Researcher's Work Among Top NSF STEM Projects

TAMPA, Fla. (Feb. 20, 2009) – The National Science Foundation (NSF) highlighted University of South Florida researcher Kathryn Borman’s work investigating student pathways on the road to careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) Feb 19 at a special program in Virginia at the National Science Foundation. Her research draws on the wealth of data from the state of Florida about students in public postsecondary institutions to examine their progress from high school through college and into their later career placements in STEM or other fields.

Borman is the recipient of several research awards, totaling more than $7.1 million from NSF, the Spencer Foundation and Florida Department of Education for research projects she and her team work on in the USF Department of Anthropology’s Alliance for Applied Research in Education and Anthropology: Understanding Factors that Sustain STEM Career Pathways, and On-Track for STEM Careers: Access to Rigorous and Relevant STEM Courses in Florida's High Schools.

Her contribution to NSF’s STEM research agenda will help the agency find answers to its most pressing questions related to advancements in education research: Where is the cutting edge in education research? How can we best support it? What are its implications down the road for teaching and learning?

Borman is one of eleven researchers (funded through a program called Research and Evaluation on Education in Science and Engineering (REESE)), participating in the event at NSF headquarters where they presented information about their ongoing work. Her work is also featured in an 8’ by 5’ poster installed in NSF’s atrium, one of only 10 such featured studies. (REESE is among NSF's programs supporting basic research into how students learn STEM, and what approaches are most effective in teaching them.)

“This recognition is a great honor for Dr. Borman and USF,” said USF Department of Anthropology Chair Elizabeth Bird. “Her work helps us understand the paths people take into careers in sciences and engineering, as well as the barriers that stand in the way, especially for minorities.”

Borman’s work delves into career decision-making processes, student motivation to excel and embark upon STEM career pathways, as well as how structural supports and barriers affect student outcomes.

“We have found that some of the key background factors are the courses students take in high school – especially challenging coursework in mathematics including calculus and physics – and that certain experiences and career knowledge affect STEM career persistence,” said Borman. “With this information, and that of the many researchers tackling these issues, teachers and those who design STEM curricula can make important changes in how they recruit, retain and help STEM workers persist in their careers.”

The University of South Florida is one of the nation's top 63 public research universities and one of 39 community-engaged, four-year public universities as designated by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. USF was awarded more than $360 million in research contracts and grants in FY 2007/2008. The university offers 219 degree programs at the undergraduate, graduate, specialist and doctoral levels, including the doctor of medicine. The university has a $1.8 billion annual budget, an annual economic impact of $3.2 billion, and serves more than 46,000 students on institutions/campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and Lakeland. USF is a member of the Big East Athletic Conference.

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