Our Mission
We build strong learning communities to support scientists as they transition through undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate environments. This means thinking about how scientists historically have been trained, identifying common themes that lead to success, and strategizing how to address areas that need improvement. Our team develops ways to accomplish this both through “teaching” and through “research.”Teaching in science disciplines
We design courses in chemistry, biology, and biomedicine where students are encouraged to bring their full identities & lived experiences into the classroom. Our lesson plans incorporate active learning, as well as students’ career goals. We communicate learning outcomes that are clearly defined and help students build action plans for how to achieve them. In these ways, we are working to strengthen STEM education.
Research in science education
We are committed to empowering early career scientists wherever they train – in university classrooms, in the lab, and even within informal mentoring spaces. By designing and implementing new learning activities, we collect evidence for effective teaching practices. We serve as a bridge between STEM education researchers and the scientist “practitioners” who are training the next generation.
About the PI
Dr. Nikea Pittman, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of teaching in UNC Chapel Hill’s biochemistry and biophysics department. She combines her experience in pedagogy, structural biology and virology to create student-centered learning communities. Her priorities include course design and mentoring.