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Mark Bertolami is a UNT graduate student working in the Chemistry Education Research (CER) Group with Dr. Molly Atkinson. After discovering through a little trial and error that this was their calling, Mark decided to come to UNT as it is one of the few universities in the country offering this type of doctoral chemistry education program. 

"I actually started a physical chemistry Ph.D. program at the University of Washington where I earned my master's degree, but after two years I realized that my passion for teaching outweighed the spectroscopy research I was conducting,” Mark said. “I found teaching an enjoyable escape from the pressures of research and thoroughly enjoyed helping others learn about topics that I am very passionate about.” 

Since coming to UNT, Mark has developed an interest in investigating neurodivergent perspectives and understanding how neurodivergent learners engage with chemistry.  

“My current research is grounded in the Neurodiversity Paradigm proposed by Dr. Nick Walker, which is a philosophical stance that celebrates the diversity of human cognition and emphasizes the value of alternative cognitive perspectives,” explained Mark. “This work will be valuable for other educational researchers who want to implement the Neurodiversity Paradigm in other chemistry or STEM contexts."  

The project advocates for equity, inclusion, and respect for neurodivergent individuals by capturing their lived experiences to inform educators on how to design and deliver instruction that meaningfully includes neurodivergent learners.  

“I was diagnosed with Autism in 2024, and it was validating to know that the way I process information and move through life is different; I wanted to emphasize this difference in thinking with my work,” he said. “It has been a very rewarding experience to investigate how other neurodivergent students navigate higher education, specifically within the context of chemistry.”  

Mark also pointed out the benefits of having a faculty mentor at UNT who personally understands the challenges of living with neurodiversity.  

“Dr. Molly Atkinson has been a very understanding and helpful mentor in my studies,” they said. “She is also neurodivergent (ADHD) and when it comes to navigating higher education, it is great to have someone who understands the struggles of being neurodivergent, especially at this stage in my academic career.”  

Mark was invited to be a Discussion Leader for the Gordon Research Seminar this past summer to present their session "Connecting Research Paradigms to Practices: How Research Paradigms Inform Chemistry Education Research." He also helped introduce speakers and facilitate discussions, and gave a poster talk at the conference a few days later.  

"This was my first national conference, and a very rewarding experience. It was really cool to finally meet other faculty and graduate students who I am familiar with in this field,” said Mark. “The main thing I took away from this experience was how expansive the field of CER truly is, and I was able to learn about various methods and theoretical frameworks that I didn't know existed until the conference.”  

Two years in a row now, Mark received the Dr. R.B. Escue Endowed Chemistry Education Scholarship, a testament to their passion and skill for teaching. He is currently working on finishing his candidacy exam and is looking forward to publishing his first academic paper in the coming year. Mark plans to complete their Ph.D. in 2027.

“I am so beyond grateful that I took that leap of faith to pursue my passion for teaching,” said Mark. “Leaving UW to attend UNT is one of the proudest decisions that I have made in my academic career!"