About Us

This project explores how engineering faculty evolve into engineering education researchers through mentoring relationships, supported by the NSF-funded Research Initiation in Engineering Formation grants. By understanding this process, we aim to develop effective training materials and host networking events that connect engineering faculty with mentors across various institutions, fostering a community of scholars committed to improving engineering education.

Through this impact research, we emphasize the importance of mentoring relationships that not only focus on the technical aspects of engineering education but also consider the social and cultural dimensions of becoming an education researcher. By conducting in-depth interviews with faculty and mentor-mentee pairs, we are developing a conceptual model that illustrates the identity formation of engineering education researchers. This model sheds light on the significant paradigm shifts and career transformations that faculty undergo when expanding their expertise into this growing field.

Our work is designed to enhance existing training programs and develop new opportunities for faculty interested in engineering education research. By closing the gap between research and practice, we aim to improve teaching, advising, programming, and policy-making in engineering education, ultimately contributing to a more effective and research-informed academic environment. 

Through our efforts, we are committed to lifelong learning, job retraining, and fostering a culture of continuous growth among engineering faculty.

Meet our facilitators 

Dissemination Efforts