Dr. Janet Carlson

Biography

Janet Carlson is an Associate Professor (Research) Emerita at Stanford University's Graduate School of Education, where she has served as the faculty director of the Center for Support in Excellence Teaching (CSET) from 2013 to 2025. She began her career as an earth science teacher in rural small towns, eventually evolving her role to focus on developing curriculum and facilitating professional learning opportunities. Her research interests center on equity in science education, particularly concerning gender equity and the experiences of female-identifying students in upper-level science courses. Carlson's work addresses the systemic oppression in K-12 education, advocating for the disruption of inequitable practices in classroom instruction. She is known for her strategic leadership at CSET, where she collaborates on initiatives to enhance teaching quality and ensure equitable learning opportunities for all students. Before her tenure at Stanford, Carlson contributed to the Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (BSCS) for over two decades, focusing on research and development in science education.

Research Interests

Courses