Rukmini Avadhanam

Rukmini Avadhanam is a learning scientist with a background in education and psychology whose research focuses on improving teaching and learning through collaborative, experiential, and technology-enhanced approaches. Her interdisciplinary work spans AI in education, teacher education, learning technologies, and workforce development. At the Discovery Partners Institute, her research examines how generative AI can support student learning, critical thinking, and collaborative inquiry, as well as how educators can integrate AI in culturally responsive and pedagogically meaningful ways. She leads and supports several interdisciplinary, experiential learning programs across K-12 and higher education contexts that support inquiry and evidence-driven STEM education.

She currently leads the Illinois Department of Public Health-sponsored Illinois One Health Scholars Program, an interdisciplinary workforce development initiative that prepares emerging public health professionals to address complex health challenges across human, animal, and environmental systems. The program combines faculty-guided experiential learning with year-long placements in local health departments, connecting interdisciplinary One Health education and research with applied public health practice.

Rukmini also supports the Cannabis Research Institute’s community college cannabis education programs through needs assessment, curriculum development, hands-on and experiential learning programs.

Education

Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction, 2023, University of Minnesota Twin Cities

Recent Publications

• Avadhanam, R. M.* & Dotson, D. (2026). SPARKS of Innovation: Creating, Implementing, and Scaling a high school STEM research internship program. Journal of Experiential Education. 10538259261431772. https://doi.org/10.1177/10538259261431772(opens in a new tab)
• Avadhanam, R. M.*, Sharma, A., Cliff, J., Rana, O., Potoglou, D., & Teehan, C. (2026). An exploration of climate change education interventions in K-12 contexts in the US and UK. Discover Environment, 4, 289. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44274-026-00801-5(opens in a new tab)
• Avadhanam, R. M. (2026). Thinking with and Beyond the Tool: High School Students’ Use of GenAI During STEM Research Internships. International Society of Learning Sciences, Irvine, 2026.
• Chin, A., Varshney, L.R., Singh, G., Riel, J., Avadhanam, R.M., & Sachdev, V. (2025). A Conceptual Framework for Guiding the Workforce on Using Responsible AI. IEEE Ethics, 2025.