Michelle Borrero

I have pursued scientific teaching as a scholarly activity since my recruitment at UPR in 2001.  I have used my training as an immunologist to develop various initiatives to integrate quantitative and bioinformatics skills into the Biology curriculum through institutional, NIH, and NSF funds.  For the last 8 years I have been the Director of the Center for Science and Math Education Research, which provides support to discipline-based education researchers and to other scientists that are interested in outreach opportunities to K-12 schools.  My research interests focuses on undergraduate biology and K-12 math and science education.  I develop initiatives and interventions to strengthen the undergraduate biology curriculum and professional development programs for K-12 teachers. Currently, I am working on a Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience for the development of undergraduate students’ scientific skills.  Also, I am developing several research instruments to measure the effectiveness of K-12 professional development interventions.  Currently, I serve as Co-PI of two NSF funded projects that aim to: 1) develop computer science education in Puerto Rico, and 2) understand the genetic mechanisms underlying the genome to phenome relationship, respectively.