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

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

I obtained my Bachelor’s degree in 2016 at the University of Almería. Afterwards, I completed a Master’s degree in Research and Evaluation, for which I was awarded the Extraordinary End-of-Studies Award. In 2018, I obtained a competitive PhD scholarship through the Spanish Ministry of Education’s University Teacher Training Program. I defended my PhD in STEM Education in 2022 with the distinction cum laude. My doctoral research focused on the analysis and design of teaching and learning sequences in STEM education, following a design-based research approach.

Currently, I work as an assistant professor at the Centre for Learning and Teaching at the University of Groningen, where my work combines research, teaching, and educational development. My research activities are embedded in several EU-funded Erasmus+ projects, including INFINITE, ACT-AI, and MindGuard. Within these projects, I am involved in coordination and research tasks related to critical AI literacy, the ethical integration of AI in higher education, professional development for educators, and mental health prevention in academic settings.

Regarding teaching, I am a lecturer and course coordinator in the international Master’s programme in Science Education and Communication, where I teach Research Methods and supervise Master’s thesis projects. I am also involved as a mentor in the Senior Teaching Qualification programme and have participated in faculty development activities within the University Teaching Qualification programme, supporting university teachers in course design, assessment, and pedagogical reflection. Previously, I worked as a lecturer at the University of Almería, teaching science education courses and supervising bachelor’s and master’s research projects in STEM education.

My research has been disseminated through publications in peer-reviewed journals, book chapters, and contributions to national and international conferences, such as ESERA and NARST. In addition, I am involved in academic service as a reviewer for international journals and as coordinator of the STEM/STEAM section of the journal Aula d’Innovació Educativa (Graó).

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