I am Jooyoung Jeon, a doctoral candidate in Science Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, and an adjunct lecturer at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. At John Jay, I teach SCI 110 Origins: From the Big Bang to Life on Earth and SCI 112 Environmental Science: A Focus on Sustainability, courses designed to introduce science and empower students to engage critically with sustainability and environmental justice issues.
My research focuses on STEM education, climate science education, and environmental science education, with a particular emphasis on reaching underrepresented populations, including low-income communities and Asian (American) students. During my master’s program at Ewha Womans University, I explored students’ abductive reasoning in the context of traditional Korean palaces, combining scientific and historical perspectives to highlight interdisciplinary learning. Looking ahead, I am eager to expand my work to include citizen science education, the integration of AI in science education, the use of science learning as a language-learning opportunity, and the inclusion of Indigenous knowledge systems. I am always deeply fascinated in exploring how cultural and religious frameworks intersect with science education.
My methodological expertise spans qualitative research, mixed methods, and quantitative analysis. I am skilled in using tools like R and SPSS for data analysis, but my passion lies in contextualizing those numbers through qualitative inquiry to uncover the stories and deeper meanings behind the data. I find great satisfaction in bridging the gap between statistical patterns and human experiences.
Currently, aside from adjunct lecturer position at John Jay College, I work at Columbia University’s Climate School as a Student Administrative Worker, where I assist faculty and staff with research and administrative tasks that involves creating new climate program. I am also a Senior Research Assistant at the Assessment and Evaluation Research Initiative (AERI) at Teachers College, where I contribute to the development of User-Centered Assessment Design: An Integrated Methodology for Diverse Populations, a book led by Professor Emerita Madhabi Chatterji. Additionally, I serve as a Teaching Assistant in Columbia University’s Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures, where I support courses in language and cultural studies.
I have held roles that have deeply shaped my approach to education and research. I previously served as a Lead Teacher at the Manhattan Korean School, where I taught Korean language and culture to diverse age groups, incorporating elements of science education into the curriculum. I have also worked as a Research Assistant at the Transformative Learning Technologies Lab at Teachers College, conducting qualitative research on knowledge building in STEM makerspaces. Before my doctoral studies, I led science programs for low-income students at Ewha Womans University’s Nuree Science Class, a program funded by the Samsung Dream Foundation. There, I designed and taught innovative courses such as S.O.S. (Study of Science-Fiction) and Becoming Detectives in Deoksugung Palace, which blended science, history, and creative problem-solving.
I co-founded the Teachers College Korean Graduate Student Association (TC KGSA), fostering a supportive community for Korean graduate students. My early research experience includes work with the Korea Polar Research Institute, where I analyzed ice core samples to study the polar paleoenvironment, and as a researcher at Ewha’s Hazard Literacy Research Center, examining polar literacy education globally.
When I’m not knee-deep in research or teaching, you’ll probably find me birdwatching🐦, playing video games🎮, or writing something with my fountain pens✒️. My favorite bird is the tufted titmouse (because who can resist that adorable crest?), favorite game is Mass Effect series, and my favorite pen is the Pelikan M605 Black Tortoise.
Thank you for visiting my website, where I share my journey in science education, research, and a bit of the natural world that inspires me.
If you have any inquiries or opportunities, feel free to contact me via jj3185@tc.columbia.edu
Jooyoung_Jeon_Archive 