About Me

Kassandra (Kass) Fernandez is a PhD candidate in Engineering Education at the University of Florida. They earned their M.S. in Microbiology & Cell Science at the University of Florida & their B.S. in Biological Sciences at Miami Dade College. Previously, they worked as a high school science teacher at a Title I school & as an adjunct professor of microbiology at a community college.

They are currently recruiting participants for their dissertation study, “Mentorship Matters: Development of a Conceptual Framework of Effective Mentoring Activities”. STEM undergraduate students in the US aged 18 or older who are engaged in mentorship are invited to complete the intake form.

Outside of their research, Kass is passionate about service & leadership. They are serving their third & final term as President of the Policy Advocacy in Science and Engineering (PASE) student organization, which they founded in 2022. They also serve as the lead web developer for the Scientist Network for Advancing Policy (SNAP), a coalition of early-career researchers dedicated to mobilizing for large-scale initiatives & bridging gaps between scientists, their communities, & the general public.