Erin Marie Furtak, PhD, is a聽Professor of Science Education and Associate Dean of Faculty at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Frustrated while trying to realize educational reforms as a public high school biology teacher, Erin transitioned into a career studying how science teachers learn and improve their daily classroom practices through formative assessment. In a series of multiple studies, Dr. Furtak has been partnering with teachers, schools, and districts to learn how teachers can design, enact, and take instructional action on the basis of classroom assessments that they design. Dr. Furtak is also Program Area Chair of the Mathematics and Science Education Program Area, as well as Chair of the CU Teach Science, Mathematics and Engineering Program.
Dr. Furtak received the 2011 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) and the German Chancellor Fellowship from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (2006). Her research and professional writing has been published in multiple journal articles,聽聽research-and practitioner-oriented books,聽聽book chapters, humorous essays, and advice columns. She also conducts extensive service to the teaching profession through long-term research and professional development partnerships with school districts and organizations in Colorado and across the US.