معرفی
Melissa Kosinski-Collins is a Professor of Biology in the Department of Biology at Brandeis University, where she teaches introductory biology laboratories and advanced courses while directing university-wide STEM outreach initiatives. She serves as academic director of the Brandeis STEM Posse program, mentoring underrepresented students through pre-collegiate immersion and undergraduate advising.
Her educational background includes a Ph.D. in Protein Folding from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2004) and a B.S. from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Following her doctorate, she completed a Howard Hughes Medical Institute postdoctoral fellowship in biological education research at MIT.
Dr. Kosinski-Collins specializes in concept-based biology pedagogy, emphasizing science communication and social awareness to prepare students as STEM ambassadors. Her scholarship bridges classroom instruction with K-12 outreach and science education policy, informed by fellowships at the Rennie Center, Pardee RAND Graduate School, and SACNAS. She actively integrates policy analysis into curriculum development while advocating for improved biological preparation at secondary education levels.
Her distinguished contributions are recognized through:
- Louis Dembitz Brandeis Award for Excellence in Teaching (2010)
- Consecutive Brandeis HHMI Inclusive Excellence Scholar appointments (2019-2024)
- National Academies Education Fellowship (2012)
- Advanced Education Policy Fellowship with the Rennie Center (2022-2023)
She mentors STEM Posse scholars through academic transitions and career development while expanding outreach via campus field trips for local high school students. As a Discovery Museum Communication Fellow, she designs informal science education experiences that connect university research with community engagement.
