Brian OConnell

Brian O’Connell is a mechanical engineering PhD student at Tufts University and a research assistant at Tufts’ Center for Engineering Education and Outreach on the “Integrating Engineering and Literacy” project. His research interests focus on interdisciplinary collaboration, educational technology development and analysis, K-12 STEM education, and development of assessment tools for open ended K-12 engineering education activities. He is the creator of the PaperBots® Robotics Kit and other products that utilize available classroom materials to make engineering education activites more affordable and accessible and has founded a company around those products. Prior to coming to Tufts, Brian worked as a mechanical engineer for a government contractor designing periscopes and optronic masts for submarines. After graduation, he intends to pursue a faculty position with a research university in order to combine his desire to teach as well as advance his fields of interest through research.