Dr. Medina-Jerez research explores science education for ELLs, science education in less developed countries, and cross cultural science education. His scholarship focuses on understanding: how students move among conflicting local knowledge, home beliefs and school science; how students integrate their personal views and learning about the natural world into everyday experiences (e.g., health, nutrition and agricultural practices); what native language supports in science content learning are needed by bilingual students; how to make vocational opportunities in science accessible for minorities, supposedly ‘not-academically oriented’ students and students living in poverty; and, how to prepare and inspire science teachers to work with culturally and linguistically diverse students.