Dr. Lisa B. Limeri

Assistant Professor, Biology Education, Motivation, and Psychometrics

Dr. Lisa B. Limeri is an assistant professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Texas Tech University. She earned her Bachelor of Science from Binghamton University and completed her Ph.D. in Biological Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh. She continued postdoctoral research in Biology Education at the University of Georgia.

Dr. Limeri studies the social and psychological factors that influence students’ decisions to persist in or leave STEM career pathways. Her research group, the Limeri Lab, investigates how social-psychological factors impact undergraduate performance and retention in STEM fields. Her work also focuses on translating this research into practical classroom interventions that improve academic outcomes and student well-being by reducing negative stressors and supporting student growth.

She has contributed to numerous publications advancing research on student identity, motivation, and performance in science education.

Dr. Maria G. Onyango

Assistant Professor, Biological Sciences

Dr. Maria Onyango is an assistant professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Texas Tech University. She earned her undergraduate degree in Biochemistry and Zoology from the University of Nairobi in Kenya and completed a Master’s degree in Applied Parasitology before earning her Ph.D. in Veterinary Entomology at Deakin University in Australia.

She received postdoctoral training at the Yale School of Public Health, the New York State Department of Health, and the Wadsworth Center.

Her research focuses on virology and medical entomology, particularly the biology of ticks and mosquitoes that transmit viral infections. By understanding the underlying biology of these organisms, Dr. Onyango works to better understand disease emergence and identify ways to prevent transmission.

Dr. Christy Rogers

Assistant Professor, Human Development and Family Studies

Dr. Christy Rogers studies adolescent development and the transition into emerging adulthood through a family-centered perspective. Her research examines how family relationships, particularly sibling relationships, contribute to positive youth development.

Her work highlights how supportive family dynamics can promote stronger school engagement, improved self-regulation, healthier decision-making, and more positive perceptions of self and relationships, while also reducing behavioral challenges.

Dr. Rogers uses an interdisciplinary approach that includes behavioral observation of family interactions, surveys assessing relationship dynamics and well-being, and behavioral and brain-imaging methods to study how social environments influence decision-making.

Her research explores how families contribute to youth development socially, emotionally, biologically, and cognitively, and how these interconnected systems shape adolescent well-being.

Dr. Jessica Spott

Director, STEM CORE

Dr. Jessica Spott is the Director of STEM CORE (Center for Outreach, Research, and Education) at Texas Tech University. She earned both her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in Communication Studies from Texas Tech and completed her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology.

Dr. Spott has worked with STEM outreach coordination and undergraduate research program management since 2011 and formally joined STEM CORE in 2015. She oversees daily operations while leading outreach initiatives and program development.

Her research focuses on MotherScholars and the experiences of girls and women in STEM fields. She is particularly committed to increasing equity and diversity in STEM education.

Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her two sons, traveling with her husband, listening to podcasts, playing dominoes or card games, and enjoying countless cups of hot chocolate.