Natasja Denise Brown

Natasja Denise Brown

Fellowship Placement: US Department of Energy
Hometown: Ocean Springs, Mississippi

Natasja Denise Brown is a passionate science educator with twelve years of experience teaching students from 7th grade through the university level. Most recently, she has taught high school accelerated biology at Ocean Springs High School in Mississippi while also serving as an adjunct instructor at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, where she taught Biology I and II. Her dedication to students extends far beyond the classroom. She founded the middle and high school Science Bowl teams at her school, coaching them for the past six years to achieve first place or runner-up finishes nearly every year in the state. In the most recent national competition, her team ranked among the top 32 in the nation. In addition, she has served as the freshman student council sponsor, advised the Red Cross Club, and contributed to the National Honor Society faculty committee.

Natasja earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Secondary Science Education, with a concentration in Biological Sciences, from Mississippi State University. Beyond the classroom, she was invited to contribute her expertise to the Steps Coalition, helping to write and teach lessons in support of its mission to advance climate and environmental justice along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The work focused on climate resilience, sustainable resource development, and environmental stewardship, equipping community members and students at the local Boys & Girls Club with the knowledge and tools to address environmental challenges in meaningful ways.
For three consecutive summers, Natasja was one of ten educators in the state selected for the Research Experiences for Teachers program at the University of Southern Mississippi’s School of Polymer Science and Engineering, conducting authentic research alongside faculty and industry mentors. These experiences expanded her expertise in engineering and polymer science, strengthened her ability to bring cutting-edge research into the classroom, and inspired greater student participation in STEM. Her work, featured on the school’s website, earned her an invitation to present at the U.S. National Science Foundation’s Division of Engineering Education and Centers Conference, where she shared her innovative teaching approach with engineers nationwide.

Throughout her career, she has created engaging, hands-on, inquiry-based lessons that push students to think critically, explore deeply, and connect their learning to the world around them. She extends learning beyond the classroom through grant funded field trips that bring concepts to life. Above all, Natasja is committed to fostering curiosity, empowering students to ask questions, and sparking transformative “aha” moments that reveal both the workings of the world and the processes within themselves with moments that uncover the foundations of biology and inspire a lifelong love of learning.