معرفی
Taylor Allen is an Associate Professor of Biology in the Biology Department at Oberlin College's College of Arts and Sciences. With a BSE from the University of Pennsylvania (1984) and a PhD from the University of Washington (1990), followed by postdoctoral work at the University of Pennsylvania (1990-1996), Allen has established a distinguished career focused on biology education and departmental transformation in STEM education.
- BSE, University of Pennsylvania, 1984
- PhD, University of Washington, 1990
- Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Pennsylvania, 1990–1996
Allen's research spans two major areas: promoting enduring, transferable understanding of biological concepts and designing department-level strategies to improve undergraduate biology education outcomes. Their work bridges educational theory with practical implementation in academic settings, focusing on how departments can transform their organizational practices to better support student learning. Recent publications demonstrate Allen's leadership in developing communities of practice among STEM departments to foster systemic educational change.
Analysis of Allen's publications reveals a consistent focus on evidence-based teaching practices, departmental organizational change, and the development of transferable biological understanding. The work shows increasing sophistication in addressing systemic challenges in biology education, with recent publications emphasizing community-building approaches to departmental transformation across multiple institutions.
- Building Communities of Practice among Undergraduate STEM Departments to Foster Emergent Transformation (2024)
- Department-Level Strategies for Improving Biology Undergraduate Educational Outcomes (2025)
- Promoting Enduring, Transferable Understanding of Biological Concepts (2024)
Allen actively contributes to the development of evidence-based teaching practices in biology education, with particular emphasis on how departmental cultures can be transformed to better support student learning. Their work with the PULSE Midwest and Great Plains Regional Network demonstrates a commitment to creating practical frameworks that help departments implement sustainable educational improvements. Allen teaches Organismal Biology (BIOL 100) and has been involved in initiatives like the Summer Institute on Scientific Teaching, which focuses on inclusive and evidence-based teaching practices.
Allen's laboratory and team work primarily focuses on educational research rather than traditional biological research. Through the PULSE network, they collaborate with faculty across multiple institutions to study and implement department-level changes in biology education. Their current work emphasizes building communities of practice that foster emergent transformation in undergraduate STEM education.
