Researcher. Educator. Public Scholar. Advancing equity in STEM from K–16 classrooms to community-based programs, policy corridors, and beyond.
Advocate for equitable STEM pathways
My name is Uche Samuel Osuji, a Nigerian-born, Science and STEM Education Scholar, whose scholarship sits at the intersection of family, community, and equity in STEM education. Beyond having a PhD in Science Education, I am a trained and certified program evaluator through the Program Evaluation Post-Master's Certification Program at Georgia State University. I am committed to supporting equitable and effective educational initiatives, particularly those serving minoritized youth and families. Contributing meaningfully to the design and sustainability of programs that are responsive to the strengths and needs of the communities they serve is important to me.
My research work, "Beyond Social Capital and Community Cultural Wealth: Understanding Black Families' Enactments of Agency in Community-based STEM Enrichment Programs," is focused on how Black families exercise transformative agency in shaping children and youth STEM pathways outside formal schooling.
The 'why' of my research agenda is rooted in my own story. Growing up, I saw education as the clearest pathway to opportunity, but I also soon realized that not everyone starts from the same place of opportunity. "Access to education can transform lives, while a lack of it can prevent young, talented individuals from ever getting a fair chance at success."
Using interdisciplinary and intersectional lenses, my scholarship aims to illuminate how families, particularly those from underserved communities, actively navigate and create educational opportunities for their children and youth despite facing resource constraints. By understanding these strategies, I hope to help educators, program designers, policy makers, and all other stakeholders build more equitable STEM pathways that recognize and amplify the strengths families and communities inherently possess, rather than viewing these as deficiencies or barriers to social mobility. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for informing educational policy.
By investigating the intersections between formal and informal science and STEM education, my ultimate goal is to contribute to developing a justice-centered approach to science and STEM education that empowers all K-16 students, including those from underserved communities with fewer opportunities, to succeed in STEM fields.
My scholarship investigates the cultural, familial, and ecological factors shaping STEM engagement, identity, and persistence — with a focus on historically underserved communities.
Examining how Black families enact agency in community-based STEM enrichment programs, moving beyond social capital and community cultural wealth frameworks.
Investigating how informal and place-based STEM programs function as counterspaces — including virtual counterspaces — for underrepresented learners and families.
Applying culturally responsive and sustaining pedagogical frameworks to STEM classrooms, centering community practices as assets rather than gaps.
Developing a Biographical Storytelling Framework for engaging learners and reclaiming STEM identities across diverse K–16 educational settings.
Focusing on implementation, application, or presence of sociocultural approaches within science educational settings — for instance, to highlight the role of language and identity.
Leveraging AI-assisted augmented reality and 3D science classroom environments to explore innovative pedagogical practices in modern science teaching.
Georgia State University Scholarships
College of Education & Human Development, Georgia State University
College of Education & Human Development, Georgia State University
40th Southeastern Association for Science Teacher Education Annual Conference
28th Biennial Conference on Chemistry Education (BCCE)
50th Annual National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers
Africa's Largest Accelerator Program
NUESA Awards, University of Lagos
St. Thomas Moore Catholic Chaplaincy, Lagos
Rotary International
Research presentations, award ceremonies, professional development workshops, and collaborative scholarly work.
I bring rigorous science and STEM education research experience, proven policy impact, and a clear commitment to equity in the educational system. Whether you represent a university, government agency, international organization, foundation, or media outlet, I welcome the conversation.
Messages are sent directly to Uche Samuel Osuji's email address (samuelosuji91@gmail.com). Fields marked * are required.