Robert A. Linsenmeier, Ph.D.

Northwestern and 21 other universities that are part of the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning (CIRTL) recently received a $5 million grant from the National Science Foundation.

The grant will expand CIRTL, a nationwide collaboration with the goal of improving the education of the diverse populations of undergraduates who pursue degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

CIRTL’s strategy is to provide programs that help graduate students and postdoctoral fellows implement effective practices when they teach STEM undergraduates in their varied professional careers.

“Faculty don’t often take the time to have discussions with each other or with students about STEM education,” said Robert Linsenmeier, professor of biomedical engineering and neurobiology at Northwestern and the University’s CIRTL institutional leader. “We’re trying to raise the level of teaching as an important intellectual activity that is part of the package of a faculty career.”