Stains earns Presidential Early Career Award

Photo Credit: Marilyne Stains
Mon, 07/08/2019 - 10:50

University of Nebraska–Lincoln researcher Marilyne Stains has received a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers.

The award is the highest honor presented by the United States government to scientists and engineers who are in the beginning stages of their research careers. It is reserved for individuals who show exceptional promise for leadership in science and technology fields.

Stains, an associate professor of chemistry, was nominated for the award by the National Science Foundation. Stains and her research group focus on closing the gap between research and practice in chemical and science education at the post-secondary level. Key areas of study include:

  • Developing new methods to characterize instructional practices in science, technology, engineering and mathematics college classrooms;

  • Exploring how faculty and teaching assistants think about teaching;

  • Identifying individual, departmental and institutional factors that influence instructors' instructional decisions; and

  • Characterizing the impact of different types of pedagogical professional development programs.

Stains received a five-year Faculty Early Career Development Program Award from the NSF to comprehensively study university STEM teaching and to improve programs that train faculty to better teach science.

Established in 1996, the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers honors the contributions researchers have made to STEM education and community service. Awards are based on scientific leadership, public education and community outreach.