Tamara Western – SUSAIL Principal Investigator
Tamara is an Associate Professor in the Biology Department and a Learning Innovation Specialist with the Office of Science Education. She loves learning new things and doing so through research with students. As the founder of the SUSAIL research group, she is interested in the learning and identity trajectories of undergraduate students and their development of agency during their university experience. In her past (research) life, she ran a development genetics laboratory focusing on plant cell walls in cell differentiation, plant morphology, and biomechanics. She continues to teach genetics and molecular biology in BIOL 302 - Fundls of Genetics & Genomics , as well as running FSCI 396 – Research Project in Science Teaching and Learning. Before joining the Biology Department in 2003, Tamara completed a PhD at the University of British Columbia and postdoctoral fellowships at Rutgers University and the University of British Columbia.
Contact: tamara.western [at] mcgill.ca | Stewart Biology N8/2 | (514-398-2574)
Current Members
Martin Ako (Research Assistant) – The impact of transdisciplinary, pedagogical research experiences on undergraduate science student identities and career trajectories
Martin holds B.Ed. and MPhil in Elementary Education from the University of Education, Winneba, Ghana and is currently pursuing PhD in Educational Studies (Science & Mathematics Education) at the Department of Integrated Studies in Education (DISE), McGill University. His research focuses on Pedagogy, Differentiated Instructional Strategies, Collaborative Professional Development, Teacher Curriculum Knowledge, and STE(A)M Education. His current research in STEM education explores the potential of supporting teachers to use gender-inclusive instructional strategies to enhance Girls' Participation in STEM Education. Martin is currently involved in a number of projects related to teacher and student agency, interdisciplinary teaching and learning and secondary mathematics pre-service teachers’ experiences in their teacher education programs. In his leisure time, Martin likes listening to music, interacting with family and friends, working in the garden, or playing soccer.
Shamnaz Arifin Mim (Research Assistant) – The impact of transdisciplinary, pedagogical research experiences on undergraduate science student identities and career trajectories
Shamnaz is a PhD candidate in McGill’s Department of Integrated Studies in Education. Her broad research interests focus on science teacher education, social justice in science education, identity development and arts-based methodology. Through her PhD research, she aims to explore how women science teachers’ unique experiences contribute to their identity development as science teachers and investigate the possibilities afforded by a network of support to foster science teachers’ identity development. Shamnaz has been extensively working in education sector in Bangladesh over the past 11 years. Her local, national, and international work with teachers, teacher educators, and educational organizations have shaped her research and career trajectory. Her education background includes MA in Development Studies with specialization on Gender and Education from Erasmus University, and MEd and BEd in Science Education from University of Dhaka. She is a Gold Medalist of University of Dhaka and a Deans Excellence Fellow of McGill. She has been awarded with Margaret Gillet Fellowships and Jackie Kirk Fellowships for research on women.
Email: shamnaz.mim [at] mail.mcgill.ca | Shamnaz' ResearchGate profile
Emma Arnell (BSc student) – Investigation and design of student-led mini courses
Emma is in the fourth year of her BSc Liberal - Microbiology & Immunology and is completing a Minor in Education for Science Students. She is interested in university-level science education and the possibilities that exist to improve it. In her free time, she enjoys tap dancing and playing the flute (usually not at the same time), and she has a talent for finding four-leaf clovers.
Madalina Patron (BSc student, Co-supervised by Anita Parmar, Building 21) – Pursuing your passion beyond your discipline - open scaffolded research experiences
Madalina is in her 4th year of BSc Liberal Anatomy and Cell Biology with a Minor is Russian Language. Having her undergraduate experience greatly impacted by the pursuit of passions outside her main discipline, she has developed an appreciation for communities which afford students the opportunity to pursue passion projects. Her current research focuses on analyzing the impacts of such experiences amongst undergraduate students, namely by encouraging the development of agency and higher order soft skills allowing them to pursue more meaningful careers. In her leisure time, Madalina greatly enjoys gardening and has a soft spot for growing sweet pea flowers.
Yujia Cui (BSc student) – Course structure, assessments, and the fostering of transferable self-efficacies
Yujia is BSc candidate in Pharmacology.
James Wang (BSc student) - Course structure, engagement, and the development of disciplinary agency
James is BSc candidate in Neuroscience.
Louis Ghaleb (BSc student) – Illustrated abstracts - Non-disposable assessments that promote metacognition?
Louis is BSc candidate in Microbiology and Immunology.