Dr. Shakhnoza Kayumova - Lab Founder
Dr. Kayumova is an Associate Professor in the Department of STEM Education and Teacher Development, the Director of the Kaput Center for STEM Education Research and Innovation, and the founder of the STEAM Language, Learning, and Identity Research lab aimed at improving equitable outcomes in STEM Education. One of the main lines of Dr. Kayumova’s research inquiry is concerned with understanding how to make science education, broadly construed as STEM education, a more equitable space for young people from traditionally underserved communities through the design of teaching and learning ecologies embedded in cultural, linguistic, and epistemic heterogeneity. Issues of language, identity, race, and gender are recurrent themes in her research. Dr. Kayumova examines how dominant culture, gender, race, language-related ability perceptions and biases, traditional epistemic perspectives and methods, and the positioning of diverse learners relative to these norms contribute to the marginalization of ethnically and linguistically diverse students from participating in robust STEM practices. Her research highlights the urgent need for equitable and just STEM learning environments where all students can thrive. Such environments not only support the social, academic, and identity development of diverse young people but also advance STEM fields to make them more socially and ethically responsible and innovative. This includes developing socially and ethically just AI and cybersecurity systems, addressing global and local pandemic issues, and understanding and finding sustainable solutions to social and environmental injustices and climate change. Dr. Kayumova, a renowned scholar and educator, has been recognized for her impactful research with prestigious honors. She received the National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER award, which is one of the NSF's most esteemed awards, given to early-career faculty who have the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education. Dr. Kayumova has also been named a Fulbright Scholar, a highly prestigious international exchange program that selects distinguished scholars to promote mutual understanding and academic excellence globally.
Kimberly Welty - Project Manager
Kym Welty is the grant support specialist at the Kaput Center for Research and Innovation in STEM Education. As part of this role, Kym takes on the Project Manager role for Dr. Kayumova’s NSF Career Project.
Co-Principal Investigators and Collaborators
Mia Dubosarsky, PhD
Director of Professional Development at Worcester Polytech Institute. CO-PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR, IMPACT PROJECT
Chandra Orrill, PhD
Professor of Mathematics Education at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. CO-PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR, CT COUNTS, EAGER
Gillian Smith, PhD
Professor of Computer Science at Worcester Polytech Institute. CO-PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR, IMPACT PROJECT
Anthony F. Arrigo, PhD
Professor of Communication at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. CO-PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR, VR HOOVER DAM
Ramprasad Balasubramanian, PhD
Professor of Computer and Information Science at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. CO-PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR, CT COUNTS
Hamed Samandari, PhD
Full Time Lecturer of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. CO-PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR, SCHOLARSHIP TO ACCELERATE ENGINEERING LEADERSHIP AND IDENTITY IN GRADUATE STUDENTS
Tracie Ferreira , PhD
Professor of Bioengineering at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. CO-PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR, SCHOLARSHIP TO ACCELERATE ENGINEERING LEADERSHIP AND IDENTITY IN GRADUATE STUDENTS
Pauline Entin, PhD
Dean of College of Art & Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. CO-PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR, IMPLEMENTATION OF A CONTEXTUALIZED COMPUTING PEDAGOGY IN STEM CORE COURSES
Yanlai Chen, PhD
Professor of Mathematics at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. CO-PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR, IMPLEMENTATION OF A CONTEXTUALIZED COMPUTING PEDAGOGY IN STEM CORE COURSES
Zheng Chen, PhD
Assistant Professor of Mathematics at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. CO-PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR, IMPLEMENTATION OF A CONTEXTUALIZED COMPUTING PEDAGOGY IN STEM CORE COURSES
Jean VanderGheynst , PhD
Dean of College of Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. CO-PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR, SCHOLARSHIP TO ACCELERATE ENGINEERING LEADERSHIP AND IDENTITY IN GRADUATE STUDENTS
Sigal Gottlieb, PhD
Chancellor Professor of Mathematics at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. CO-PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR, IMPLEMENTATION OF A CONTEXTUALIZED COMPUTING PEDAGOGY IN STEM CORE COURSES
Previous Collaborators
Raymond Laoulache, PhD
professor of mechanical engineering. IncCO-Principal Investigator, Girls Power In Making Project
Md Shaad Mahmad, PhD
Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Quinguo Fan, PhD
Professor of Bioengineering. CO-PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR, GIRLS POWER IN MAKING PROJECT
Walter Stroup, Phd
Professor of Mathematics Education at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. CO-PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR, GIRLS POWER IN MAKING PROJECT
Current Graduate Students
Eleanor Richard
Research Assistant, PhD Candidate in Science Education
Esma Kahveci
Research Assistant, PhD Candidate in Mathematics Education
Nazia Tasnim
Research Assistant, PhD Candidate in Science Education
Akira Harper
Research Assistant, PHD Student Science Education
Previous Students
Patrick McGraw
RESEARCH ASSISTANT, UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT
Nneoma Mazine Ugwu
Research Assistant, UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT
Megan Scriber
RESEARCH ASSISTANT, UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT
Sherry Xu
Website master, Undergraduate Student
Jane Ji
Research Assistant, PhD Candidate in Mathematics Education
Jinsook Park
Research Assistant, PhD Student STEM Education
Chinmay Mahabal
PhD in Electrical and Electronic Engineering