Gurjeet (Sonica) Dhillon

Gurjeet (Sonica) Dhillon has over a decade of experience leading complex, large-scale research and evaluation 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 STEM K–12 Resource Center for Transformative Education Research and Translation, Dhillon leads efforts to advance research for real-world preK–12 classroom applications, making scientific findings accessible and actionable for educators and communities. She has directed evaluations for organizations such as Teach For America and Building Assets, Reducing Risks (BARR), and directly helped state education agencies and school districts use data to improve student outcomes, refine early warning systems, and implement evidence-based practices that address local needs through the Regional Educational Laboratories (RELs) program.

Certified as a Project Management Professional (PMP) since 2016, Dhillon is also a published author and is recognized for her commitment to using research to improve educational programming and student outcomes. Her leadership, technical expertise, and dedication to evidence-based practice make her a trusted partner in advancing educational excellence.