Sabrina Abdulla-Wolphe
Sabrina leads on ASLA's STEM peer-leader training course and is available to consult with students on learning & study strategies, particularly in STEM courses. She was excited to join ASLA after working in the STEM education component of an AI + Chemistry research institute since completing her graduate degree. She has contributed to projects that apply human-centered design frameworks to informal and formal STEM curricula in order to better address student needs and motivate learning in chemistry, as well as to make ongoing science research accessible to all audiences. She has been involved in science outreach, academia-industry relations, and connecting students with undergraduate research and other career exploration opportunities. She is happy to talk about any of those topics as well! Sabrina has a PhD in microbiology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and a BS in biology from the University of Oregon.
What is most meaningful to you about your work?
Most of us don’t really learn how to learn, which tends to result in a focus on memorization instead of understanding of the material. I am excited to get the opportunity to work in a department that prioritizes accessibility to different learning strategies and study methods to empower and help students.
What’s some advice you would give to your college-age self?
Don’t get too hung up on trying to do everything “right” — you won’t ever learn how to do things well if you are afraid to try, and sometimes things that don’t work out as you'd hoped actually end up being the best learning experiences.
What is a prior life experience that you draw on in your work?
Teaching kids science in informal 花季视频s is such an enlightening experience. It helped me identify what kinds of things actually help people who have little-to-no science background connect and engage with the content. I think about those experiences a lot as I work with older students, even in more formal academic settings, because it’s hard to master material when we don’t necessarily understand why we are learning something and why its relevant.
What’s something you enjoy when you’re not at work?
I love trying new food and restaurants, cooking and baking, hanging upside down on various aerial apparatuses, and hanging out with my little family (partner, 2 cats and a puppy)!