Sonia Underwood
Assistant Professor: Dr. Underwood joined FIU in January 2016 after working as a Research Associate at Michigan State University. Prior to that, she received her PhD in Chemistry focused on chemistry education from Clemson University and her BS degree in Chemistry from University of Central Florida. With all of the amazing unique aspects that FIU has to offer along with being born and raised in Florida, FIU was the perfect choice to call home! Underwood’s research area is focused on implementing and assessing curriculum transformation efforts using both qualitative and quantitative methods.
Contact: sonia.underwood@fiu.edu
Current Members
Post-doctoral Researchers
Zahilyn Roche Allred
Post-Doctoral Researcher (May 2019 – Present): Zahilyn received her Ph.D. in Chemistry with a specialization in Chemistry Education Research from Miami University in Oxford, OH. Her dissertation work focused on the development of a representations inventory to measure students’ ideas about the electronic structure of the atom with regards to probability and energy quantization. Prior to that, she completed her BA degree in Chemistry with a minor in Biology from Florida International University (FIU). During her time at FIU, she was a research assistant in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, where she synthesized conjugated nanoparticles for biomedical applications. After obtaining her BA, she taught middle school science for one year before attending graduate school. Currently, she is working on the development of activities that prompt students to use their chemistry concepts to explain biological phenomena.
Contact: zroche@fiu.edu
Graduate Student Researchers
Alexandria Roach
(August 2019 – Present): Alex is currently working on her Ph.D in Chemistry with a Chemistry Education Track at Florida International University. Alex earned her BS in Chemistry with a specialization in biochemistry and minor in biology from Barry University. While an undergraduate she worked as a biology lab teaching assistant and research assistant where she synthesized selective muscarinic antagonist for disease treatment. Alex attended School for Advanced Studies where she graduated with her Associated in Arts degree from Miami-Dade College.
Brianna Martinez
(August 2020 – Present): Bri earned her BS degree in Chemistry from Michigan State University in 2019. While an undergraduate she worked as a chemistry undergraduate learning assistant and research assistant. As a research assistant she investigated student learning of chemistry topics from online simulations and screencasts, synthesized and characterized organometallic frameworks, and explored how students used their chemistry knowledge to explain biological phenomenon. Bri is currently working on her Ph.D. in Chemistry with a Chemistry Education Track at Florida International University
Kodi Nix
(August 2021 – Present): Kodi is currently working on her PhD in Chemistry, With a track in Chemistry Education at Florida International University. She earned her BS in Biochemistry at Georgia Tech in her home town of Atlanta, Ga, where she also began chemistry education research and developed her love of chemistry. While in undergrad, she focused on performing think aloud interviews and coding interview transcripts. Kodi hopes to expand her biochemistry knowledge and include it into Chemistry Education.
Heike Stocklein
(August 2021 – Present): Heike was born and raised in Germany and moved to the US in 2011. She obtained an AA in Chemistry at Miami-Dade College and a BS in Chemistry from FIU graduating from the FIU Honors College. She did her undergraduate research at the FIU Toxicology facility under Dr. Anamary Tarifa, where Heike aided a graduate student in her research concerning the identification of cannabinoid compounds in exhaled breath condensate. Heike completed an REU program at University of Miami in Summer 2016 where she helped graduate students with their research concerning drug delivery to bone tissue in zebra fish embryos using fluorescent carbon-dots. Heike’s research interests now lie in Chemistry Education and specifically in organic chemistry and the facilitation of teaching students the material more effectively so that they can actually understand the concepts and don’t just memorize them.
Undergraduate Student Researchers
Andrea Echarri-Gonzalez
(August 2020-Present): Andrea is an FIU Honors student pursuing a BA degree in Chemistry. In her time as FIU, Andrea has worked as a Learning Assistant for General Chemistry and Analytical Chemistry and was a Biology I and II Peer Lead Team Learning leader. Andrea is interested in researching student understandings of structure-property relationships in the classroom and hopes to attend medical school in the future.
Brittany Adams
(August 2020-Present): Brittany is an FIU Honors College student studying Natural and Applied Sciences and have proposed minors in psychology, biology, as well professional sales. She is on a pre-PA track and plan on attending a masters program for Physician Assistants after graduation. Brittany absolutely loved the teaching environment that Dr. Underwood had when she took her for general chemistry and realized her learning capabilities thrived which is why she wanted to join the team and better understand how chemistry is learned and the importance of teaching technique.
Kathryn Ramjattan
(January 2021-Present): Kathryn is a member of FIU’s Honors College and a proud recipient of the FIU Ambassador Merit Scholarship. Currently, she is pursuing a BS in Biology on the pre-med track and is anticipated to graduate in Spring 2021. During her undergraduate degree, she has worked as a General Chemistry learning assistant, been an active Dean’s Scholars member, and consecutively maintained her status on the Dean’s List. While working as an LA, Kathryn was able to discover her passion for teaching and see how different learning strategies could be implemented towards student success. She hopes to gain better insight on teaching techniques and how students learn while working on this team.
Alanys Pliopa
(January 2021-Present): Alanys is an FIU College Student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences and a minor in Psychology on a pre-medical track. She has come across having a large interest in science education, thus previously working as a Learning Assistant for General Chemistry I and Peer Lead Team Leader for General Biology I. By working with Dr. Underwood, Alanys hopes to get a further understanding of how students understand course core ideas and the learning techniques they use in Chemistry. She aims to incorporate this research as a student in medical school and when teaching medical students in clinical environments.
Elaine Arias
(April 2021-Present): Elaine is an FIU Honors College student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry with the hopes of attending veterinary school after she graduates. She is a Bright Futures Florida Academic Scholarship recipient and is proud to be on the Dean’s list for the eighth semester in a row. She is currently a peer supervisor for General Biology I in FIU’s Peer Lead Team Learning program, which was one of the things that sparked her interest in education and pedagogy. After being a student in Dr. Underwood’s General Chemistry II class and taking Organic Chemistry shortly after, she noticed the great impact Dr. Underwood’s style of teaching had on her ability to learn the concepts taught in Organic Chemistry. Elaine is excited to be a research assistant in Dr. Underwood’s team and is looking forward to learning more from her.
Patricia Alvarez Gordillo
(July 2019 – Present) Patricia is an FIU Student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. Currently working as a Teaching Assistant in a Laboratory and a Student Mentor as of Spring 2020, through these activities she has found a love for teaching and chemistry education. She hopes to gain a better understanding as to how students learn through different teaching techniques by working with Dr. Underwood. She hopes this experience allows her to become a high school chemistry teacher or a professor in the near future.