Robin A. Costello

Robin A. Costello is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University at Buffalo, part of the College of Arts and Sciences. His research focuses on identifying systemic barriers to student success in postsecondary biology courses and evaluating evidence-based interventions to reduce these barriers. He employs experimental and quantitative methods to study the social aspects of learning and student persistence in STEM fields.

Dr. Costello holds a BA in Biology from Dartmouth College, a PhD in Behavioral Ecology & Evolutionary Biology from the University of Virginia, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Biology Education Research at Auburn University. His work addresses topics such as ideological awareness in curricula, humanizing scientists in course materials, and challenging racial misconceptions in genetics education.

His research has been published in journals like Research in Science Education, CBE—Life Sciences Education, and International Journal of STEM Education. He leads the Costello Lab, which investigates pathways to equity in STEM education and the role of social networks in ecological systems.

Notable contributions include studies on counterstereotypical scientist role models, test anxiety reduction strategies, and demographic disparities in STEM degree attainment. His interdisciplinary approach bridges education research and evolutionary biology, reflecting his dual expertise in pedagogy and ecological systems.