Natalie Downer

Dr. Natalie Downer is an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Missouri. She holds a dual appointment as Director of the McNair Scholars Program and Strategic STEM Initiatives in the Office of Academic Access & Leadership Development (AALD) within the Office of the Provost. She also serves as the MU site coordinator for the Missouri Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (MOLSAMP), an NSF-funded initiative spanning nine Missouri institutions to increase underrepresented minority (URM) STEM degree completion. Additionally, she is Co-Principal Investigator of the NSF-funded Louis Stokes Regional Center of Excellence for the Study of STEM Interventions (LSRCE SOSI), which supports inter-institutional collaboration in evidence-based practices to enhance URM student success in STEM.

Education:

• Ph.D., 2014, University of Missouri

Her work focuses on strengthening STEM pathways through program development, faculty training, and translational research. She leads initiatives addressing systemic barriers for underrepresented groups in STEM fields, combining educational innovation with institutional partnerships. Current projects emphasize strengths-based interventions and data-driven strategies to improve retention and graduation rates in STEM disciplines.

Grants & Collaborations:

• Co-PI: LSRCE SOSI (NSF)
• MOLSAMP Alliance Coordinator

Her professional contributions extend to laboratory instruction in biological sciences and mentorship through programs like the McNair Scholars, which prepares first-generation and underrepresented students for doctoral studies.