Summer Research Fellowship Director Information
Director Bio
Dr. Deana Jaber is an organic chemist by training with a passion for innovative education who has been engaged in teaching, research, and service projects with students at Marymount University since 2011. Dr. Jaber completed her undergraduate degree in Biochemistry at Mt. Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts. After that, she worked at the state-of-the-art Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases in Singapore where she was involved in drug-discovery research on tuberculosis and dengue fever. In 2011, Dr. Jaber received her doctoral degree in organic chemistry from the University of Maryland, College Park and soon after started her academic career at Marymount University.
As a long-standing and integral part of the science faculty at Marymount University, Dr. Jaber has been successful in establishing a research group/agenda that engages undergraduate students in research. The Jaber research group conducts research in the field of Chemical Education (CE). They are particularly interested in developing pedagogical tools for Game-based and Case-based learning that have been shown to enhance the student’s learning experience. Examples of these tools are, but are not limited to, card games in three formats (physical, virtual, and mobile applications) and case studies. In recognition of Dr. Jaber’s research and teaching endeavors, she was awarded the 2020 Faculty Scholarship Award and the 2023 Innovative Excellence in Teaching Award, respectively.
Dr. Jaber is an advocate for undergraduate research experiences and has mentored several students on research projects that have gained them authorship on peer-reviewed articles, conference proceedings, and a book chapter. She has coordinated the Summer DISCOVER-Student Research Program for the past three years and this year she will serve as the Director of the Summer 2025 DISCOVER-Student Research Program. In this capacity, she will be responsible for designing, planning, implementing, and overseeing all aspects of the program to ensure its successful execution.
Deana is a proud Palestinian-American. She grew up in the West Bank city of Nablus in Palestine famous for its Knafeh, olive oil and soap. She lives in the DC area with her family and during her free time she travels the country taking her two boys to hockey and soccer games.
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