Chandralekha Singh

Chandralekha Singh is a Distinguished Professor and Director of the Discipline-based Science Education Research Center at the University of Pittsburgh's Department of Physics & Astronomy within the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences. Her research focuses on improving physics education at all levels, particularly addressing student difficulties in quantum mechanics, problem-solving strategies, and equity in STEM education. She transitioned from condensed matter theory to physics education research (PER), developing validated instructional tools like Quantum Interactive Learning Tutorials (QuILTs) and conceptual assessments.

Education: Ph.D. in Physics from Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur. Prior research included theoretical studies in condensed matter physics, including polymer systems and quantum Monte Carlo simulations.

Research Interests: Physics Education Research, quantum education, problem-solving strategies, curriculum development, and equity/inclusion in physics learning environments. Her work emphasizes formative assessment, peer interaction, and scaffolding to enhance student learning outcomes.

Key Contributions: Developed over 50 peer-reviewed publications on PER, including conceptual surveys and interactive tutorials. Awards include the 2024 AAPT John David Jackson Award, AAAS Fellowship (2017), and Chancellor's Distinguished Teaching Award (2002).

• Grants: Funded by NSF and others for projects on quantum education, equity, and teaching methodologies.
• Labs/Teams: Leads the Discipline-based Science Education Research Center, collaborating with national networks on quantum education initiatives.