Home | Academics | Centers & Institutes | Aisiku STEM Center

Centers & Institutes

  • Imoigele P. Aisiku, M.D., ’92 STEM Center

    The Imoigele P. Aisiku, M.D., ’92 STEM Center at Worcester State University enhances student learning and success in science, technology, and math fields by facilitating interdisciplinary collaboration and initiatives. Representatives from STEM-related departments (biology; chemistry; computer science; earth, environment, and physics; and mathematics) work diligently on initiatives aimed at increasing student retention and providing pathways for academic excellence in these programs.

  • Board Members
    Linda S. Larrivee
    Dean, School of Education, Health, and Natural Sciences

    Daron Barnard
    Center Director and Professor of Biology

    Jeremy Andreatta
    Assistant Professor of Chemistry

    Karl Wurst
    Professor of Computer Science

    Douglas Kowalewski
    Assistant Professor of Earth, Environment and Physics

    Mary Fowler
    Professor of Mathematics
    Peer-Assisted Learning

    We are using the model of course-based Peer-Assisted Learning (PAL) to provide academic support to students in key STEM courses. PAL sessions are student-led, instructor-supported group study, and review sessions are run by trained student facilitators who were highly successful in the courses.

    Courses anticipated to be supported by PAL in Spring 2017:  

    • BI 203 Genetics
    • CH 121 General Chemistry II
    • CH 202 Organic Chemistry II
    • GS 216 Geographic Information Systems
    • CS 140 Introduction to Programming
    • MA 190 Pre-Calculus

    PAL is an activity of the Aisiku STEM Center. The Workforce Preparation Support Program is generously funded by the philanthropic support from the Fairlawn Foundation Fund at Greater Worcester Community Foundation.

    Greater Worcester Community Foundation logo

    Interdisciplinary Research Teams

    The aim of program, when it launches, is to enhance undergraduate research in the STEM fields through the support of interdisciplinary research teams. It will provide a one-year opportunity for students to work closely with faculty mentors from several disciplines. Students will be granted the mental space to focus a year of their lives to a pre-graduate school research experience and the opportunity to work collaboratively on a research problem.

    • Students from multiple departments will work as part of a research team to address a STEM-related problem using an interdisciplinary approach.
    • Teams will include faculty and students from at least 3 of the STEM fields and will tie together the expertise of these departments.
    • Unique collaborations with non-STEM disciplines will also be considered, but the majority of the collaborators must be in STEM fields.
    • Teams will consist of faculty mentors from the disciplines (minimum of 3) involved in the project and will develop and propose a research focus.
    • The lead principal investigator will be responsible for the general oversight of the project, coordinating activities, and reporting out.
    • Students will be recruited from the disciplines during their second year.
    Brigham-WSU Bridge to Excellence Program
    The Brigham-WSU Bridge to Excellence Program is a unique initiative that aims to enhance undergraduate mentoring and education in the STEM fields through the support of collaborative mentoring relationships with the diverse faculty in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. Brigham and Women’s faculty will serve as virtual mentors and guest lecturers, and participate as faculty sponsors of a summer externship program.

    Virtual remote mentoring: Students and faculty may form career mentorship partners. Mentoring is voluntary by the student and faculty and encourages remote support to students from faculty. The mentor-mentee relationship is an individual experience and the depth of the mentorship may vary.

    Educational lecturers: WSU STEM faculty may invite Brigham and Women’s emergency medicine faculty to participate and give lectures at the mutual convenience of the faculty from both institutions.

    Summer externship: One disadvantaged student will be chosen to spend the summer shadowing a Brigham and Women’s emergency medicine faculty to further their experience in the health-related fields. This program will be a competitive application process with defined goals for the summer externship. The goal of this initiative includes increasing exposure and opportunities to disadvantaged students through an open and competitive process.
    Community Partnerships
    The center provides a central structure to identify and foster collaborations between industry and academics in the area to support STEM at WSU.