I am a SPLINE (STEM Project Leaders Inclusivity NEtwork ) Scholar of 2020 and include educational practices that follow Universal Design for Learning.

I’ve always seen myself as both a scientist and an educator. The two are inseparable for me. Whenever I learn something new in the lab, I’m already thinking about how to make it hands-on activity, how to teach it in a classroom, or to share it with fellow educators. Many of the activities I use come from educational institutions, but I adapt them with my own flavor. Others I’ve created from my own research and lab experience, making sure they are accurate, engaging, and accessible.

North Carolina Science and Engineering Fair (2023–present)

• I have been a science judge since 2023
• Organizer of the Region 3A fair since 2025

Photo by NCSEF

STEM and Coding Educator | Discovery Place Science (2019–2020)

• I led an after-school coding program for middle school students supported by a $50,000 grant.
• I created an original Python curriculum to introduce computational thinking and problem-solving.
• Every week I taught and supported 25+ students at different skill levels, making sure the content was accessible and often reinforced through hands-on coding challenges.

Environmental Educator | U.S. National Whitewater Center & Anne Springs Close Greenway (2019)

• I taught K–12 students and community groups about ecology and conservation through outdoor, experiential activities.
• I designed and led hikes, kayaking trips, and environmental debates so students could learn by doing.
• I also created Girl Scout badge programs and outreach events, often adapting the content into Spanish for bilingual families.

Lab Educator | Discovery Place Science (2017–2018)

• I managed the Explore More Me Lab and kept things running smoothly day-to-day.
• I taught grades 3–12 with hands-on lab activities that made biology and biomedical science approachable.
• I updated three biomedical lab modules to reflect current research and emphasized tactile, inquiry-based learning.
• I trained volunteers so they could feel confident guiding students through hands-on experiments.

Volunteer Coordinator | Rochester Museum & Science Center (2016–2017)

• I supported more than 300 active volunteers, from recruiting and training to scheduling and recognition.
• I built a volunteer tracking system that helped us better manage attendance and engagement.
• I worked with the education team so volunteers could directly support science demonstrations and community-facing activities.

Program Coordinator | HiSTEP, National Institutes of Health (2015)

• I helped run NIH’s High School Scientific Training and Enrichment Program (HiSTEP), making sure the daily logistics, scheduling, and events ran smoothly.
• I curated and organized lecture materials, and supported activities that emphasized interactive science learning.
• I tracked student progress and outcomes so the program could improve each year.

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Copyrighted 2026 Liz Albertorio and Thinkerleaf Science Outreach LLC. All rights reserved. Page last updated: 16JAN26

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