Dr. Christine Cutucache is the Haddix Community Chair of Science, Associate Professor of Biology, and Director of the STEM Teaching, Research, and Inquiry-based Learning (TRAIL) Center at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO). She received her Bachelor of Science from the University of Nebraska at Kearney in 2008 and her Doctor of Philosophy in Genetics, Cell Biology, and Anatomy in 2012 from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Dr. Cutucache is a tumor immunologist turned science educator, and maintains both research programs. Her research lab is diverse in studying both tumor immunology, and Discipline-Based Education Research (so called ‘DBER’ or science education). She and a research student have a provisional patent filed for a novel diagnostic and prognostic tool for splenic marginal zone lymphoma. Dr. Cutucache also serves as the founder of the now Nebraska-wide Nebraska STEM 4U (NE STEM 4U) program, which engages K-8 youth in high quality, out-of-school time activities in STEM via problem-based learning. To-date, this program has engaged more than 5,000 youth through sustainable, academic year-based programming. The NE STEM 4U project is a collaborative project between the University, Community Partners, and Foundation and industry stakeholders.

Watch their presentation on the SciComm YouTube channel.