From the PhD to Science Education and Research
Interested in promoting the next generation of researchers through innovative education initiatives? Dr. Oscar Pineda-Catalan, Manager of the American Museum of Natural History's Science Research Mentoring Program, discusses the importance of engaging youth in science education and how to develop skills to be an effective educator and mentor that can help young professionals to develop alternative careers in science.
Published July 08, 2013
Oscar Pineda-Catalan, PhD
Manager, Science Research Mentoring Program, The American Museum of Natural History
Dr. Pineda-Catalan was born in Mexico City where he did his undergraduate studies in Biomedical Research at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. During his last year of college he started teaching Biology and Human Anatomy and Physiology courses at "Logos" High school and ended up staying for seven years. While teaching, Dr. Pineda-Catalan also completed a Master’s program in Urban Environmental Studies at "El Colegio de Mexico."
After finishing his studies, he enrolled in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology program at Columbia University. Next, he worked at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), where he mentored and taught high school students participating in the Science Mentor Research Program (SRMP). Dr. Pineda-Catalan then worked for a year at the Dolan DNA Learning Center of Cold Spring Harbor as the Urban Barcode Manager, where he combined his expertise in scientific research and teaching for developing multidisciplinary projects with environmental sciences and conservation biology. Currently, Dr. Pineda-Catalan is the SRMP Manager, where he coordinates a cohort of 60 students that develop research projects mentored by 28 AMNH scientists, and more than 440 students that participate in exploratory and research courses developed and taught by AMNH scientists and educators.