2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

This paper summarizes the first-year progress made on a research grant funded through the National Science Foundation EDU Core Research: Building Capacity in STEM Education Research (ECR: BCSER) program. The research activity has two primary objectives. Those objectives are: (1) address the underrepresentation of Latinas in graduate engineering programs, and (2) establish an engineering education research program that focuses on the fundamental research of the experiences and support systems that foster the success of diverse students in engineering. The first objective will be investigated through a mixed- methods research approach. The second objective will be supported through specific activities that build the principal investigator’s capacity to mentor and sustain a research group focused on fundamental engineering education research. This research that delves into the undergraduate interest of graduate engineering programs and their identity as a researcher would illuminate strategies for addressing the underrepresentation of Latinas in national Ph.D. programs. This paper provides the details on the initial research results, accomplishments, and next steps for the research project.