Gurjeet (Sonica) Dhillon

Gurjeet (Sonica) Dhillon leads complex, large-scale research, evaluation and technical assistance initiatives in STEM and secondary education. Dhillon’s expertise lies in bringing together interdisciplinary teams and stakeholders to collaborate effectively, solve challenging problems, and drive innovation in education research. Dhillon’s approach is grounded in evidence-based decision-making, leveraging rigorous experimental and quasi-experimental designs to inform program improvements and education practice. 

As principal investigator for the National Science Foundation’s Center for STEM Education Research and Translation, Dhillon leads efforts to advance research for real-world PreK–12 classroom applications, making scientific findings accessible and actionable for other researchers, educators, and the broader STEM education community. Dhillon also serves as the training, coaching, and technical support lead for the Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) Southwest, overseeing a portfolio of projects that strengthen the capacity of educators, districts, and state education agency partners to use evidence to address pressing educational challenges and improve student outcomes. 

She is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), and her leadership, technical expertise, and commitment to evidence-based practice make her a trusted partner in advancing PreK–12 education.