معرفی
Carolyn Nichol is an Associate Research Professor at Rice University and Director of the Rice Office of STEM Engagement (R-STEM). She also serves as Education Director for the NSF NanoEnabled Water Treatment (NEWT) Engineering Research Center. Her work focuses on enhancing STEM education through teacher professional development, student engagement programs, and fostering diversity in STEM fields.
Dr. Nichol holds a B.S. in chemical engineering from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the College of Pharmacy at UT Austin, specializing in polymeric membrane materials.
Her research emphasizes improving STEM education through cross-curricular initiatives, inquiry-based learning, and community partnerships. She leads programs connecting Rice’s research with Houston-area schools, including summer academies, internships, and mentoring initiatives. R-STEM provides sustained professional development for K-12 teachers in science and math, while NEWT integrates educational outreach into national research efforts.
Dr. Nichol collaborates with faculty across disciplines to align university research with community needs. Her outreach efforts prioritize underrepresented groups in STEM through tailored programs and curriculum design.
