Abstract
The Institute for Scientist & Engineer Educators (ISEE) has been working with the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) community since 2001 to prepare early-career scientists and engineers to become effective and inclusive in their teaching and mentoring. At the heart of this work is the Professional Development Program (PDP), which provides graduate students, postdocs and other professionals intensive training in teaching methods supported by research, and a practical teaching experience with students at the undergraduate level. More than 550 participants have now completed the program, and have used the experience to obtain jobs, fellowships, and grants. Many participants return at least once to the PDP to lead a teaching team, and become part of an enduring national community of scientists and engineers dedicated to effective and inclusive education. ISEE was recently awarded a grant from the NSF, “Advancing Inclusive Leaders in Astronomy,” with an NSF physics supplement, which provides support for graduate students and postdocs at ISEE chapters to participate in the PDP, and for alumni at sites across the U.S. to lead and expand upon ISEE’s prior work at their own institutions. ISEE’s UT Austin chapter has been active since 2016 with chapter lead Caitlin Casey, and operates in the TAURUS Scholars Program as well as astronomy lab and research courses.
ISEE has recently been recognized with a Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM). The PAESMEM awards program is administered by the National Science Foundation on behalf of the White House Office of Science Technology and Policy.
