NCID-2056
Megan Grunert Kowalske
Associate Professor in Chemistry and Science Education
Western Michigan University
Education/Degree:
1 Chemistry (Purdue University)
About
Dr. Grunert Kowalske is a jointly appointed faculty member in chemistry and science education. She is currently serving as the chair for the department of chemistry and teaches undergraduate chemistry and graduate science education courses. Her research utilizes a critical lens to investigate all aspects of diversity in STEM, primarily from an educational psychology perspective focused on identity and motivation. Dr. Grunert Kowalske serves as the advisor to chemistry and science education graduate students.
Current Work
Dr. Grunert Kowalske conducts scholarship on all aspects of diversity in STEM, using a critical, qualitative approach to advocate for historically underrepresented students in STEM and to challenge existing norms and systems that continue to disadvantage certain students. She is currently the PI on three NSF-funded projects. One examines the experiences, identities, and social support networks for underrepresented minority graduate students. Another has developed instruments to understand instruction in online STEM classrooms. The most recent will support chemistry transfer students through cohorts, support programming, research opportunties, and faculty professional development.
Research Area Keyword(s)
career choices, diversity, feminist theory, identity, STEM