EducationPh.D. Science Education (June 2015):
Gevirtz Graduate School of Education at the University of California, Santa Barbara, CA Dissertation: Solving Health Problems with Science: Exploring Sustainable Community- Driven Science Education in Kenya Committee: Danielle Harlow (Chair), Julie Bianchini, Mary Brenner, and Hugo Loaiciga Lab Group: Thinkering Lab M.A. Science Education (June 2012): Gevirtz Graduate School of Education at the University of California, Santa Barbara, CA Thesis: Girls' Gateways to Science and Mathematics Education in Cameroon B.A. Physics (May 2008): Gettysburg College, PA Awards and Grants
Co-PI National Science Foundation (NSF) HRD: 2150298 - $999,504 ($122,960) “Transitions and Research Across Interfaces (TRAINS)” (2022-2027)
Gutenstein Family Faculty Fellow for High Point University Service Learning Co-PI National Science Foundation (NSF) DUE: IUSE 1624882, “Collaborative Research: The PIPELINE Network” $141,999 (2016-2020) UCSB Gevirtz Graduate School of Education Dean's Council Fellowship (2012-2013) International Center for Materials Research - Developing Regions Travel Grant (2012) UCSB Block Grant Fellowship (2009-2010) Fulbright Fellowship: University of Yaounde II, Yaounde, Cameroon (2008-2009) Conference PresentationsLeak, A. E., Herman, J., Chung, P. & Vaca, C. (2023). Investigating Approaches for Supporting Communication Skills to Foster Students’ Physics Identity Development and Sense of Belonging. American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) Summer Meeting. July 15-19, 2023. Sacramento, CA.
Herman, J., Leak, A. E., Chung, P. & Vaca, C. (2023). Investigating the role of question-asking and making contributions in bridging cultures to foster physics identity development. American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) Summer Meeting. July 15-19, 2023. Sacramento, CA. Leak, A. E., Chung, P. & Vaca, C. (2022). Understanding Hispanic Physics Majors’ Expectations of Relationship-Building at Community College. American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) Summer Meeting. July 9-13, 2023. Grand Rapids, MI. Leak, A. E., Bruce, C., & Guzey, S. (2021). The Influence of Teacher Questioning Approaches on Students’ Productive Thinking. NARST 94th Annual International Conference. April 7-10, 2020. Virtual. Leak, A. E., Williamson, K. & M. Zwickl, B. M. (2020). Dream Jobs and Desired Career Paths of Physics Majors. American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) Summer Meeting. July 19-22, 2020. Virtual. Leak, A. E., Moore, D. L. & M. Zwickl, B. M. (2019). The PIPELINE Survey: Investigating Perceptions, Experiences, and Pathways in Physics. American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) Summer Meeting. July 20-24, 2019. Provo, UT. Leak, A. E., Martin, K., Rocha, A., Reiter, E., & Zwickl, B. (2018). Adapting Measurement and Testing to Integrate Practices within Authentic Contexts. American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) Summer Meeting. July 28-August 1, 2018. Washington D.C. Zwickl, B., Hu, D., Chen, K., & Leak, A. E. (2018). Epistemic Modeling Games within Physics-Intensive Workplaces. American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) Summer Meeting. July 28-August 1, 2018. Washington D.C. Hathaway, J. N., Leak, A. E., Reiter, E., Martin, K. N., & Zwickl, B. (2018). Attitudes and Perceptions of Math Used in Physics-Intensive Careers. American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) Summer Meeting. July 28-August 1, 2018. Washington D.C. Leak, A. E., Sciaky, E., Cammarota, C. & Zwickl, B. (2018). Examining Student and Faculty Perceptions of Physics Innovation and Entrepreneurship. American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) Winter Meeting. January 6-9, 2018. San Diego, CA. Leak, A. E., Santos, Z., Reiter, E., Martin, K. N., & Zwickl, B. (2017). Blackbox Science: Hidden Science Practices used in the Optics Workplace. American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) Summer Meeting. July 22-26, 2017. Cincinnati, OH. Santangelo, B., Young, N., Leak, A. E., Martin, K. N., & Zwickl, B. (2017). Communicating and Using Math in the Optics and Photonics Workforce. American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) Summer Meeting. July 22-26, 2017. Cincinnati, OH. Vosburg, J., Zwickl, B., Olivera, J., Chen, K., Leak, A. E., Martin, K. N., Deslongchamps, J. (2016). Preparing Undergraduates for Solving Problems in PhD-Level Research. American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) Summer Meeting. July 16-20, 2016. Sacramento, CA. Leak, A. E., Martin, K. N., & Zwickl, B. (2015). Studying the skills needed for success in optics careers. SPIE Optifab. October 14, 2015. Rochester, NY. Bertram, C., Leak, A., Sayre, E. C., Kustusch, M. B., and Franklin, S. V. “Student Conceptions of Expertise.” Proceedings of the 2016 International Conference of Learning Sciences (ICLS2016), July 2016, Singapore. Leak, A. E., Cheung, P. Harlow, D. (2015, January). How quantum mechanics history informs our understanding of scientific models. American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT). January 15, San Diego, CA. Law, M., Leak, A. E., Harlow, D. (2015, January). What is your evidence? Undergraduate students’ writing about changing models. American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT). January 2015, San Diego, CA. Leak, A., Tillman, J., Bernt, C., Kubiak, C., Lenaburg, L., and Ford, P., The role of research centers in graduate student professional development, presented at the American Chemical Society (ACS) National Meeting, August 2014, San Francisco, CA. Harlow, D., and Emerson, A., The Shape of Idea Flow: 3rd Grade Students’ Sharing Ideas Developed through Logo Programming, presented at the American Educational Research Association (AERA), April 2012, Vancouver, Canada. Sciaky, E., Emerson, A., & Lenaburg, L. Research experiences abroad: Preparing US graduate students for the global science community, presented at American Chemical Society (ACS), March, 2012, San Diego, CA. Emerson, A., Harlow, D., and Dyar, A., Moving and Making Ideas: Students Using XO Laptops to Create, Discover, and Share Ideas, presented at the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT), February, 2012, Ontario, CA. Emerson, A., Collins, A., Lenaburg, L., Harlow, D., Bianchini, J., and Scott, S., Graduate students’ perceptions of scientific collaborations after researching in China, American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT), July 2011, Omaha, NE. Emerson, A. & Harlow, D., Mathematics in Cameroon: from text to talk in the classroom, American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT), July 2011, Omaha, NE. Emerson, A., Harlow, D., and Byar, A., Moving and making ideas: Students using XO laptops to create, discover, and share ideas, National Association of Research in Science Teaching (NARST), April 2011, Orlando, FL. Swanson, L., Emerson, A., & Harlow, D., Embracing Confusion: Students’ attitudes toward Confusion for Model-based Inquiry, American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT), July 2010, Portland, OR. Harlow, D., Swanson, L., Dywer, H., Emerson, A., Moon, S., Learning about teaching and learning in PET, American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT), July 2010, Portland, OR. Toskes, K., Emerson, A., Deaven, J., Leiter, J., McNamara, L., Stephenson, S. Target thickness optimization of Carbon-12 for tertiary-neutron activation at OMEGA, 2nd Joint Meeting of the Nuclear Physics Divisions of the American Physical Society and the Physical Society of Japan, September, 2005, Maui, HI. Invited Talks
Leak, A. E. (2022). Shifting Culture to Support Physics Innovation and Entrepreneurship Curriculum Implementation. Panel on "Preparing Physics Students for 21st Century Careers" American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) Winter Meeting. January 6-8, 2022. Virtual.
Leak, A. E. and Zwickl, B. (2019). Optics: An Enabling Science – The Spectrum of Light. High School Teacher Workshop at Rochester Institute of Technology, July 15-16, Rochester, NY. Leak, A. E. (2018). Connections and context: Refocusing NGSS to create meaningful learning opportunities. Keynote address at the Maine Center for Research in STEM Education (RiSE Center) Fall STEM Summit, November 16, 2018. Northport, ME. Leak, A. E. (2018). Community and Career Contexts as Spaces to Build and Apply Students' Wonderful Ideas. In Symposium organized by Eric Kuo. What Can Be Achieved by Building on Wonderful Ideas. Physics Education Research Conference (PERC). August 1-2, 2018. Washington D.C. Zwickl, B., Leak, A. E., & Martin, K. N. (2018). Teaching the Whole Physics Student: Integrating Communication, Context, and Career Preparation into the Physics Curriculum. In webinar organized by Crystal Bailey. American Physical Society. April 25, 2018. Leak, A. E., Martin, K. N., & Zwickl, B. (2018). How to Be Successful in a Physics Career: Preparing for Life After Your Physics Degree. In webinar organized by Crystal Bailey. American Physical Society. March 21, 2018. Leak, A. E. & Zwickl, B. (2016). Defining Professional STEM Practice. In Symposium organized by Leslie Atkins Elliott & Angela Little. Iteration, Ownership, and Emotions: Examining How Classroom Experiences in Physics Move Outside the Classroom. Physics Education Research Conference (PERC). July 20-21, 2016. Sacramento, CA. Leak, A. E. Solving Health Problems with Science: Exploring Sustainable Community-Driven Science Education in Kenya, Gettysburg Physics Colloquium, April 2, 2014, Gettysburg, PA. Emerson, A. The writing process and instruction methods for primary school literacy programs, NURU International Education Team, January 2013, Isibania, Kenya. Emerson, A. Learning progressions and lesson planning, NURU International Education Team, July 2012, Isibania, Kenya. Emerson, A. Water and sustainability in Kenya, North Durham Rotary Club, September 2011, Durham, NC. Emerson, A. Culture, classrooms, and collaboration: Science education research experience in Cameroon, Mayfield Senior School, January, 2010, Pasadena, CA. Emerson, A. Culture, classrooms, and collaboration: Science education research experience in Cameroon, South Pasadena Rotary Club, December, 2009, South Pasadena, CA. |
PublicationsHarlow, D. B., Otero, V. K., Goldberg, F., Leak, A. E., Robinson, S., & Price, E. (2020). Learning about teaching and learning while learning physics: An analysis of 15 years of responsive curriculum development, Physical Review Physics Education Research.
Knippenberg, M. T., Leak, A. E., Disseler, S., & Segarra, V. A. (2020). Establishing partnerships for science outreach inside and outside the undergraduate classroom, J Microbiol Biol Educ. 21(2), 1–6. Bailey, C., Arion, D., Leak, A. E., Zwickl, B. (2019). Teaching physics for tomorrow: Equipping students to change the world, Physics Today, 72, 10, 40, DOI: 10.1063/PT.3.4318. Leak, A. E., Williamson, K., Moore, D. L., & Zwickl, B. (2019). On being a physics major: Student perceptions of physics difficulties, rewards, and applicability of innovation and entrepreneurship, PERC 2019 Proceedings. Hu, D., Chen, K., Leak, A. E., Young, N. T., Santangelo, B., Zwickl, B. M., and Martin, K. N. (2019). Characterizing mathematical problem solving in physics-related workplaces using epistemic games, Physical Review Physics Education Research. Martin, K. N., Gaffney, A. L. H., Leak, A. E., Nelson, J., Cervantes, A. T., Gardener, K. L., Clark, B. L., & Zwickl, B. M. (2018). Spewing nonsense [or not]: communication competence and socialization in optics and photonics workplaces, Communication Education, 67(4), 414-437, DOI: 10.1080/03634523.2018.1503315. Leak, A. E., Santos, Z., Reiter, E., Martin, K. N., & Zwickl, B. (2018). Hidden factors that influence success in the optics workforce, Phys. Rev. Phys. Educ. Res. 14, 010136. Harlow, D. B., Hansen, A. K. McBeath, J. K., & Leak, A. E. (2018). Teacher education for maker education: Helping teachers develop appropriate PCK for engaging children in educative making. In S. Uzzo (Ed.) Pedagogical Content Knowledge in STEM, New York: Springer. Leak, A. E., Sciaky, E., Lenaburg, L., Bianchini, J. A., and Scott, S. (2018). Essential Elements of Collaboration: Understanding How Chemistry Graduate Students Experience Collaboration through International Research Visits, Journal of Chemical Education Article ASAP, DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.7b00781. Leak, A. E., Vosburg, J., Martin, K. N., Rothwell, S., Olivera, J., & Zwickl, B. (2017). Examining problem-solving in physics-intensive PhD research, Physical Review Physics Education Research. Santangelo, B., Young, N., Leak, A. E., Martin, K. N., & Zwickl, B. (2017). Integration of mathematics and communication in physics intensive workplaces, PERC 2017 Proceedings. Zwickl, B., Chen, K., Deslongchamps, J., Leak, A. E., Martin, K. (2017). Characterizing analytical and computational mathematics use during PhD research, PERC 2017 Proceedings. Young, N. T., Santangelo, B., Martin, K. N., Leak, A. E., & Zwickl, B. (2017). Models of math use in non-academic workplace settings, PERC 2017 Proceedings. Leak, A. E., Cammarota, C., Cawley, N., and Zwickl, B. (2017). Examining students' perceptions of innovation and entrepreneurship in physics, PERC 2017 Proceedings. Leak, A. E., Vosburg, J., Martin, K. N., Olivera, J., Zwickl, B. (2016). Characterizing problem-solving strategies in physics-intensive PhD research, PERC 2016 Proceedings, 192-195. Zwickl, B., Leak, A. E., Olivera, J., Vosburg, J., Martin, K. N. (2016). Characterizing problem types and features in physics-intensive PhD research, PERC 2016 Proceedings, 412-415. Harlow, D., Dwyer, H., Hansen, A., Hill, C., Iveland, A, Leak, A., Franklin, D., (2015). Computer programming in elementary and middle school: Connections across content. In M. Urban and D. Falvo (Eds.) Improving K-12 STEM educational outcomes through technological integration. (337-361). Hershey, PA: IGI Global. Harlow, D. B. & Leak, A. E. (2014). Mapping students' ideas to understand learning in a collaborative programming environment. Journal of Computer Science Education, 24 (2-3), 229-247. Gimbel, S. & Emerson, A. (2009). Montessori and the uncited influence of Hegel. Communications Association Montessori Internationale, 2009(1). Technical Reports
APS PIPELINE Project EPIC Report (2021, contributor). Educating physicists for impactful careers: Equipping physics students to change the world through physics innovation and entrepreneurship education.
Leak, A. E. & Lenaburg, L. A. (2011, 2012, 2013, & 2014). Partnership for international research and education - Electron chemistry and catalysis at interfaces (PIRE-ECCI): Annual evaluation report. Leak, A. E. & Lenaburg, L. A. (2012, 2013, & 2014). International research experience for students - Electron chemistry and catalysis at interfaces (IRES-ECCI): Annual evaluation report. Leak, A. E. & Lenaburg, L. A. (2012, 2013, & 2014). Enhanced support, training and experiences for engineering majors (ESTEEM): Annual evaluation report. Leak, A. E. & Lenaburg, L. A. (2013 & 2014). Center for sustainable use of renewable feedstocks (CenSURF): Semi-annual evaluation report. Leak, A. E. & Lenaburg, L. A. (2013 & 2014). Chemical engineering writing assessment evaluation report. Banakis, N., Cagel, D., Clark, B., Dodge, M., Emerson, A., Freeborn, D., Kemei, M., & Poerschke, D. (2013). Community water source distribution phase II alternatives analysis report. Engineers without Borders, UC Santa Barbara Chapter. Belding, M., Cagle, D., Clark, B., Dodge, M., Emerson, A., Finney, C., Garcia, E., Kemei, M., Loaiciga, H., von Phul, P., Poerschke, D., Showers, J., & Smith, R. (2012). Community water source distribution pre-implementation report. Engineers without Borders, UC Santa Barbara Chapter. Belding, M., Emerson, A., Garcia, E., Loaiciga, H., Poerschke, D., Smith, R., & Yeh, C. (2011). Community water source drilling post-assessment report. Engineers without Borders, UC Santa Barbara. Video Publications and Webinars
Moser, B., Lane, B. & Leak, A. E. (2022). American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) Winter Meeting Retrospective. The Physics Alive Podcast, Episode #37, January, 2022.
Leak, A. E., Zwickl, B., & Bailey, C. (2021). Skills for Physics Bachelor Careers in the Private Sector. American Physical Society Success in Industry Careers Series, Washington D.C.: American Physical Society, May 6, 2021. Zwickl, B., Leak, A. E., & Martin, K. N. (2018). Workplace contexts for math and communication preparation. TERC 2018 STEM for All Video Showcase, http://stemforall2018.videohall.com/presentations/1273. Leak, A. E., Martin, K. N. & Zwickl, B. (2018). Teaching the whole physics student: Integrating communication, context, and career preparation into the physics curriculum. C. Bailey APS Careers Webinars, Washington D. C.: American Physical Society. https://www.aps.org/careers/guidance/webinars/whole.cfm. Zwickl, B. & Leak, A. E. (2018). How to be successful in a physics career: Preparing for life after your physics degree. C. Bailey APS Careers Webinars, Washington D. C.: American Physical Society. https://www.aps.org/careers/guidance/webinars/success.cfm News Articles
Future Photon Initiative: Developing Advanced Photonics, RIT Research Magazine 5/17/16
RIT to Study Photonics, Optics Workforce Training in Photonics.com 12/7/15 RIT Receives $400K Photonics Grant to Study Local Workplace Trends on Channel 8/ WROC-TV 12/4/15 $400K Grant for Optics and Photonics Education Research in Rochester Business Journal 12/3/15 NSF Awards $400K Grant to Study Experience Needs for Photonics Careers in ASEE First Bell 12/3/15 Photonics Skills in Democrat and Chronicle 12/2/15 Photonics Workforce Development Study in RIT University News 12/2/15 Piloting Biotechnology Teaching Tools 5/26/15 Gettysburg College Alumni Physics Colloquium 7/9/14 Gevirtz Graduate School of Education Dean's Ambassador Circle Scholar Durham Rotary Award and Presentation |