2016)

 

International Society of the Learning Sciences

Computer Supported Collaborative Learning Conference Student Volunteer (June, 2016)

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Awards

National Science Foundation sponsored Doctoral Consortium Fellowship award $1500 (summer, 2018)

National Science Foundation Internship Grant #1623018 supplemental funding award $50,000 (fall, 2018)

National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program Honorable Mention (2017)

Howard Hughes Medical Institute Scholarship (2001-05)

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High School Teaching Experience

Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth (CTY) (2013-16)

Program Manager: Muhammad Ali Yousuf

Managed student health office for largest CTY summer program hosted at Franklin and Marshall College.

Fast-paced high school biology summer course instructor of record hosted at Johns Hopkins University.

Health science summer course instructor of record hosted at the King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 

Biotechnology summer course instructor of record hosted at Haverford College and Roger Williams University.

 

Islamic Saudi Academy (2012-15)

Director General: Faridah Turkistani

Managed and Coordinated International Baccalaureate (IB) program implementation and curriculum.

Developed and managed Middle Years Program (MYP) operating budget. 

Chaired MYP Steering Committee. 

Developed and delivered school-wide professional development training.

Founding biotechnology course instructor. 

IB Diploma Program Higher Level biology course instructor. 

Planned and implemented IB curriculum objectives and laboratory investigations.

 

Friendship Public Charter School (2009-11)

CEO: Donald L. Hense

College Board Advanced Placement Biology course instructor of record. 

Founding microbiology course instructor of record. 

Designated Curriculum Design fellow. 

Managed and monitored daily activities and academic progress of 110 students. 

Planned and implemented College Board curriculum objectives and laboratory experiments.

 

Palm Beach County Public Schools (2007-08)

Principal: Francis Giblin

Reading course instructor of record. 

Managed and monitored daily activities and academic progress of 105 students. 

County finalist for “New Teacher of the Year” Award.

 

Orange County Public Schools (2006-07)

Principal: Sarah Concepcion

Physical science course instructor of record. 

Managed and monitored daily activities and academic progress of 110 students. 

Led class to statewide standardized exam scores to #1 ranking in Orange County an #4 in state of Florida

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