#GameChanger.
Bio
A physicist, optical engineer, and engineering education researcher in one.
Lauren's educational research experience is both in formal and informal education environments. She has been a graduate fellow of the Learning in Informal and Formal Environments (L.I.F.E.) Science of Learning Center, National Science Foundation Integrated Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT), and Research Associate at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Also, while in graduate school she was a graduate assistant for the Virginia Tech Youth Science Cooperative Outreach Agreement (YSCOA), funded by the U.S. Army. She later worked as a contractor at the U.S. Army Research Office overseeing the implementation of several STEM education programs while developing the Army’s STEM education research efforts. She has experience with STEM scholarship program development in higher education. She is currently the multi-campus coordinator for the Consoritum to Promote Reflection in Engineering Education.
The driving goal of her career is to make a difference in science and engineering education.
About Me
Lauren is an engineering education researcher interested in addressing challenges in STEM education at the K-12, college, and graduate levels. Her areas of interest include policy, outreach, and STEM identity development.
STEM
EDUCATION EXPERTISE
Lauren D. Thomas is an experienced science and engineering educator and researcher. Having earned a PhD in engineering education, Dr. Thomas has experience in various STEM education settings: informal/outreach, middle and high school, higher education, and government. Aiming to be a STEM Ed #GameChanger.