Research > STEM Education

We study and evaluate strategies to increase participation and achievement in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce.

We are the developers of APEX STATS, a set of open, editable, and modular resources that use Python as instructional technology to make it easier to teach introductory statistics. APEX is supported by the Center for Advancing Women in Technology.

To help address a massive shortage of cybersecurity professionals, we advise on best practices for recruiting and developing the next generation of STEM professionals. We collaborate with Cyber Spartans, a STEM education program of the SJSU Center for Community Learning and Leadership.

Selected Publications & Presentations

• Carr, V., & Schuster, D., Baca Reinke, M., Smith, M. C., Avena, J., Lee, W., & Wei, B. (2024). Applied programming experiences (APEX): Embedding computing modules in introductory biology and statistics courses [Poster presentation]. Western Psychological Association Convention, San Francisco, CA.
• Carr, V. A., Avena, J. S., Schuster, D, Lee, W., & Wei, B. (2023). Work in progress: Applied Programming Experiences (APEX) for community college students. Proceedings of the American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference. Baltimore, MD: American Society for Engineering Education. https://doi.org/10.18260/1-2--42877
• Ashenden, D., Mancuso, V., & Schuster, D. (2019, June). Macrocognition and development of the cybersecurity workforce. In R. Hoffman (Chair), Current issues and challenges in cyberdefense. Symposium conducted at the 14th International Conference on Naturalistic Decision Making, San Francisco, CA.
• Salubre, K. J., Tully, A., Ghavami, N., Schuster, D., & Klaw, E. (2020, April 20 to May 5). The impact of the Cyber Spartans mentorship program: Effects on college student participants [Poster presentation]. Spartan Psychological Association Research Conference, San Jose, CA.