Amanda Gonczi

Amanda Gonczi serves as an Associate Research Scientist at the Great Lakes Research Center and Instructor in the Department of Psychology and Human Factors at Michigan Technological University, focusing on advancing STEM education through research and professional development initiatives.

Her core research areas include:

• Design and implementation of professional development for K-12 and undergraduate STEM teachers
• K-12 STEM education research methodologies
• Instructional practices promoting environmental literacy and stewardship
• Integration of computing into STEM curricula
• Teachers' beliefs regarding reforms-based science instruction
• Program evaluation frameworks for educational interventions

Specific investigations examine teachers' understandings of nature of science, inquiry, engineering, and Next Generation Science Standards; effectiveness of remote/face-to-face professional development models in fostering instructional change; and teachers' conceptions of fundamental science concepts like respiration and photosynthesis. Her work emphasizes practical applications for improving science education through evidence-based teacher training.

Affiliated with the Great Lakes Research Center, Dr. Gonczi contributes to interdisciplinary environmental research initiatives while developing educational outreach programs focused on Great Lakes ecosystem stewardship.