• BA, Biology, Dartmouth College
  
• PhD, Behavioral Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Virginia
  
• Postdoctoral Research, Biology Education Research, Auburn University
  

• By appointment
  

Research in the Costello Lab aims to identify systemic barriers to student success in postsecondary biology courses and to empirically evaluate classroom interventions aimed at reducing these barriers. We take an experimental and quantitative approach to research to answer questions centered around the social aspects of learning to ultimately support student persistence in STEM fields.

• R. A. Costello, A. E. Beatty, R. D. P. Dunk, S. N. Ewell, J. E. Pruett, and C. J. Ballen. 2024. Re-envisioning biology curricula to include ideological awareness. Research in Science Education (RISE) 54: 13–26. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11165-023-10101-0
• E. M. Ball, R. A. Costello, C. J. Ballen, R. M. Graze, and E. W. Burkholder. 2024. Challenging misconceptions about race in undergraduate genetics. CBE–Life Sciences Education 23: ar32. https://doi.org/10.1187/cbe.23-12-0228
• R. A. Costello, S. Salehi, C. J. Ballen, and E. W. Burkholder. 2023. Pathways of opportunity in STEM: Comparative investigation of degree attainment across different demographic groups at a large research institution. International Journal of STEM Education 10:46.   https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-023-00436-5
• A. E. Beatty, J. Henning, E. P. Driessen, A. Clark, R. A. Costello, S. N. Ewell, R. Klaback, T. Lamb, K. Mulligan-Guy, S. Fagbodun, and C. J. Ballen. 2023. Biology instructors see value in discussing controversial topics but fear personal and professional consequences. CBE–Life Sciences Education 22: ar28. https://doi.org/10.1187/cbe.22-06-0108