Idalis Villanueva

The use of physiological tools to identify changes in affective responses for graduate students recently admitted into a scientific discipline

Over the past decade, underrepresentation of minority students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) at the undergraduate and graduate level have been reported. However, little is known about the internal and external factors/experiences causing students to decide to drop-out. This study considers the gateway experiences (B.S. to M.S.) that led six STEM college students to continue to pursue their masters degree. This paper will present a novel method to triangulate affective responses of participants as they recollect their college experiences. We will discuss the graduate student case studies by comparing gender. The information presented highlights interview summaries from the graduate students, physiological instrumentation data including: (1) wireless non-invasive wrist sensors to measure skin electrical conductance (electrodermal activity) as a trigger for emotional response, (2) wired pulse oximeters to non-invasively monitor an individuals heart rate, and (3) preliminary detection of heart rate using a custom-developed, non-invasive/non-contact video monitoring technology presented for the first time in this paper. Together, the findings present a unique method to assess emotional and decision-making responses of students. Through this work, we hope to develop future research strategies that are qualitatively and quantitatively based for the target population.

The Bigger Picture: My Journey to a Purposeful Life and Career in Academia

I am a chemical and biological engineer teaching introductory engineering courses; I am an engineering education researcher with an interest in broadening opportunities for diverse students; I am the only Latina woman assistant professor in my college and a minority in my community; I am a mom of two small children (7 and 3.5), and I am married to my husband of 12 years and many more to come; I am powerful and impactful, my life is purposeful and part of a bigger picture.