Ryan Stowe

Ryan Stowe is an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he leads research in chemistry education and student-centered learning environments. He earned a B.A. from Albion College (2010) and a Ph.D. from The Scripps Research Institute (2016), followed by a Postdoctoral Fellowship at Michigan State University (2016–2019).

His research focuses on:

• Designing chemistry curricula aligned with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and 3-Dimensional Learning
• Investigating epistemological practices in science education
• Developing molecular-level sensemaking tools to bridge atomic/molecular theory with observable phenomena
• Advancing equity in STEM through assessment design

Key themes in his 15 most recent publications (2025–2020) include:

• Authentic assessment methods and their epistemological implications
• Epistemic cognition in chemistry students
• Equity-driven assessment practices
• Model-centered learning and discourse analysis
• Curriculum transformations for K-12 and undergraduate levels
• Impact of instructional practices on student outcomes

He has received the Christine Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Fellowship and collaborates with researchers like Dr. Melanie Cooper (Michigan State University) and Dr. William Roush (Scripps Research). His work has been published in journals including Science Education, Journal of Chemical Education, and PLOS One.

Current and prospective students in his group include:

• Brie Bradshaw (M.S. 2024, UW–Madison)
• Kim Dempsey (M.S. 2016, CUNY–Hunter College)
• Theodore Gierszal (B.S. 2022, College of Charleston)
• Nicole Greco (M.S. 2023, UW–Madison)
• Niall Ellias (B.S. 2022, UW–Madison)
• Lindsay Wells (Graduate Student, UW–Madison)