Engineering faculty bring an important perspective to engineering education research, but are rarely formally trained in engineering education research methods. Our group studies how engineering faculty are best trained in engineering education research, with goals of expanding and diversifying the engineering education research community and bridging the gap between research and practice.
We are doing this by
Studying how engineering faculty are trained in EER from both mentor and mentee perspectives.
Connecting mentors and mentees through organizations like the EER Mentor Network and JEE Mentored Reviewer program.
Building and compiling resources for anyone, including engineering faculty, interested in EER.
Related resources and opportunities
EER Mentor Network
The Engineering Education Research (EER) Mentors network (opens in a new tab) is a group that focuses on helping traditional engineering education researchers transition in their jobs to include engineering education research as part of their role as faculty. Two key ways we engage with this are through:
- Hosting the NSF RIEF virtual Community of Practice
- Conducting workshops on faculty training – click here to learn more about our workshops
Visit the EER Mentor Network website to find resources that are shared in workshops, and to learn more about available and upcoming opportunities.
JEE Mentored Reviewer Program
Our group has worked with the Journal of Engineering Education (JEE) Mentored Reviewer program (opens in a new tab). This program pairs new and experienced journal article reviewers to share best practices for reviewing JEE articles in an accessible way. The small groups are lead by their experienced reviewer mentor in conducting three journal article reviews. Visit the JEE Mentored Reviewer Program website (opens in a new tab) to learn more.
Resources for Engineering Education Researchers
For new researchers: Practices in Engineering Education Research (PEER) Guides. These guides were developed to support researchers entering engineering education and include info-guides on topics around (1) grant funding, (2) networking at ASEE, and (3) developing a mentoring plan.
Also, check out these open-access conference papers about common engineering education research methods!
Cognitive Interviews: Conducting the cognitive interview: Sharing experiences and insight from two think aloud studies (opens in a new tab); J. F. Mirabelli et al., 2023
Exploratory Factor Analysis: Exploring the Exploratory Factor Analysis: Comparisons and Insights from Applying Five Procedures to Determining EFA Item Retention; J. F. Mirabelli et al., 2022
To read and learn more*
- “Help Being Passed From One Person to the Next”: Factors Defining the Development, Challenges, and Successes of Faculty Peer Mentoring Relationships During Mentee Transitions to Engineering Education Research, 2025
- Joseph Mirabelli, Jeanne Sanders, Allyson Barlow, Evan Ko, Kelly Cross, Karin Jensen
- A Social Network Analysis of Faculty Mentees Funded by the Research Initiation in Engineering Formation (RIEF) Program, 2025
- Julie Martin, Isabel Miller, Karin Jensen, Deepthi Suresh
- Beyond skills: building research capacity through cognitive apprenticeship and social capital, 2023
- Karin Jensen, Isabel Miller, Deepthi Suresh, Julie Martin
- Mid-career transitions into engineering education research via structured mentorship opportunities: Barriers and perceptions, 2023
- Joe Mirabelli, Allyson Barlow, Jeanne Sanders, Evan Ko, Karin Jensen, Kelly Cross
- Peer Review as Developmental: Exploring the Ripple Effects of the JEE Mentored Reviewer Program, 2020
- Karin Jensen, Inês Direito, Madeline Polmear, Teresa Hattingh, Mike Klassen
*All publication links open in a new tab.
We have curated this short list of publications as a place for you to start learning about these projects. To learn more, visit the complete group publications.
Return to the Thrive Lab Research Overview.