Dr. Kate Hill

After earning her B.A.S. in Biology and Music at Stanford University, Kate worked with Teach For America for three years as a middle school science teacher in Houston, Texas. Kate’s passion for science and teaching led her to Florida State University to pursue her Ph.D. Her dissertation research examined the communities of tiny animals that live inside marine sponges including shrimps, worms, and brittle stars. A highlight of her research was traveling to field sites in Panamá, Belize, and the Florida Keys and working with undergraduate students in the field. During her dissertation, Kate also engaged in science education research and assisted in developing a new Biology Laboratory, which incorporated inquiry-based learning methods. Kate is interested in promoting equitable teaching practices that improve student retention in the sciences and provide students with authentic science experiences. Her professional goal is to develop teaching methods and programs that support students in their transition to undergraduate coursework, particularly in the sciences.