Biology education research in MCDB explores how students learn and thrive in STEM by examining the complex interactions between course design, teaching practices, and student experiences. Centering equity, belonging, and joy, this research discipline investigates how mentorship and inclusive learning environments promote academic success, including for those with marginalized identities. By integrating quantitative and qualitative approaches, this research aims at building more effective and sustainable educational pathways in biology that support high-quality teaching and learning at all levels. These include exploring effective hiring practices for teaching roles and the role of instructional networks in fostering excellence in undergraduate education as well as the preparation and pedagogical training of teaching assistants, examining how these experiences shape their development as future educators. Our goal is to create more accessible and diverse academic pathways in biology, cultivating educational spaces where every student is supported and is motivated to achieve their academic goals.
