Dr. Mary Bridget
Kustusch earned her BS in Physics from North Park University, PhD in Physics
from North Carolina State University and spent two years as a postdoctoral
scholar at Oregon State University working on the Paradigms in Physics project.
She primarily focuses on Physics Education Research (PER).
Kustusch
specializes in exploring connections between mathematics and physics and the
use of multiple representations, particularly kinesthetic and embodied
experiences as mediating resources for students. Her current research concentrates on group decision-making and problem solving, as well as the development and use of meta-cognitive and sense-making skills. Drawing on several research
traditions (e.g., physics, education, cognitive psychology), she employs
both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. Additionally, Kustusch uses the results in the design and assessment of curricular
materials and in the professional development of current and
future teachers and physicists.
An active member of the American Association of Physics Teachers and American Physical Society, she has been an
invited speaker and organized invited sessions for conferences.
Her articles are published in the American Journal of Physics, Physical
Review Special Topics - Physics Education Research, The Physics
Teacher, Journal of College Science Teaching, and Physics
Education Research Conference Proceedings.
A native
Chicagoan, Kustusch spends much of her time outside of DePaul with her large
extended family where she enjoys all that the city has to offer. Her favorite
way to relax is by knitting or reading a science fiction or detective story with a cup
of tea. She has not owned a car since 2004, so she can often be seen walking to
the “L”.
M.B. Kustusch, "Assessing the impact of representational and contextual
problem features on student use of right-hand rules", Phys. Rev. Phys.
Educ. Res. (2016).
D. Roundy, M.B. Kustusch, C.A. Manogue, “Name the experiment!
Interpreting thermodynamic derivatives as thought experiments”, American Journal of Physics, 82,
39-46, (2014).
M.B. Kustusch, D. Roundy, T. Dray, C.A. Manogue, “Partial derivative games in thermodynamics: A cognitive task analysis”, Physical Review Special Topics - Physics
Education Research, 10, 010101, (2014).
M.B. Kustusch, J.D.H. Gaffney, R. Beichner,
“The real prize inside: Learning about science and spectra from cereal boxes”,
The Physics Teacher, 47, 450-453,
(2009).
J.D.H. Gaffney, E. Richards, M.B. Kustusch, L.
Ding, R. Beichner, “Scaling up education reform”, Journal of College Science Teaching, 37, 48-53, (2008).