Welcome!

I am an NSF postdoctoral researcher in Dr. Heather Bergan-Roller's lab at Northern Illinois University specializing in Biology Education Research and Behavioral Ecology. My research focuses on ways to foster academic success in Biology undergraduates through supporting well-being and building science literacy. At NIU, I ask questions about how experiences early in undergraduate student careers affect sense of belonging, retention, and academic success. With this, I teach the “Introduction to the Biology Major” course and have created an accompanied peer mentorship program where undergraduates are paired with successful upperclassman as a resource for support, guidance, and community. This work is supported by the NSF STEM Education Postdoctoral Fellowship (Award #: 2411619).

I am also a trained Behavioral Ecologist. My previous work at the University of Virginia and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign focused on behavioral plasticity. I asked how and if animals change their behavior as social contexts change. See Research tab for more details.

When I’m not doing research or teaching, you can find me running, reading, playing video games, doing pottery, or hanging with my dog, Koopa!

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Email: lmitchem@niu.edu