Michele Darienzo

Brookhaven National Laboratory

Stakeholders Relations Office
Bldg. 101MZ
P.O. Box 5000
Upton, NY 11973-5000

(631) 344-7246
mdarienzo@bnl.gov

Expertise | Education | Highlights

Expertise

Michele Darienzo has been working in informal education for over a decade. She began her career during college as an educator for a program that provided access to extracurricular STEM activities to underrepresented middle school students and then moved on to work in Brookhaven National Laboratory’s Office of Workforce Development and Science Education after her degree in secondary science education was complete.

Michele has spent years designing and implementing STEM programming for students of all ages, teachers (both current and pre-service), and visitors to the lab. Her expertise in physics education and knowledge of computer science has been invaluable in the development of K-12 curriculum and instruction in these areas that highlights the work done at Brookhaven National Laboratory. She also spends time mentoring undergraduate students and coaching members of our scientific staff to support them in their journey to become successful science communicators at a variety of educational outreach events.

Michele has also completed a Ph.D. in Science Education at Stony Brook University to complement her master’s degree in Secondary Physics Education and further her ability to provide STEM programming to the students who need it most.

Education

Ph.D. in Science Education – Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
M.A.T. in Secondary Education (Physics) - Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
B.S. in Physics – Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY

Research Highlights

Kelly, A. M., Wei, T. C., Schneble, D., & Darienzo, M.* (2025, June 22-25). NSF ITEST Quantum Education for Students and Teachers: Preparing the Next Generation of Global Technology Innovators [Invited]. American Society for Engineering Education, Montreal, QC, Canada. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10821169

Kelly, A. M., Wei, T. C., Schneble, D., & Darienzo, M.* (2025). Exploratory factor analysis of a precollege quantum information science and technology survey: Exploring career aspiration formation and student interest. EPJ Quantum Technology, 12(11). https://doi.org/10.1140/epjqt/s40507-025-00313-w

Darienzo, M.*, Kelly, A. M., Wei, T. C., & Schneble, D. (2024). Students’ attitudes towards quantum information science and technology in a high school outreach program. Physical Review Physics Education Research, 20(2), 020126. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.20.020126

Darienzo, M.*, & Kelly, A. M. (2024, September 15-16). Review of Literature on Quantum Information Science and Technology Programs for High School Students. Quantum Science and Engineering Education Conference (QSEEC24), Montreál, QC, Canada. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10821169

Kelly, A. M., Darienzo, M.*, Wei, T. C., & Schneble, D. (2024). Quantum information science and technology professional learning for secondary STEM teachers. Physical Review Physical Education Research, 20(2). 020154. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.20.020154

Darienzo, M.*, Kelly, A. M., Wei, T. C., & Schneble, D. (2024, March 17-20). Professional Development for Improving Precollege Teachers’ Attitudes Towards Teaching Quantum Information Science and Technology [Paper presentation]. Annual Conference of the National Association of Research in Science Teaching, Denver, CO, United States. 

Kelly, A. M., Schneble, D., Wei, T. C., & Darienzo, M.* (2024, March 3-7). Conceptual and Mathematical Challenges in Quantum Information Science & Technology Outreach [Conference presentation]. American Physical Society March Meeting, Minneapolis, MN, United States. https://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/MAR24/Session/Q61.6

Kelly, A. M., Schneble, D., Wei, T. C., & Darienzo, M.* (2024, January 6-8). Development of a Quantum Information Science and Technology Concept Inventory [Conference presentation]. American Association of Physics Teachers, New Orleans, LA, United States. https://aapt-wm.secure-platform.com/a/solicitations/66/sessiongallery/2798