Brian M. Donovan

Brian M. Donovan serves as an Associate Research Professor at the University of Colorado Boulder's Institute for Behavioral Genetics, where he leads research at the intersection of genetics education and social cognition. His work focuses on understanding how conceptual learning about genetics influences the development of genetic essentialism - a scientifically inaccurate belief system that can foster prejudice and hinder biology learning.

Dr. Donovan holds a Ph.D. in Science Education from Stanford University (2016), an M.S. in Biology from Stanford University (2016), an M.A. in Teaching from the University of San Francisco (2009), and a B.A. in Biology from The Colorado College (2001).

His research primarily employs prevention science methods, randomized trials, and quasi-experimental designs to study how genetics education can be optimized to reduce genetic essentialist beliefs while improving academic performance in biology. Donovan's work has demonstrated that instruction helping students understand patterns of genetic variation within and between human ancestry groups can reduce genetic essentialist beliefs about race.

Analysis of his publication record reveals a consistent focus on combating genetic essentialism through improved science education. His research spans multiple educational contexts from middle and high school to undergraduate settings, examining how different instructional approaches affect students' understanding of genetics and their resulting social beliefs. Donovan's work bridges science education, social psychology, and critical race studies to develop evidence-based interventions for more humane genetics education.

Scientific Awards

• Research Worth Reading Award, National Science Teacher's Association (2021)
• Early Career Research Award, National Association for Research in Science Teaching (2020)
• Research Worth Reading Award, National Science Teacher's Association (2017)
• John Evans Gessford Stanford Interdisciplinary Graduate Fellowship in K-12 Education (2014)
• Herbst Award for Teaching Excellence (2009)

As Principal Investigator on three active NSF grants (DRK-12 2452096, ECR-Core 2450246, and IUSE 2450245), Donovan directs significant research efforts to improve genetics education. His work has been featured in major media outlets including The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Independent, and Education Week, demonstrating the societal relevance of his research on the connections between genetics education and prejudice reduction. Dr. Donovan is not currently recruiting new students.