Research

Focus

My research explores the intersection of disability, physics, and education, aiming to create more inclusive and accessible learning environments in STEM. I investigate barriers faced by disabled people in physics education and professional communities as well as develop strategies to enhance engagement, representation, and equity in the field. My research focuses on two major strands:

1. Centering the experiences of disabled people within the sciences to identify ableist practices and to create recommendations for instructional and research practice. 

2. Investigating how instructors implement research-based instructional strategies within different instructional contexts to identify best practice.

And see Google Scholar for my publication list.

Collaborative Research: Investigating Video-based Graduate Teaching Assistant Professional Development to Support Universal Design for Learning in Undergraduate Chemistry Courses (DUE 2236260)

Research funding provided by the National Science Foundation.

Project Team

  • UCF PI: Dr. Erin Saitta
    • Graduate student: Kathleen Lugo-Charriez
  • OSU: Dr. Jacquelyn J. Chini
    • Graduate student: Julia Willison

Objectives

  • Examine chemistry GTA’s current awareness, conceptualizations, values, and reported use of the UDL-aligned instructional strategies.
  • Develop a suite of 6-8 video lessons and facilitator materials to represent how UDL-aligned instructional strategies can be implemented in chemistry.
  • Investigate how the suite of PD materials are incorporated into professional development programs to shift GTAs’ views about accessibility, inclusivity, and UDL. This includes examining how GTA trainers integrate the materials into their department training and how they prefer to access their training materials.

Collaborative Research: From Courses to Careers – Addressing Ableism in Physics through Faculty-Student Partnerships (DUE 2336368)

Funding provided by the National Science Foundation.

Project Team

  • MSU PI: Dr. Daryl McPadden
    • Graduate student: Theo Bott
  • UConn PI: Dr. Erin Scanlon
  • UConn Co-PI: Dr. Xian Wu
  • UConn Co-PI: Dr. Matthew Guthrie

Objectives

  • Create and evaluate the impact of a novel, dual-thread professional development aimed at supporting physics faculty and disabled students in postsecondary STEM.
  • Support physics instructors in modifying their courses to be more accessible and inclusive.
  • Support disabled students in exploring the STEM workforce and the transition from college to careers.
  • Facilitate a community of physics faculty and students to foster mutually-beneficial partnerships

Postdoctoral Fellowship: STEMEdIPRF: Investigating How Neurodivergent Students Experience Undergraduate Physics (DGE 2411711)

Funding provided by the National Science Foundation.

Project Team

  • PI: Dr. Liam McDermott
  • Supervisor: Dr. Erin Sanlon

Objectives

  • Conduct a systematic literature review of neurodivergent STEM learning and performance.
  • Construct a grounded theory of neurodivergent physics learning and performance.
  • Collect narratives of neurodivergent undergraduate physics majors.