Research Impact Partners

Connecting Research and Education At TExas (CREATE) was founded in 2017 through a partnership established between Dr. Sean T. Roberts at The University of Texas at Austin (UT) and Dr. Shawn M. Amorde at Austin Community College (ACC) with support from the National Science Foundation. CREATE’s initial goal was to improve community college student retention in the physical sciences by fostering mentorship relationships between ACC students and UT faculty through research projects tied to green energy. Over time, CREATE’s managing team has been broadened to include Dr. Emily Que (UT), Dr. Samantha Soebbing (ACC), Dr. Purna Murthy (ACC), and Dr. Huilang (Evan) Wang (UT) which has allowed its scope to expand into a range of areas in chemistry, molecular biosciences, physics, materials science, and engineering.

McNair Scholars is part of the federally funded TRIO programs administered by the U.S. Department of Education, and the only one primarily focused on students' postbaccalaureate success. McNair Scholars seek to increase the number of undergraduate students earning doctoral degrees who are low-income and first-generation. Participants must be serious and committed to enrolling in graduate programs with an end goal of completing a Ph.D. Students selected to participate in McNair Scholars work with both staff (on graduate school literacy) and a faculty mentor (on research and scholarship). Scholars define, develop, and deliver original, independent research projects.

This summer program pairs 2-4 students with a Freshmen Research Initiative Research Stream for a unique two-hour tour of a real scientific laboratory.

UT Austin’s national award-winning STEM Girl Day is a FREE event, presented by Women in STEM, and gives K-8th grade students and their families, educators, and other adults a chance to explore STEM through grade-appropriate, hands-on activities hosted by scientists, engineers, astronomers, mathematicians and other STEM enthusiasts from student organizations, research centers, corporate partners and community organizations.

The UTeach Institute supports the development of highly effective K–12 STEM teachers who stay in teaching and effectively engage all students in meaningful learning of STEM disciplines through research-based best practices in preservice teacher preparation, and in-service teacher induction, mentoring, and coaching. It serves as the hub to a vibrant national community of practice of more than 700 college and university STEM education experts and 5,000 K–12 STEM teachers. UTeach Institute develops innovative K–12 coursework and teacher professional learning that strengthens STEM teacher effectiveness and engagement and preparation of K–12 students across STEM disciplines.

Women in STEM (WiSTEM) on-campus summer camps and virtual academies provide rising 10th through 12th-grade high school students with the opportunity to explore STEM college majors and career paths, gain hands-on STEM experiences and STEM career skills, connect with STEM role models, and learn about university resources and the admissions process.

Women in STEM (WiSTEM) welcomes collaborations to broaden participation in STEM, create a culture of inclusion throughout university programs and systems, and expand STEM outreach and recruitment to girls, students with diverse backgrounds, families, educators, and the general public.