Janet Rankin, Ph.D.

Janet Rankin, Ph.D.

Director

Janet Rankin joined the Teaching + Learning Lab in 2006. See her CV here.

As Director of TLL, Dr. Rankin works with faculty and departments to integrate efforts to promote better learning at MIT with departmental needs and constraints. Her interests include evidence-based teaching, applying the science of learning, improving learning in large-classes, interdisciplinary learning and teaching, and working with departments to support the professional development of TAs.

Dr. Rankin received her Sc.B. in Engineering from Brown University in 1983, and her Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from MIT in 1989. From 1989 until 1991, she was a staff scientist at Oak Ridge National Lab in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. She was a Bunting Fellow at Radcliffe College during the 1991-92 academic year. She received a Visiting Professorship for Women Award from the National Science Foundation which funded her research at Brown during the 1993-1995 academic years.

From 1998 to 2000, Dr. Rankin worked in the Office of the Dean of the College office at Brown University as Coordinator of the ExSEL Program (a program to support and encourage the participation of students from traditionally under-represented groups in math and science disciplines). From 2001-2006, she was an Associate Director for the Physical and Life Sciences and for the Sheridan Center for Teaching and Learning at Brown University. As a member of the Brown Engineering Faculty (1993-2007), she taught a variety of materials science courses as well as general engineering courses. Her research has been supported by grants from the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy.