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Image of the Principal Investigator Professor Stephanie Pazos

Stephanie Pazos

Assistant Professor of Teaching
Email:
spazos@ucsb.edu
Office:
PSBN 4649B

Dr. Stephanie Pazos is an Assistant Professor of Teaching in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). Her work sits at the intersection of Inorganic & Materials Chemistry, Chemical Education Research (CER), and Inclusive STEM Pedagogy.

Academic Background & Expertise

Dr. Pazos earned her B.S. in Chemistry from UC Irvine, M.S. from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry from UCLA. Prior to joining the faculty at UCSB, she held academic and research positions at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Chicago State University, Pattern Bioscience, and INEOS Technologies. In addition to her academic leadership, she is the Co-Founder and Staff Scientist at Heroica Technologies LLC, where she applies surface chemistry and materials science expertise to sensor development.

Research & Educational Innovation

At UCSB, Dr. Pazos leads research focused on metacognitive growth, technical proficiency, and skill transfer in undergraduate chemistry laboratories. Supported by the Academic Senate and UC Office of the President (Benjamin Banneker Fellow), her lab evaluates how laboratory course design impacts student self-efficacy, conceptual understanding, and equity outcomes. Her major instructional contributions include:

  • Developing a new, specialized laboratory course in advanced laboratory practices (CHEM 3L).

  • Restructuring and modernizing the General Chemistry laboratory curriculum.

  • Leading departmental graduate teaching assistant (TA) training through CHEM 501A and orientation workshops.

Inclusion, Leadership, & Advocacy

Dr. Pazos is deeply committed to building equitable pathways for underrepresented students in STEM. She is the Founder and Faculty Advisor for the SACNAS Graduate Student Chapter at UCSB and serves on the national SACNAS Membership Committee. She actively mentors first-generation students, transfer students, and emerging scientists. She also serves as a UCSB SEISMIC Ambassador, advancing equitable assessment practices in introductory STEM courses across national higher education networks.