Research

Trained originally in computer architecture, especially with novel technologies, I started moving into computer science education research in 2008. I now have two research thrusts: Computer Science Education and Quantum Computing Education.

The CANON (Computing for ANyONe) Lab focuses on researching innovations in computational thinking education at the elementary, middle school, and introductory undergraduate levels with a primary emphasis on equity and inclusion for all underrepresented populations - underrepresented ethnic minorities, females, and students with learning differences.

I have two quantum computing education projects. I lead the education arm of EPiQC, an NSF Expeditions in Computing researching wasy that quantum systems can bridge the gap between theoretical algorithms assuming perfect hardware and the faulty devices available in this current Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum (NISQ) era. We develop educative materials for elementary through college students and use those as vehicles for research on how a variety of audiences learn quantum computing concepts. Second, I am co-PI on Q2Work, which has goals of leading the Q12 Partnership, placing QIS community content on a website for dissemination, and organizing workshops to push forward QIS education in the K-12 space.

Our lab is a welcoming environment that does not discriminate. Our central goals are to provide supportive learning environments for all students, regardless of gender, gender identity, ethnicity, religion, sexual identity, etc., and that holds true for our lab environment, as well.