Erika is a PhD student in the Biology and Society program and is a part of Sara Brownell's Biology Education Research lab.
MS Biology, Concentration: Education, Communication, Outreach, University of Massachusetts (Lowell)
BS Biology and Psychology Minor, University of Massachusetts (Lowell)
I am interested in understanding biology student motivation in the context of diversity and equity in the undergraduate classroom. I specifically hope to explore first-generation student motivation and interventions that could promote curiosity and the drive to learn in biology courses.
Sara Brownell's Biology Education Research Lab (http://sebbers.wixsite.com/biology-ed-lab)
Poster Presentations:
Declines in Intrinsic Motivation and Self-Efficacy in Underrepresented First-Generation Introductory Biology Students, UMass Lowell; Gordon Research Conference for Undergraduate Biology Education
Shaping Academic Success: How Declines in Motivation, Self-Efficacy, and Self-Regulation Influence Academic Success in Introductory College Biology Students, UMass Lowell; SABER conference
Introductory Biology: The Importance of Intrinsic Motivation, Extrinsic Motivation and Self-Regulation in Academic Success, Gordon Research Conference for Undergraduate Biology Education Research
Freshman Biology: Tracking Changes in Academic Motivation, Metacognition and Grades, American Society for Microbiology Conference for Undergraduate Educators (ASMCUE)
The Role of Student Motivation in Academic Success in a Freshman Biology Course, UMass Lowell and Amherst
Supervised Teaching Instructor, Biological Sciences, UMass Lowell: Assisted first-year Biology students during group work, graded assignments, conducted tutoring, and edited research papers (2018)
Learning Assistant, Biological Sciences, UMass Lowell: Assisted diverse first-year Biology students with group work related to introductory biology concepts; instructed class (2015, 2016, 2018)
SOLS (ASU) Graduate Fellowship, ASU (2019)
HHMI Travel Award, Gordon Research Conference (2019)
Outstanding Graduate Student Award, UMass Lowell (2018)
Doug William’s Travel Award, UMass Lowell (2017, 2018)
Gordon Conference Travel Support, Gordon Research Conference (2018)
Omicron Delta Kappa Honor, UMass Lowell (2016)
Additional:
Tamarin UMass Lowell Scholarship, UMass Lowell
Martin Meehan’s Chancellor’s Education Excellence Scholarship, UMass Lowell
Kennedy Family Merit Scholarship, UMass Lowell
Dean’s List, UMass Lowell