People

Milo studies learning and engagement in the formal, post-secondary classroom targeted at the development of disciplinary practices. His work includes organizational change projects targeted at shifting instructional practices and institutional policy and practices. Both research threads draw on social practice theory.

Sam received his B.S. and M.A. in Chemical Engineering from Oregon State University before coming to Tufts to pursue a PhD in the same field. He is researching how the affordances of physical and virtual engineering laboratories affect the engineering epistemic practices students engage in. His research interests are how students learn and engage in the university classroom.

Harpreet earned a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2021, followed by an M.S. in STEM Education from Tufts University in 2023. He is pursuing a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering at Tufts University under the guidance of Dr. Milo Koretsky. Previously, he worked on studying shifts in learning assistant beliefs and the uptake of the Concept Warehouse. His current focus is analyzing short-answer explanations to statics, dynamics, and thermodynamics concept questions to understand student thinking and applications of LLMs to engineering education research. Harpreet’s research interests encompass chemical engineering education, learning sciences, and social justice. In his free time, he likes to read, play with his cat, Autumn, and consume copious amounts of cold brew. 

Sarah received her B.S. in Computer Science (2021) and M.S. in Data Science (2022) from Wentworth Institute of Technology while working in IT departments at a few different schools supporting faculty, staff, and students in both K-12 and higher education learning environments. She also worked as a software engineer at an insurance company before coming to Tufts, where she is currently a student in the STEM Education PhD program. She is working with Dr. Milo Koretsky on the development and maintenance of engineering education tools, namely the Concept Warehouse. Her research interests are focused on educational technologies and computer science education. In her free time, Sarah enjoys a variety of activities including running, playing guitar, and crocheting.

Melissa graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Academic City University College in Ghana. She is currently pursuing a graduate degree in Materials Science at Oregon State University, with a minor in Education. Melissa’s research interests lie in the development of Adaptive Learning Modules that can support and enhance the learning experiences of students from diverse backgrounds. As a member of the research teams of Professor Julie Tucker and Professor Milo Koretsky, she is focused on creating innovative and effective tools that can help students reach their full potential in the field of Materials Science.

Shirin received her B.S. in Computing from Olin College of Engineering in 2022. Since then, she’s worked in a variety of industries from full-time in biotechnology to teaching dance classes and technology classes to most-recently doing a quality engineering co-op.  She’s excited to be joining Tufts University as a STEM Education PhD student. She looks forward to working on the software for Concept Warehouse and assisting with the creation of virtual laboratories. Her research interests include undergraduate/university learning, accessibility in education, and the intersections of science and engineering. 

Philippa received her B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Northwestern University in 2023. As a Civil Engineering PhD student at Tufts, she is interested in exploring alternative methods to engage pre-college and undergraduate learners in engineering and improving systems of support for undergraduate students.

Irene Pantekidis

Irene is a student at Tufts University pursuing bachelor’s degrees in Biology, Child Study & Human Development, and Spanish Cultural Studies. She is working with Dr. Milo Koretsky on a qualitative study of the group dynamics and figured worlds associated with a two-stage authentic assessment that is meant to align better with engineering practice than traditional assessments. Her research interests include finding the most effective ways to create equitable education environments that support their students and adequately prepare them for success and continued learning in their post-graduate careers.

Dylan Higgins

Dylan is a student at Tufts University currently pursuing Bachelor degrees in Biochemistry and Biotechnology. They have a background in biotechnology through vocational technical education; they are a state certified biomanufacturing and biological labratory technican. Dylan is interested in instructional design within the context of experiential learning and interdisciplinary studies.

Caroline Bureau

Caroline is a junior at Tufts University studying Chemical Engineering. Last semester she enjoyed  working as a learning assistant for Introductory Physics. Caroline is interested in how the learning experience for STEM students can be improved through the use of technology and experimental teaching techniques. She is currently assisting Harpreet Auby with his work, focusing on the role of machine learning in STEM education.

Sarah is a student at Tufts University pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science through the School of Engineering. They have a background in creating applications with a focus on human-centered design and worked on a unity application with the Tufts Human Factors Lab. They will be working with Dr. Milo Koretsky on updating laboratory simulations used to enhance college students’ understanding in lab settings.

Tom is a software developer at Tufts University. He has been involved in the development and support of educational software applications produced by Prof. Koretsky’s teams at Oregon State University and more recently at Tufts. Currenty, his primary activity is moving the applications from OSU to Tufts.