Walter Research Lab
Established 2015
In the Walter Research group, we examine biology teaching practices at universities, the factors that influence these practices,
and how to innovate university-level STEM learning environments to achieve
more student success.
Our Story
Every lab has a story, and you may be interested in ours.
Our research lab started in 2015 when Dr. Walter started her career
as a college professor in the Department of Biology
at California State University, Fresno.
We are a biology education research lab in a Biology department.
This is why we call ourselves a "lab."
A biology department is a unique home for a STEM education lab,
as many of our colleagues do pure STEM research.
However, being in a biology department allows us to be close
to the very place we want to make better --
the college STEM classroom.
Since 2015, the Walter Lab has been home to almost 50 students,
including high school, undergraduate,
Smittcamp and Biology honors program students,
and graduate students.
In our lab, we are a family.
We look out for each other.
We give it our all.
We do everything we can for our research to be outstanding,
with the highest standards in mind.
And we fight for what's right -
making STEM a place for everyone.
Our Adventures
NARST 2026
The Walter lab had a record 11 students attend the National Association for Research in Science Teaching (NARST) conference in April 2026 in Seattle. Six of those students also presented their work. We had two research talks and one research poster!
Halloween 2025
In our lab, we have a Halloween tradition of dressing up together (with a new theme every year). In 2025, our theme was 101 Dalmatians. Catch those puppies!
NARST 2025
The Walter lab had 9 students attend the National Association for Research in Science Teaching (NARST) conference in March 2025 in Washington, DC. Two of these students also presented their work analyzing the experiences of general education biology students doing creative biology assignments!
Halloween 2024
In our lab, we have a Halloween tradition of dressing up together (with a new theme every year). In 2024, our theme was Care Bears!
🌈 🍀☀️ We had some fantastic all-girls magic going on!
NARST 2024
Tony and Hannah present their research at the international conference for NARST, the pre-eminent research association for Science Education Research.
Halloween 2023
In 2023 our Walter Lab Halloween theme was Pokemon! Gotta catch 'em all!
NARST 2022
The entire 9-person Walter Lab presented at and attended the National Association for Research in Science Teaching Conference in 2022! Way to go Walter Lab!
NARST 2019
Walter lab travels to Baltimore to present at and attend the National Association for Research in Science Teaching Conference.
Halloween 2018
In 2018, our costume theme for the lab was Harry Potter. Dr. Walter also divided her classes into houses and gave out as many points as she could for Gryffindor!
Halloween 2017
Time to take chances, make mistakes, and get messy! Our Halloween theme in 2017 was Magic School Bus.
NARST 2017
Walter Lab travels to San Antonio to present our work and, of course, learn the best in Science Education Research!