Justin H. Carmel
Assistant Professor
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
STEM Transformation Institute
Ph.D. Miami University, 2015
B.S. Nazareth College, 2009
Postdoctoral Researchers:
Coming soon…
Graduate Students:
Giselle Castano
B.S. Florida International University, 2019
Joined Carmel Research Group: Nov. 2020
Expected Graduation: May 2025
Chemistry Concentration: Analytical Chemistry
Dissertation Research Project: TBD
Edian (Edi) Villar
B.S. Florida International University, 2019
Joined Carmel Research Group: Nov. 18, 2019
Expected Graduation: May 2024
Chemistry Concentration: Analytical Chemistry
Dissertation Research Project: Investigating the Effect of Laboratory Curriculum on Students’ Chemistry Identity
Post-baccalaureate Researchers:
Grace Leon-Lozano
B.S. Florida International University, 2020
Major: Biology/Pre-Med
Why ChemEd?: Chemistry is in anything and everything. Without chemistry there would be no sense in the world and we know what we know through education. Education as a whole is very important; it is what produces the next generation of valuable humans to society. The knowledge that is obtained from education is what opens doors for brighter futures. But science is always changing and so is every generation of student, therefore the ways we teach chemistry should be changing in order to challenge us as student to be better scientists of tomorrow.
Natalie Mendez
B.S. Florida International University, 2019
Major: Biology/Pre-Med
Why ChemEd?:
Undergraduate Researchers:
Jake Carrier
Major: Chemistry
Why ChemEd?: In our ever evolving world, technology and science are developing at an unprecedented pace. It is our responsibility as educators to mold scientifically literate and responsible consumers, ensuring every student with a willingness to learn is armed with the knowledge and expertise needed to face the challenges of the future.
Ingrid Lopez
Major: Biology/Pre-Med; FIUTeach
Why ChemEd?: Every student deserves to feel supported, represented, and like they belong in any given classroom. STEM fields have traditionally not been inclusive to all demographics, and these effects are still present today in the STEM identities of many student. I first got interested in education research through my FIUTeach classes and learned more about chemistry education research specifically after working as Dr. Carmel’s LA. Chemistry Education Research strives to uncover how different factors are affecting students today, as well as provide educators with tools on how to help students create a positive chemistry identity and feel that they belong in the field. Through being a ChemEd researcher, I can contribute to this field and ultimately help chemistry students everywhere feel empowered.
Daniela (Dani) Martinez
Major: Biology/Pre-Med
Why ChemEd?:
German Mejia
Major: Chemistry
Why ChemEd?:
Viviana (Vivi) Montalti
Major: Biology/Pre-Med
Why ChemEd?: I chose ChemEd because I find the ability to learn and teach to be extremely important, especially for chemistry. Chemistry is such an amazing subject of study with so many details and precision, you would think there would be a specific way to teach it, but there isn’t just one way. That is why I chose ChemEd, to explore the different ways and different aspects that are taken into account when teaching such an amazing subject present in our daily lives.
Amy Rios
Major: Biology/Pre-Med
Why ChemEd?:
George Rophail
Major: Biology/Pre-Med
Why ChemEd?: Students from all kinds of diverse backgrounds and unique experiences take chemistry courses to learn about the interactions that occur in the natural world. Just as chemistry, like all other fields of study, progresses and evolved as new discoveries are made, so too should the teaching of chemistry. By researching the way chemistry is taught to students, we gain insight into how educational factors may influence aspiring minds and shape the future.