So Yoon Yoon

So Yoon Yoon is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Engineering and Computing Education at the University of Cincinnati's College of Engineering and Applied Science. She holds a Ph.D. in Gifted Education from Purdue University and specializes in engineering education research, spatial ability development, STEAM integration, and workforce diversity. Yoon directs the GUIDE and STAR research labs, focusing on organizational climates in engineering and spatial training interventions.

Her research examines factors influencing retention of underrepresented groups in STEM, transformative learning in study-abroad programs, and computational thinking in K-16 education. Yoon has secured over $1.2M in NSF and NASA funding for projects on drone-based engineering engagement and space technology curriculum development. She developed validated instruments like the Teaching Engineering Self-Efficacy Scale (TESS) and revised PSVT:R spatial test.

Yoon received multiple awards, including the IEEE FIE Best Diversity Paper (2019) and ASEE Best Paper awards (2013, 2014). She teaches foundations of engineering design and education theory, emphasizing project-based and cross-cultural learning.