Profile | Utah Valley University

Faculty Member

Dr. Josh Premo

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Phone: 801-863-8511
Curriculum Vitae: Joshua Premo CV

Biography

I am broadly interested in social aspects of K-16 science learning. My early work focused on how different aspects of classroom social environments relate to student dispositions towards cooperating with their peers during learning. More recently I have began exploring two areas: 1) How classroom social environments and interactions impact learning, 2) Investigating different factors that predict changes in students' science identity, motivation, and immersion

I also have secondary interests in educational psychometrics and science misconceptions.

I you are interested in science education or the social psychology of education contact me! There are mentored research opportunities available!

Selected Publications

Premo, J., Cavagnetto, A., Collin, L., Davis, W. B., & Offerdahl, E. (2023). Discourse remixed: Shifting science learning through talk. Journal of Experimental Education. 91(2), 336-357. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00220973.2021.1993771

Premo, J., Wyatt, B., Horn, M., & Wilson-Ashworth, H. (2022). Which Group Dynamics Matter: Social Predictors of student achievement in team-based undergraduate science classrooms. CBE-Life Science Education. 21(3), ar51. https://www.lifescied.org/doi/full/10.1187/cbe.21-06-0164

Cavagnetto, A., Premo, J., Coleman, Z., & Jeurgens, K. (2022). Accuracy and Idea Consideration: A Study of Small Group Interaction in Biology. CBE-Life Science Education. 21(1), ar5. https://doi.org/10.1187/cbe.21-03-0067

Premo. J., Cavagnetto A., and Davis, W. (2018). Promoting Collaborative Classrooms: The impacts of interdependent cooperative learning on undergraduate interactions and achievement. CBE-Life Science Education. 17(2), ar17-fe5. https://www.lifescied.org/doi/10.1187/cbe.17-08-0176

Education

PhD, Washington State University , 2019

Major: Science Education/Zoology

Array, Binghamton University, 2011

Major: Adolescent Education

BS, SUNY Plattsburgh, 2010

Major: Biology, History, & Anthropology

Teaching

BIOL 1010

General Biology, Spring 2026

BIOL 1010

General Biology, Spring 2026

SCIE 2400

Measurement and Analysis for Science Teachers, Spring 2026

EDSC 4850

Student Teaching Secondary, Spring 2026

EDSC 4850

Student Teaching Secondary, Spring 2026

EDUC 6203R

Student Teaching Graduate Licensure, Spring 2026

Presentations

Echeverria, Sophia , Stevens, Abigail , Premo, Josh , Wyatt, Britt , Ritchie, Sian , Owens, Melinda , SABER-West 2026, "The Role of Essentialism in College Biology Students’ Ideas about Biological Sex.", Society for the Advancement of Biology Education Research, California. (January, 2026)

Backman, Eden , Wyatt, Britt , Flanary, Kandace , Cusick, Jess , Ogden, Heath , Premo, Josh , 2024 Utah Conference for Undergraduate Research, "Gender Disparities in the Pursuit of Biology at UVU.", Orem, UT.. ()

Bischoff, Porter , Garret, Kody , Rawson, Clayton , Premo, Josh , Wyatt, Britt , 2024 Utah Conference for Undergraduate Research, "Prescribing Passion_ How medical experiences shape STEM enthusiasm.", Orem, UT. ()

Black, Kanon , Ogden, Heath , Wyatt, Britt , Premo, Josh , Cusick, Jess , 2024 Utah Conference for Undergraduate Research, "Religion, Evolution and Vaccinations_ Perceptions from a GE Student Population", Orem, UT. ()

Habel, Alyssa , Wyatt, Britt , Cusick, Jess , Ogden, Heath , Premo, Josh , 2024 Utah Conference for Undergraduate Research., "Intersectionality and Vaccine Hesitancy.", Orem, UT.. ()

Premo, Josh , Washington State Science Teacher Association, "Use of the VMC3 Resource Center to Promote Cross-Cutting Concepts". (October 12, 2024)

Scholarly/Creative Works

McMain, Emma M., Gotch, Chad M., Jiang, Kexin , Dydasco, Chloe , Premo, Josh , (2026) "Reflections on teacher-researcher collaboration in a design-based science education projec" . EDUCATIONAL ACTION RESEARCH. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09650792.2026.2639023

Premo, Josh , Davis, William B., Wyatt, Britt , (2025) "The Power of Peer Experiences_ Shifts in Science Motivation and Impacts on Performance" (Issue: 3, vol. 24). CBE-Life Science Education. https://www.lifescied.org/doi/full/10.1187/cbe.24-07-0199

Kurtz, Kenneth , Cavagnetto, Andy , Honke, Garrett , Premo, Josh , Patterson, John D., Snoddy, Sean , Silliman, Daniel , (2024) "Improving Concept Learning in Education via Category Construction" . Journal of Educational Psychology.

Vaughn, Margaret , Carbonneau, Kira , Premo, Josh , Sotirovska, Vera , (2024) "Exploring Agency as a Malleable Factor Related to Literacy." . The Elementary Journal. https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/730113

Premo, Josh , Wyatt, Britt , Horn, Matt , Wilson-Ashworth, Heather , (2022) "Which Group Dynamics Matter_ Social Predictors of student achievement in team-based undergraduate science classrooms" (Issue: 3, vol. 21). CBE-Life Science Education. https://www.lifescied.org/doi/full/10.1187/cbe.21-06-0164

Cavagnetto, Andy , Premo, Josh , Coleman, Zachary , Jeurgens, Kate , (2022) "Accuracy and Idea Consideration_ A Study of Small Group Interaction in Biology." (Issue: 1, vol. 21). CBE-Life Science Education. https://doi.org/10.1187/cbe.21-03-0067

Awards

Faculty Senate Scholarly/Creative Works Award

UVU Faculty Senate - April, 2025

The purpose of the Distinguished University Employee Faculty Senate Awards are to recognize full-time and adjunct faculty who have made significant contributions to UVU's mission through demonstrated excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service.

Biology Department Engagement Award

UVU's Biology Department - March, 2025

Recognizes significant contributions to furthering the Biology department's mission to meaningfully engage and support student, faculty, and staff in the department.

Flexible Teaching Award - Best Delivery 2nd Place

UVU Office of Teaching and Learning - February, 2024

The Best Flexible Course Delivery award is given to instructors who demonstrate engaged learning within their online course. In contrast to the Best Design award, which is given based on how the course is structured, the Best Delivery award is given based on what instructors do to support their students within an online course. Instructors submitting applications for Best Delivery should be able to explain how they are present within their course in multiple ways with demonstrated impact.

Best-in-Track Talk Award for the Engaged and Effective Teaching and Learning track

OLC Accelerate 2021

Utah Valley University SPOT Award

Utah Valley University

Exceptional support for students during COVID-19

The 2020 Society for the Advancement of Biology Education Research's Western Division Conference recognized one top rated proposal from a four year institution and honored me with a plenary speaker position at the conference,

McMain, Emma (Co-Presenter), Gotch, Chad (Co-Presenter), Jiang, Kexin (Co-Presenter), Dydasco, Chloe , Premo, Josh (Author Only), American Educational Research Association, "Listening, leading, and learning_ Reflections on teacher-researcher collaboration in a science education grant project. ", , Philadelphia, PA.. (April, 2024)

Bischoff, Porter , Garret, Kody , Rawson, Clayton , Premo, Josh , Wyatt, Britt , 2023 Annual American Society of Microbiologists Conference for Undergraduate Education, "Medical Experiences’ Influence on Gender and PEERs.", , Phoenix, AZ.. ()

Premo, Josh , Hassan, Kariman , Hughes, Stephen , Backman, Eden , Cusick, Jess , Ogden, Heath , Wyatt, Britt , 2023 Society for the Advancement of Biology Education Research’s National Conference, "What Makes Science Relevant_ The Role of Science Immersion.", , Minneapolis, MN.. ()

Wyatt, Britt , Hassan, Kariman , Hughes, Stephen , Backman, Eden , Premo, Josh , 2023 Society for the Advancement of Biology Education Research’s National Conference., "Learners vs. Expects_ How student views of scientists relate to science sense of belonging, identity, and motivation.", , Minneapolis, MN.. ()

Garrett, Kody , Wyatt, Britt , Premo, Josh , 2023 Utah Conference for Undergraduate Research, "Examining Motivation Through STEM Courses by GPA and Major.", , Salt Lake City, UT. ()

Bischoff, Porter , Premo, Josh , Wyatt, Britt , 2023 Utah Conference for Undergraduate Research, "Medical Conditions and STEM Motivation at an Open Enrollment Institution.", , Salt Lake City, UT. ()

Hughes, Stephen , Premo, Josh , Wyatt, Britt , 2023 Utah Conference for Undergraduate Research., "Are students entering as scientists? Pre-course Assessment of Undergraduate Student Science Identity.", , Salt Lake City, UT. ()

Bischoff, Porter , Garrett, Kody , Rawson, Clayton , Premo, Josh , Wyatt, Britt , Society for the Advancement of Biology Education Research’s National Conference., "When students miss class due to a medical condition, are they engaging more with science?", , Minneapolis, MN.. ()

Premo, Josh , Wyatt, Britt , Ogden, Heath , Cusick, Jess , 2023 Utah Science Teachers Association Annual Conference, "Science Immersion from Using 3D SEEd Standards_ Where are students at?", , West Layton, UT. (October, 2023)

Premo, Josh , Wyatt, Britt , 2022 American Society of Microbiologist’s Conference for Undergraduate Education, "Can’t we all be scientists? Examining Science Identity in Science Majors/Non-majors at a Teaching-focuses Institution.", , Online. ()

Bischoff, Porter , Lewis, Annette , Premo, Josh , Wyatt, Britt , 2022 American Society of Microbiologist’s Conference for Undergraduate Education, "Medical Experiences' Influence on Science Motivation.", , Online. ()

Wyatt, Britt , Jacobs, Olivia , Hughes, Stephen , Premo, Josh , 2022 Association of College and University Biology Educators Annual Meeting, "Are my students entering as scientists? Pre-assessment of student science identity.", , Online. ()

Wyatt, Britt , Hughes, Stephen , Sorenson, Joshua , Premo, Josh , 2022 Society for the Advancement of Biology Education Research’s National Conference, "Science Identity Shifts_ When does one become a scientist?", , Minneapolis, MN.. ()

Premo, Josh , 2022 Society for the Advancement of Biology Education Research’s National Conference, "What dynamics matter? Optimizing Group-Work in Undergraduate Science.", , Minneapolis, MN.. ()

Bischoff, Porter , Wilson-Ashworth, Heather , Wyatt, Britt , Premo, Josh , 2022 Utah Conference on Undergraduate Research, "First Generation Students’ STEM Motivation in an Open Enrollment Institution.", , Online. ()

Carroll, Preston , Norman, McKenzie , Wilson-Ashworth, Heather , Premo, Josh , Wyatt, Britt , 2022 Utah Conference on Undergraduate Research, "Gender Roles in Group Work within Science Classrooms.", , Online. ()

Wyatt, Britt , Premo, Josh , 2021 ASM Conference for Undergraduate Educators (ASMCUE)., "Tips and Tools for Co-Mentoring Undergraduate Researchers at a Teaching Institution.", , Online. ()

Carroll, Preston , Norman, MacKenzie , Premo, Josh , Wyatt, Britt , 2021 National Conference on Undergraduate Research, "Visualizing and Describing Science Identity Through an Image Association Survey.", , Online. ()

Athens, Wendy , Anderson, John , Premo, Josh , Andrist, Kathy , 2021 OLC Accelerate Conference, "Enabling Students Daily Choice of How to Attend Class_ Wisdom from Four Faculty Who Taught HyFlex", , Online. ()

Premo, Josh , Cavagnetto, Andy , Collins, Larry , Davis, William , Offerdahl, Erika , 2021 Society for the Advancement of Biology Education Research’s Western Conference., "Leveraging Interdependence During Discourse_ Effects on learning and discussion quality.", , Online. ()

Premo, Josh , Davis, William , 2020 Society for the Advancement of Biology Education Research’s Western Conference, "Shifts in First-Generation Students’ Science Motivation_ A Unique Contribution from the Learning Value of Peers.", , Irvine, CA.. ()

Wilson-Ashworth, Heather , Premo, Josh , Horn, Matt , 4th annual Teaching For Learning Conference, "Harmonizing peer-peer interactions with methods of group learning.", , Provo, UT. ()

Premo, Josh , Cavvagnetto, Andy , Collins, Larry , Davis, William , Offerdahl, Erika , (2021) "Discourse remixed_ Shifting science learning through talk. " (Issue: 2, vol. 91). Journal of Experimental Education. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00220973.2021.1993771

Brancaccio-Taras, Loretta , Mawn, Mary , Premo, Josh , Ramachandran, Roshini , (2021) "Teaching in a Time of Crisis_ Editorial Perspectives on Adjusting STEM Education to the “New Normal” during the COVID-19 Pandemic. " (Issue: 1, vol. 22). Journal of Microbiology and Biology Education. https://doi.org/10.1128/jmbe.v22i1.2679

Vaughn, Margaret , Premo, Joshua , Erickson, Danielle , McManus, Christine , (2020) "Student Agency in Literacy_ Validation of the Student Agency Profile (StAP)" (Issue: Online First, vol. Online First). Reading Psychology. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02702711.2020.1783147

Cavagnetto, Andy , Hand, Brian , Premo, Joshua , (2020) "Supporting student agency in science" (Issue: 2, vol. 59). Theory into Practice. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00405841.2019.1702392

Vaughn, Margaret , Premo, Joshua , Sotirovska, Vera V., Erickson, Danielle , (2019) "Evaluating Agency in Literacy Using the Student Agency Profile" (Issue: 4, vol. 73). The Reading Teacher. https://ila.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/trtr.1853