TXST researchers receive NIH grant to bolster student agency in science education

Carlton Fong, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Curriculum and Instruction

Carlton J. Fong, Ph.D., and Kristy Daniel, Ph.D., have been awarded a grant for over $3.2 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) aimed at supporting the learning of over 2,000 undergraduate students in science-related classes. 

The five-year grant includes a $591,652 sub-award to Texas State University and is part of a multi-institutional project titled “Supporting Student Agency in Undergraduate Biomedical Education.”

The project will investigate whether targeted interventions promoting student agency and engagement can lead to sustained success in science courses for underrepresented undergraduate students. 

The principal investigator of the project is Erika Patall, Ph.D., from the University of Southern California, with Fong and Daniel serving as the TXST site investigators.

Kristy Daniel, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Biology

In the U.S., minority students remain underrepresented in scientific majors and careers, but recent studies on student agency and self-advocacy suggest that encouraging contribution early in their academic careers has potential to improve student engagement and success in STEM-related fields. The research team will examine the effectiveness of an intervention program tailored for students enrolled in introductory level science classes.

Fong and Daniel will begin collecting longitudinal student data from Texas, California, and Michigan starting fall 2024. Fong is recruiting 30 TXST faculty members who teach biomedical science courses to participate in the study.

Faculty interested in contributing to this innovative research and enhancing their teaching practices are encouraged to join this initiative and contact Fong for more information on how to get involved.