People
# principal investigator
Dr. Jordan Harshman
Associate Professor, Chemistry Building, University of Iowa
Dr. Jordan Harshman is an Associate Professor at University of Iowa, specializing in discipline-based education research (DBER) within the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. His group’s primary focus is identifying how chemistry doctoral programs theoretically and practically develop students from the time they enter to the time they are awarded their doctorates in order to meet the overarching goals that the program has. The group also has research interests in characterizing instruction in undergraduate STEM education and improving DBER members’ capacity to perform quantitative research. Jordan is a runner, coder, gamer, type-1 diabetic, Minnesota sports fan, and daddy to two wonderfully redheaded children. Read his full CV here: CV
# postdoctoral researchers
Cheng-Wen (Nuby) He
Postdoctoral Scholar
Cheng-Wen (Nuby) He is a Postdoctoral Scholar at the University of Iowa in the Harshman Research Group, where she studies instructional practices in STEM education using the COPUS tool. She earned her Ph.D. in Science Education (DBER focus) from the University of Georgia, where her research in Dr. Paula Lemons’s lab focused on instructional sequences and biology problem-solving. Outside of her academic work, Nuby enjoys hiking, playing ball sports, practicing yoga, listening to music, and spending time with her dog.
Pallavi Nayyar
Postdoctoral Research Scholar
Pallavi Nayyar is a Postdoctoral Research Scholar at the University of Iowa in the Harshman Research Group, where she is developing programming to initiate and evaluate reform in doctoral education in chemistry. She earned her Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of South Florida, where she focused on the development and evaluation of utility-value interventions for introductory chemistry courses. Outside of work, Pallavi enjoys cooking Indian food and practicing yoga.
# graduate students
Erhunmwense Ann Obayuwana
PhD Student
Erhunmwense Ann Obayuwana is a 1st-year PhD student in Dr. Harshman’s group, hailing from Nigeria, Africa. She is passionate about community service and actively engages in volunteering initiatives. In her leisure time, she enjoys playing volleyball, embarking on outdoor adventures, experimenting with culinary delights, and unwinding with movies.
Zoe (Zahra) Pirkoohi
PhD Student
Zoe (Zahra) Pirkoohi is a PhD student and graduate teaching assistant at the University of Iowa, studying Chemistry education in the Harshman Research Group. Previously, she earned a Bachelor’s degree in chemistry education in Iran and taught chemistry at top Tehran high schools. Zahra co-founded the HEART group (Health and Art), to maintain and improve the health of sick kids, all over the world. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, singing, and coding, always passionate about making people happy.
# group mascots
Odie
Brookie
# alumni
Postdoctoral Researchers
Melissa Collini (2022-2024) · Brittany Busby (2019-2021)
Graduate Students
Yousif Muten (Ph.D. 2026) · Benedicta Donkor (2020-2025) · Qi Cui (Ph.D. 2021) · Tingting Qu (Ph.D. 2023)
Undergraduates
Sarah Friday · Isabella Lopez · Natalie Usher · Allison Epperson · Emily Kable · Kathleen Spoor
Harshman Research Group 