F.J. (Francisco José) Castillo Hernández, Dr

In this overview, I present the key milestones of my academic and professional career.

I obtained my Bachelor's degree in Primary Education in 2016 at the University of Almería. My academic journey continued with a Master's degree in Research and Evaluation in Primary Education, for which I was awarded the Extraordinary End-of-Studies Award. In 2018, I secured a prestigious PhD scholarship through the Spanish Ministry of Education’s University Teacher Training Program, which enabled me to develop my doctoral research on teaching-learning sequences in STEM education. I successfully defended my PhD in 2022, receiving the distinction "cum laude."

Currently, I am a postdoctoral researcher and lecturer at the University of Groningen's Centre for Learning and Teaching. My work is supported by European Union-funded projects, including EU-Horizon 2020 initiatives on AI bias mitigation, as well as Erasmus+ projects focused on AI integration in education and mental health prevention in academic settings. In these projects, I take on key coordination and supervisory roles.

I have actively disseminated my research through publications and conferences. I have authored multiple research papers, including articles in high-impact journals indexed in Journal Citation Reports (JCR), as well as book chapters. My contributions to academic conferences extend across national and international venues such as ESERA, NARST, and Encuentros de Didáctica de las Ciencias Experimentales. Additionally, I have undertaken research stays at prestigious institutions, including the University of Lisbon, and the Autonomous University of Barcelona.

Beyond research, I have teaching experience. At the University of Groningen, I serve as a lecturer and course coordinator in the Master's program in Science Education and Communication, where I teach Research Methods and supervise Master's theses. Previously, I was a lecturer at the University of Almería, where I delivered courses in science education and supervised research projects at the undergraduate and master's levels. Additionally, I have contributed to faculty development programs, supporting university educators in course design and pedagogical reflection.

I also engage in editorial and reviewing activities, acting as a reviewer for high-ranking journals such as Studies in Science Education and Science and Education. I coordinate the STEM/STEAM section of the journal Aula d’Innovació Educativa (Graó), ensuring high-quality academic contributions.

My work is dedicated to advancing STEM education, integrating AI in STEM higher education, and supporting educators in designing effective learning experiences.