Kathleen A Marrs Ph.D.

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, School of Science
Associate Professor, Biology
Director, Interdisciplinary Studies Program
Director, Urban Cener for the Advancement of STEM Education (UCASE)

Current Research

My research focuses on Biology Education, and serves to advance the Department of Biology's commitment to excellence in teaching and learning. My research goals are to develop ways to reinforce the content students are exposed to in lecture, to help students develop the intellectual skills needed to understand science and the scientific process, and to continually establish connections concerning the relationship of biology and science to society.

Active Awards

Central Indiana STEM Talent Expansion Program at IUPUI (2010-2014) Principal Investigator: Jeff Watt, Co-PI; Kathleen Marrs, Charlie Feldhaus, Andy Gavrin, Stephen Hundley (NSF DUE #0969500) $1,995,765.00. 

Midwest Noyce Regional Conference at IUPUI (2010-2011) Principal Investigator: Kim Nguyen, Co-PIs: Kathleen Marrs, John Staver, and Signe Kastberg (NSF DUE #1002638) $353,300

Noyce Summer Internship Program at IUPUI (2009-2012) Kathleen Marrs, Co-PIs: Kim Nguyen, Dwight Schuster   Supplement to Advance Urban Learning: Teach Science (NSF DUE # 0733788-02)  $72,000.

Urban Educators: Robert Noyce Scholarship for Mathematics and Science Teachers, Phase II (2009-2012) Principal Investigator: Kim Nguyen, Co-PIs: Kathleen A. Marrs, Jeff Watt, (NSF DUE # 0934555) $599,993

The GK-12 Urban Educators Program at IUPUI (2008-2012) Principal Investigator: Kathleen A. Marrs, Co-PIs: Simon Rhodes, Pam Crowell, Lenore Tedesco, Andy Gavrin (NSF DGE # 0742475) $2,988,355

Advance Urban Learning: Teach Science (2007-2013) Principal Investigator: Kathleen A. Marrs, Co-PIs: Dwight Schuster, and Kim Nguyen (NSF DUE # 0733788) $749,933

Select Publications

Hundley SP, Feldhaus CF, Marrs KA, Watt JX (2011) Developing a STEM Talent Expansion Pipeline in Higher Education: A Work-in-Progress. PICMET proceedings, In Press

Allen JR, Buckingham JE, Roper RJ, Marrs KA (2010) How Middle School Students Come Face to Face with Down Syndrome Research. Science Scope, 33:20-25, January 2010

Marrs KA (2009) Just-in-Time Teaching in the Biological Sciences; Simkins, S.P. & Maier, M.H. (Eds.). Just-in-Time Teaching Across the Disciplines. p. 81-99.  Sterling, VA: Stylus Publishing LLC

Rutledge, M., Sadler, K., and Marrs, K.A (2005) Instructor’s Resource Guide for Biology: Understanding Life (Alters, Sandra and Brian), John Wiley and Sons, Hoboken NJ.

Marrs KA and Chism GW III (2005) Just-in-Time Teaching for Food Science: Creating an Active Learner Classroom. Journal OF Food Science Education, 4:27-34.

Marrs KA (2004) “How do you know what your students know? Determining Student Prior Knowledge Using Web-based Warm Up Exercises.” in: “Quick Hits For New Faculty: Teaching Strategies Aimed At First-Time Faculty”, Indiana University Press, Bloomington IN, in press.

Awards & Honors

2010 Women Creating Excellence at IUPUI recognition

2008 IUPUI Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching

2008 Excellence in Teaching Award, National Society of Leadership and Success

2006 IUPUI School of Science Trustees Teaching Award

2005 IUPUI Gateway Scholar, Office for Professional Development

2003 Faculty Colloquium on Excellence in Teaching (FACET) inductee