Potvin, Geoffrey
- Associate Professor, Physics , College of Arts, Sciences & Education
Contact Info

Overview
overview
- Geoff Potvin completed his doctorate in theoretical physics at the University of Toronto before taking up a science education post-doctorate in the Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia. Prior to coming to FIU, he spent five years as a faculty member in the Department of Engineering & Science Education at Clemson University. His research is focused on understanding diversity issues in the physical sciences and engineering at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Using an identity lens, he studies how educational practices and other experiences influence students' attitudes and career intentions, especially for those who are traditionally marginalized from STEM.
research interests
- His research is focused on understanding diversity issues in the physical sciences and engineering at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Using an identity lens, he studies how educational practices and other experiences influence students' attitudes and career intentions, especially for those who are traditionally marginalized from STEM. He is working with the APS Bridge Program to understand how departmental admissions and retention practices can help to grow a more diverse body of future physicists, and the factors that affect student success in graduate physics.
Scholarly & Creative Works
selected publications
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Article
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2021Gamification in education: a mixed-methods study of gender on computer science students' academic performance and identity development. JOURNAL OF COMPUTING IN HIGHER EDUCATION.Full Text via DOI: 10.1007/s12528-021-09271-5 Web of Science: 000630626900001
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2020Anyone, but not Everyone: Undergraduate Engineering Students' Claims of Who Can Do Engineering. ENGINEERING STUDIES. 12:82-103.Full Text via DOI: 10.1080/19378629.2020.1795181 Web of Science: 000549060000001
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2020The context dependence of physics identity: Examining the role of performance/competence, recognition, interest, and sense of belonging for lower and upper female physics undergraduates. JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN SCIENCE TEACHING.Full Text via DOI: 10.1002/tea.21644 Web of Science: 000545481400001
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2020A User Interface (UI) and User eXperience (UX) evaluation framework for cyberlearning environments in computer science and software engineering education. HELIYON. 6.Full Text via DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03917 Web of Science: 000537749900076
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2020Developing a Computing Identity Framework: Understanding Computer Science and Information Technology Career Choice. ACM TRANSACTIONS ON COMPUTING EDUCATION. 20.Full Text via DOI: 10.1145/3365571 Web of Science: 000535726100007
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2019Impact of out-of-class science and engineering activities on physics identity and career intentions. PHYSICAL REVIEW PHYSICS EDUCATION RESEARCH. 15.Full Text via DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.15.020137 Web of Science: 000490759100001
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2019Design Experiences, Engineering Identity, and Belongingness in Early Career Electrical and Computer Engineering Students. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON EDUCATION. 62:165-172.Full Text via DOI: 10.1109/TE.2019.2913356 Web of Science: 000480307400002
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2019High school experiences and climate change beliefs of first year college students in the United States. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION RESEARCH. 25:925-935.Full Text via DOI: 10.1080/13504622.2017.1293009 Web of Science: 000487522100010
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2019Admissions practices in terminal master's degree-granting physics departments: A comparative analysis. PHYSICAL REVIEW PHYSICS EDUCATION RESEARCH. 15.Full Text via DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.15.010104 Web of Science: 000455369600001
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2019Engineering Role Identity Fosters Grit Differently for Women First- and Continuing-Generation College Students. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING EDUCATION. 35:1037-1051.Web of Science: 000473265200006
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2018Gendered Interests in Electrical, Computer, and Biomedical Engineering: Intersections With Career Outcome Expectations. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON EDUCATION. 61.Full Text via DOI: 10.1109/TE.2018.2859825 Web of Science: 000448615700006
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2018Understanding the development of interest and self-efficacy in active-learning undergraduate physics courses. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SCIENCE EDUCATION. 40:1587-1605.Full Text via DOI: 10.1080/09500693.2018.1488088 Web of Science: 000444090100003
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2017Fixed and growth mindsets in physics graduate admissions. PHYSICAL REVIEW PHYSICS EDUCATION RESEARCH. 13.Full Text via DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.13.020133 Web of Science: 000416434300001
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2017Half of Students Interested in Civil Engineering Do Not Believe in Anthropogenic Climate Change. JOURNAL OF PROFESSIONAL ISSUES IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION AND PRACTICE. 143.Full Text via DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)EI.1943-5541.0000323 Web of Science: 000398726500011
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2017Interest in STEM is contagious for students in biology, chemistry, and physics classes. SCIENCE ADVANCES. 3.Full Text via DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1700046 Web of Science: 000411589900025
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2017Investigating approaches to diversity in a national survey of physics doctoral degree programs: The graduate admissions landscape. PHYSICAL REVIEW PHYSICS EDUCATION RESEARCH. 13.Full Text via DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.13.020142 Web of Science: 000419017000001
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2017Pushing and Pulling Sara: A Case Study of the Contrasting Influences of High School and University Experiences on Engineering Agency, Identity, and Participation. JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN SCIENCE TEACHING. 54:439-462.Full Text via DOI: 10.1002/tea.21372 Web of Science: 000395996900002
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2016Beyond performance metrics: Examining a decrease in students' physics self-efficacy through a social networks lens. PHYSICAL REVIEW PHYSICS EDUCATION RESEARCH. 12.Full Text via DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.12.020124 Web of Science: 000393397900001
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2016Career Outcome Expectations Related to Sustainability among Students Intending to Major in Civil Engineering. JOURNAL OF PROFESSIONAL ISSUES IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION AND PRACTICE. 142.Full Text via DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)EI.1943-5541.0000253 Web of Science: 000366748900006
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2016How gender and reformed introductory physics impacts student success in advanced physics courses and continuation in the physics major. PHYSICAL REVIEW PHYSICS EDUCATION RESEARCH. 12.Full Text via DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.12.020118 Web of Science: 000393396900016
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2016Identity, Critical Agency, and Engineering: An Affective Model for Predicting Engineering as a Career Choice. JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING EDUCATION. 105:312-340.Full Text via DOI: 10.1002/jee.20118 Web of Science: 000374644700005
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2016Student evaluations of physics teachers: On the stability and persistence of gender bias. PHYSICAL REVIEW PHYSICS EDUCATION RESEARCH. 12.Full Text via DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.12.020107 Web of Science: 000393396900005
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2016Sustainability Goals of Students Underrepresented in Engineering: An Intersectional Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING EDUCATION. 32:1742-1748.Web of Science: 000389147200019
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2015Fostering Female Belongingness in Engineering through the Lens of Critical Engineering Agency. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING EDUCATION. 31:938-952.Web of Science: 000358934100004
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2015STEM and STEM education in the United States. AGE OF STEM: EDUCATIONAL POLICY AND PRACTICE ACROSS THE WORLD IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS. 129:102-133.Web of Science: 000350351800008
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2015Using survey questions to identify and learn more about those who exhibit design thinking traits. DESIGN STUDIES. 38:92-110.Full Text via DOI: 10.1016/j.destud.2015.02.002 Web of Science: 000355023100004
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2014Sustainability as a Route to Broadening Participation in Engineering. JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING EDUCATION. 103:137-153.Full Text via DOI: 10.1002/jee.20034 Web of Science: 000331404600007
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2013Factors that affect the physical science career interest of female students: Testing five common hypotheses. PHYSICAL REVIEW SPECIAL TOPICS-PHYSICS EDUCATION RESEARCH. 9.Full Text via DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevSTPER.9.020115 Web of Science: 000326054100001
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Conference
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Preprint
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Proceedings Paper
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2018A Minimally Disruptive Approach of Integrating Testing into Computer Programming Courses. 2018 IEEE/ACM INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON SOFTWARE ENGINEERING EDUCATION FOR MILLENNIALS (SEEM). 1-7.Full Text via DOI: 10.1145/3194779.3194790 Web of Science: 000455044200001
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2018Investigating the Intersection of Career Aspirations and Engineering Beliefs in First Year Engineering Students. 2012 FRONTIERS IN EDUCATION CONFERENCE (FIE).Web of Science: 000468396903050
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2017Understanding the Pathways of Students with Normative Attitudes in Engineering. 2012 FRONTIERS IN EDUCATION CONFERENCE (FIE).Web of Science: 000426974900182
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2015Determining strategies that predict physics identity: Emphasizing recognition and interest. 2013 PHYSICS EDUCATION RESEARCH CONFERENCE. 199-202.Full Text via DOI: 10.1119/perc.2015.pr.045 Web of Science: 000375147300047
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2015Evaluation of a Summer Bridge Program Using Multivariate Matching. 2013 PHYSICS EDUCATION RESEARCH CONFERENCE. 175-178.Full Text via DOI: 10.1119/perc.2015.pr.039 Web of Science: 000375147300041
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2015In search of distinct graduate admission strategies in physics: An exploratory study using topological data analysis. 2013 PHYSICS EDUCATION RESEARCH CONFERENCE. 107-110.Full Text via DOI: 10.1119/perc.2015.pr.022 Web of Science: 000375147300024
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2015Sustainability Topics in Physics Education, Science Agency Beliefs and Physics Identity. 2013 PHYSICS EDUCATION RESEARCH CONFERENCE. 99-102.Full Text via DOI: 10.1119/perc.2015.pr.020 Web of Science: 000375147300022
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2014Do Engineers Beget Engineers? Exploring Connections Between the Engineering-related Career Choices of Students and their Families. 2011 ASEE ANNUAL CONFERENCE & EXPOSITION.Web of Science: 000383779705057
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2014Exposure to Underrepresentation Discussion: The Impacts on Women's Attitudes and Identities. 2013 PHYSICS EDUCATION RESEARCH CONFERENCE. 211-214.Full Text via DOI: 10.1119/perc.2014.pr.049 Web of Science: 000375145900051
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2014High School Science Experiences Associated to Mastery Orientation Towards Learning. 2013 PHYSICS EDUCATION RESEARCH CONFERENCE. 259-262.Full Text via DOI: 10.1119/perc.2014.pr.061 Web of Science: 000375145900063
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2014Interdisciplinary Affinity: Definitions and Connections to Physics Identity. 2013 PHYSICS EDUCATION RESEARCH CONFERENCE. 235-238.Full Text via DOI: 10.1119/perc.2014.pr.055 Web of Science: 000375145900057
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2014The Impacts of Modeling Physics in Upper Level Courses: The Persistence of Men and Women. 2013 PHYSICS EDUCATION RESEARCH CONFERENCE. 219-222.Full Text via DOI: 10.1119/perc.2014.pr.051 Web of Science: 000375145900053
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Works By Students
chaired theses and dissertations
Research
principal investigator on
- Departmental Admissions Practices that Maintain Excellence and Diversity in the Face of COVID-19 awarded by American Physical Society 2020 - 2022
- APS Bridge Program Postdoctoral Researcher awarded by National Science Foundation 2016 - 2018
- Collaborative Research: Intersectionality of Non-Normative Identities in the Cultures of Engineering (InIce) awarded by National Science Foundation 2014 - 2018
co-principal investigator on
- Building Capacity: Catalyzing Change in Calculus (C3) awarded by National Science Foundation 2018 - 2023
- Collaborative Research: Mobilizing Teachers to Increase Capacity and Broaden Women's Participation in Physics awarded by National Science Foundation 2017 - 2023
- HHMI IE3 Learning Community awarded by Howard Hughes Medical Institute 2021 - 2023
- Collaborative Project: Engaged Student Learning - Design and Development Level II: Impact of Learning and Engagement Strategies for Software Courses using a Cyberlearning Environment awarded by National Science Foundation 2015 - 2020
- Understanding the implications of gamification on women computer science students' engagement and women-CS fit awarded by National Science Foundation 2017 - 2020
- Community for Faculty Development awarded by Howard Hughes Medical Institute 2015 - 2018
subproject principal investigator on
- NSF Graduate Research Fellowships awarded by National Science Foundation 2020 - 2025
- Graduate Research Fellowship Program awarded by National Science Foundation 2015 - 2021
Contact
full name
- Geoffrey Potvin
Identifiers
ORCID iD
- https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8164-2309 (confirmed)
visualizations
Recent publications and grants in Scholars@FIU
publication subject areas
Citation index-derived subject areas the researcher has published in