Research and Programmatic Interests:
- Student understanding of scientific inquiry and the nature of science
- Student-teacher-scientist partnerships
- Evaluation of science education programs
Current Research Projects:
Partnership for Research and Education in Plants (PREP)
The Partnership for Research and Education in Plants (PREP) brings together biology teachers, their students, and research scientists to guide students as they design and conduct experiments to study Arabidopsis thaliana, plants used widely in genetic research and one of the few organisms whose genome has been sequenced. Students examine previously uncharacterized Arabidopsis plants and share their findings with scientists interested in studying those plants. Students will learn standards-based content about plant biology and genetics, as well as standards-based skills related to biotechnology and scientific inquiry.
Research area 1: What do students understand about scientific inquiry and the nature of science as a result of participating in PREP?
Research area 2: What do students understand about biological concepts as a result of participating in PREP?
Research Opportunity - Graduate Assistantship Available
We are seeking graduate students in education or the life sciences to assist in this research. If you are interested, please send a resume or curriculum vitae, including contact information, to Erin Dolan (BIOoutreach@vt.edu, 540-231-2692).
VT Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics K-12 Education and Outreach Initiative (VT STEM)
VT STEM is an umbrella organization of Virginia Tech programs and personnel committed to K-12 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education. VT STEM is focused on building networks within the university and across K-12 communities to improve scientific and technological literacy of Virginia’s students. The mission of VT-STEM is to share research and resources among the university, public education, and other partners that will contribute to Virginia as a leader in K-12 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education.
Research area 3: K-12 schools and universities are collaborating more and more, especially given the mandate from federal agencies that grantees broaden the impact of their research. How do these collaborations develop and what are predictors or hallmarks of their success?
Research area 4: VT STEM is an umbrella organization of these collaborations. How and why have umbrella organizations developed, how are they structured, and what are the predictors or hallmarks of their success?
Education Publications:
1. Dolan EL, P Lemaux, B Soots, SY Rhee, L Reiser. 2004 Strategies for Avoiding Reinventing the Precollege Education and Outreach Wheel. Genetics 166: 1601-1609.
2. Dolan EL. 2004 Sustaining Biotechnology Education: Challenges and Strategies. Paper for Conference on K-12 Outreach from University Science Departments, Raleigh, NC.
3. Dolan EL. 2003 Partnership for Research & Education in Plants: A teacher-student-scientist collaboration. Paper for Conference on K-12 Outreach from University Science Departments, Raleigh, NC.
Science Publications:
1. DM Tobin, DM Madsen, A Kahn-Kirby, EL Peckol, G Moulder, R Barstead, AV Maricq, CI Bargmann. 2002 Interacting TRPV genes mediate nociception and chemosensation in C. elegans. Neuron 35: 307-318.
2. Peckol EL, E Troemel, CI Bargmann. 2001 Sensory experience and sensory activity regulate chemosensory receptor gene expression in Caenorhabditis elegans. PNAS 98:11032-8.
3. Zallen JA, EL Peckol, DM Tobin, CI Bargmann. 2000 Neuronal cell shape and neuritogenesis are regulated by the Ndr kinase SAX-1, a member of the Orb6/COT-1/Warts serine/threonine kinase family. Molec Cell Biol 11:3177-3190.
4. Peckol EL, JA Zallen, JC Yarrow, CI Bargmann. 1999 Sensory activity affects the development of sensory axons in C. elegans. Development 126:1891-1902.
5. Maricq AV, E Peckol, M Driscoll, CI Bargmann. 1995 Mechanosensory signalling in C. elegans mediated by the GLR-1 glutamate receptor. Nature 378:78-81.