Website: http://niadowell.com
Department: School of Education and Cognitive Science
Research interests: Teams, Collaboration, Artificial Intelligence, AI-Human Teaming, Inclusion
What do you enjoy most about mentoring and working with undergraduate students?
What I love most about research mentoring and working with undergraduate students is seeing their growth—both intellectually and in confidence—as they develop their own research identities. There’s something really exciting about watching students go from being unsure about how to even formulate a research question to confidently presenting their findings and making meaningful contributions to the field. I also really enjoy the collaborative aspect of it. Undergraduates bring fresh perspectives, curiosity, and creative approaches that sometimes challenge my own assumptions and push our work in new directions. I see mentoring as more than just guiding students through projects—it’s about fostering their ability to think critically, engage with complex problems, and build skills that will serve them in whatever path they choose. There’s a real sense of fulfillment in helping them navigate that process and seeing their excitement when something finally clicks.
