معرفی
Stephen Podowitz-Thomas is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry at La Salle University's College of Life Sciences, where he bridges materials science and STEM education research to advance inclusive practices for neurodivergent students and develop sustainable materials technologies.
His academic foundation includes:
- PhD in Materials Science from Stanford University (2012)
- BS in Engineering from Columbia University (2005)
Dr. Podowitz-Thomas's research program exhibits two interconnected thrusts. In STEM education, he investigates neurodivergent students' experiences with group work, STEM mindsets, and chemistry problem-solving approaches to create more inclusive instructional frameworks. His materials science work focuses on environmentally-friendly technologies, particularly rare-earth-free phosphor synthesis for energy-efficient lighting and scintillator ceramics for radiation detection. His background in engineering statistics and stochastic modeling underpins both research domains, while pedagogical interests span team-based learning, schema-based problem-solving, and LGBTQ+ inclusion in STEM.
Publication analysis reveals an evolution from traditional materials chemistry (evident in 2019 battery materials research) toward his current educational equity focus, with recent work examining neurodivergent student experiences in STEM group dynamics.
He actively mentors through dual research groups:
- An education research team studying neurodivergent student adaptation strategies
- A materials chemistry laboratory developing sustainable phosphor technologies
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