# CAREER: The Impact of Power on Active Learning in Learning Assistant-supported General and Organic Chemistry Lectures

> **NSF 04002526DB NSF STEM Education** · Tufts University (MA) · $988,134

## Abstract

NSF CAREER: The Impact of Power on Active Learning in Learning Assistant-supported General and Organic Chemistry Lectures 

The Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) program is a National Science Foundation-wide initiative that supports early-career faculty in advancing research and education. The U.S. STEM workforce plays a critical role in driving innovation and economic growth, to ensure that these goals are met, additional initiatives must be implemented in courses within STEM curricula to ensure student readiness and preparation.  Active small-group learning supported by students who took the course previously and return as Learning Assistants (LAs) is beneficial for undergraduate students in gatekeeper general and organic chemistry lectures. However, variation in student learning for different student groups is understudied and has been hypothesized to be connected to students’ relationships with each other and the subject matter. This CAREER project studies the impact of student relationships on their learning as it occurs in the moment of their interactions with each other in LA-supported general and organic chemistry lectures. This research investigates dynamic power relationships amongst students and between students and instructors (professors and LAs) as well as students and concepts that are co-constructed in interaction. Specific research goals of this project are to: (R1) describe patterns of how power relations impact learning as it occurs in the moment 

## Key facts

- **NSF award ID:** 2440934
- **Awardee organization:** Tufts University (MA)
- **SAM.gov UEI:** WL9FLBRVPJJ7
- **PI:** Ira Caspari-Gnann
- **Primary program:** 04002526DB NSF STEM Education
- **All programs:** CAREER-Faculty Erly Career Dev
- **Estimated total:** $988,134
- **Funds obligated:** $988,134
- **Transaction type:** Standard Grant
- **Period:** 07/01/2025 → 06/30/2030

## Primary source

NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2440934

## Citation

> US National Science Foundation, Award 2440934, CAREER: The Impact of Power on Active Learning in Learning Assistant-supported General and Organic Chemistry Lectures. Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-06 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nsf/2440934. Licensed CC0.

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