CV
Murat Gunel was born in Turkey in 1976. He is married and having two children. He received electrical technician recognition at technical training high school where he got interested in physics. Afterward, he was admitted to physics education department at Balikesir University. In his college life Murat was involved with physics research group and spent most of his time in a magnetism research laboratory. After receiving his BS degree he took a position as a science teacher at public school in an urban area of Istanbul. As he was teaching, he was awarded with Masters and Ph.D. scholarship by Turkish Ministry of Education. After accepting the scholarship Murat attended to Iowa State University. He received his MS and Ph.D. degrees from Curriculum and Instruction with specialization in Science Education and minors in Statistics. During his graduate study, Murat’s research contributions to institutions were recognized by being named the recipient of an Iowa State University Research Excellence Award presented by President, and his Ph.D. study was recognized as Outstanding Research on a Ph.D. Dissertation presented by department chair. During his masters and Ph.D. studies Murat was involved with several national research projects as a research assistant, teaching assistant and coordinator. Such projects gave him opportunities to analyze, understand, and interact with in-service and pre-service teachers. Upon receiving his doctoral degree he came back to Turkey and took a position at Ataturk University. His research interests include writing-to-learn, science literacy, science inquiry, role of modalities in science education, and teacher change.
PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS AND EXPERIENCES
2007 – 2008
Instructor, Science Education Department, Ataturk University, Turkey
*Planning and teaching Classroom Management course
*Planning and teaching Consulting course
*Planning and teaching Modern Physics course
*Planning and teaching Science Literacy course in graduate level
Co-PI, Professional Development Project for Principles, Turkish Ministry of National Education
*Planning and teaching nationwide summer workshops for principals and science teachers
Partner Researcher, The University of Iowa & Iowa State University, College of Education.
*Analyzing and reporting large data set obtained in Science-Language Partnership Project
Journal Reviewer, Journal of Research in Science Teaching (JRST).
*Reviewing and providing feedback for manuscripts of journal articles submitted for publication.
Journal Reviewer, Journal of Science Education and Technology (JOSET).
*Reviewing and providing feedback for manuscripts of journal articles submitted for publication.
Journal Reviewer, Science Education
*Reviewing and providing feedback for manuscripts of journal articles submitted for publication.
Board Member, XIII.IOSTE Symposium
Reviewing and providing feedback for XIII.IOSTE symposium proposals.
2006 – 2007
Instructor, Science Education Department, Ataturk University, Turkey
* Planning and teaching introductory physics labs and general science labs.
Journal Reviewer, Journal of Research in Science Teaching (JRST).
*Reviewing and providing feedback for manuscripts of journal articles submitted for publication.
Journal Reviewer, Journal of Science Education and Technology (JOSET).
*Reviewing and providing feedback for manuscripts of journal articles submitted for publication.
2005 – 2006
Journal Reviewer, Journal of Research in Science Teaching (JRST).
*Reviewing and providing feedback for manuscripts of journal articles submitted for publication.
Teaching Assistant, Department of Curriculum and Instruction; Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
*Planning and teaching summer workshop within professional development projects for science with embedded language practices for elementary teachers.
Graduate Research Assistant/Project Coordinator, Department of Curriculum and Instruction; Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
*Coordinating, observing, providing feedback and organizing professional development activities state wide science and language partnership project.
2004 – 2005
Graduate Research Assistant/Project Coordinator, Department of Curriculum and Instruction; Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
*Coordinating state wide science and language partnership project.
Co-instructor, Department of Curriculum and Instruction; Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
*Co-teaching elementary science method course.
Physics Teacher, Upward Bound Educational Program, Ames, IA
*Planning and teaching variety of physic units to high school students.
Foreign Language Teacher, Upward Bound Educational Program, Ames, IA
Planning and teaching Turkish as a foreign language to high schools students.
2003 – 2004
Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Chemistry; Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
*Managing and analyzing large data set obtained in Chemistry Education Project.
Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Curriculum and Instruction; Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
*Managing and analyzing large data set obtained in SWH Partnership Project.
Acting Coordinator, Department of Curriculum and Instruction; Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
*Organizing STAR Camp /Toying with Technology and teaching students science concepts during the camp.
Research Consultant and Partner, Department of Curriculum and Instruction; Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
*Planning and consulting a research project on Turkish students’ understanding of the Nature of Science
Reviewer for Advisory Board of the Science Center of Iowa
*Reviewing and editing the Science Center exhibits in terms of pedagogical and content appropriateness .
2002-2003
Language Consultant, Department of Anthropology; Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
*Planning and teaching Turkish to undergraduate linguistic major students.
Graduate Assistant, Department of Curriculum and Instruction; Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
*Science CO-OP project planning, and teaching for workshops with science teachers in different part of Iowa and Missouri
2001 – 2003
Graduate Assistant, Department of Curriculum and Instruction; Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
*Science CO-OP project planning, and teaching for workshops with science teachers in different part of Iowa
Graduate Teaching Assistant, Department of Curriculum and Instruction; Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
*Teaching students science concepts during STAR Camp /Toying with Technology.
1999 – 2000
Science Teacher, Teaching position at public school.
1998 – 1996
Undergraduate Teaching Assistant, Department of Physics, Balikesir University, Turkey
*Responsible for designing, implementing, and evaluating various laboratory activities and lessons for freshman physics classes.
1998-1995
Undergraduate Research Assistant, Department of Physics, Balikesir University, Turkey
*Responsible for designing and developing magnetism experiments at National magnetism Research Laboratory
CURRENT RESEARCH INTERESTS
Professional development program for elementary and secondary science teachers by adopting student-oriented approach.
Enhancement on science learning and conceptual understanding of science by using the Science Writing Heuristic (SWH)
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
National Association for Research in Science Teaching
European Science Education Research Association
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
Vice president of Turkish Student Association, Iowa State University, 2002
President of Anatolia (Cultural music and dance association, Iowa State University), 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006
AWARDS AND HONORS
Turkish Consulate General Office of Educational Attaché, New York, 2004
Turkish Ministry of Education-Office of Educational Attaché, New York, 2004
University Research Excellence Award, Iowa State University, 2006
Dissertation Research Excellence Award, Curriculum and Instruction Department, Iowa State University, 2006