Research Spotlight: Dr. Pierre Lu
Q & A with Dr. Pierre Lu, Associate Professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning
What are your research interests and research achievements?
I have been conducting educational research and evaluating programs for over two decades. My research interests include educational positive psychology, STEM education, public health, and scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) using technology in HSI of higher education. I have been awarded grants from NSF, TEA, HRSA, CEP, UTRGV, and Meadow Foundation. I was very honored to receive the Outstanding Research Award at UTRGV.
How does your work align with UTRGV’s and CEP’s strategic plans?
Directly and tightly connected to our CEP’s and UTRGV’s mission and vision (UTRGV, 2018a; 2018b), my research projects address the core priorities of UTRGV’s strategic plan -- Student Success (UTRGV, 2018c), with emphasis on examining educational opportunities (e.g., STEM education, technology undergraduate research, and public health…etc.) and community engagement (e.g., technology in schools, HSI, and SoTL…etc.). My projects are also aligned with CEP’s mission since they are investigating educational and research opportunities that “serve as catalysts for transformation in the Rio Grande Valley and beyond” (UTRGV, 2018a). They are also aligned with CEP’s strategic plan, Priority 1: Student Success. With practical implications from several of my research projects, we are one step closer to transforming the Rio Grande Valley, the Americas, and the world (UTRGV, 2018c) as we promote student success, research, health, and SoTL initiatives.
What are your current projects?
- Student health and academic achievement (e.g., SHASI)
- Active learning for STEM education (e.g., PRIMERS)
- 21st Century Community Learning Centers (e.g., ACE)
- Educational resilience (e.g., TOWER, CRESS)
- Impacts of COVID-19 (e.g., RAPID)
- Technology in Education (e.g., ETIC)
- Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (e.g., SoTL)
- Hispanic/ Latinx population and higher education (e.g., HSI)
- Learning science and cognitive science (e.g., HPL)
- Research and community engagement (e.g., EFAS)