By Kenneth Mullinax/ASU
A $1.2 million National Science Foundation (NSF) grant has been awarded to a team of educators led by Alabama State University's Dr. Gulnaz Javan, who serves as a professor of Forensic Science and coordinator of Forensic Biology in ASU's Department of Physical and Forensic Science. The grant, which covers research conducted over a five-year period between 2024 and 2029, is part of NSF's Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program.
Javan explained that the title of the funded project is “The Building of Alabama STEM Educators with M.S./M.Ed.”
"This program's ultimate goal is to produce more highly qualified and competent minority STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) teachers who are competent in content knowledge and possess a strong commitment and disposition to teaching biology, forensic science, and mathematics in our school systems," Javan stated. "This significant grant is the first NSF grant to be secured by ASU's Department of Physical and Forensic Sciences.”
Leading the team as its principal investigator is Dr. Javan, who is an internationally acclaimed expert on forensic science. Also serving on the team are co-principal investigators Dr. Anthony Broughton, an associate dean in ASU's College of Education, and Dr. Roberto Reed, an assistant professor in ASU's College of Education.
Dr. Broughton shared that ASU’s new NSF Noyce Program will help produce more highly qualified and diverse STEM education teachers through the University's well-established science and math degrees, and teacher education programs.
"As a collaborating faculty member on this National Science Foundation grant, I am thrilled to work with its Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program," stated Broughton. "This opportunity allows us to address the critical need for highly qualified STEM educators in underserved communities, and by preparing and supporting future teachers, we not only enhance STEM education but also empower students from diverse backgrounds to pursue careers in these vital fields. As the associate dean in Alabama State University's College of Education, I am ecstatic to contribute to a program that aligns with our mission to foster educational equity and excellence."
Javan explains that the program includes a collaboration with the Montgomery Public School System.
"This million dollar-plus grant will allow our school systems to recruit STEM graduate education students, track their matriculation, and assist them through areas that currently present challenges to their progress,” Javan said. "As this NSF grant progresses each year, ASU’s track-one of the Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program will recruit eight new scholars from three master STEM programs offered by ASU's Biology, Forensic Science, and Mathematics programs and support them for two years as they attain their Master of Education degrees. The collaboration between ASU and the Montgomery Public School System will be an effective team to produce more highly - qualified and diverse STEM education teachers and increase the number of minority teachers from underrepresented groups."