Teaching
Cohorts of neurons are organized into anatomically specialized regions that are functionally connected by neural circuits. Allocating distinct types of neurons from uncommitted progenitor cells and the precision of neuronal connectivity requires the coordination of cell fate programming, differentiation, and neural circuit formation. I am interested in how genes and signaling pathways function at specific developmental stages to control these processes. My lab studies these mechanisms in the thalamus, striatum, and dopamine system because these regions regulate perception, sensation, sleep, motivation, and movement and are affected in complex brain disorders including autism, epilepsy, and schizophrenia. Using genetic approaches in mice, we ascertain how neuronal subtypes are established and become functionally connected. We also determine how mutations induced at specific embryonic stages affect brain development and cause complex behavioral phenotypes. Our knowledge of developmental mechanisms is being used to advance stem cell and pharmacological therapies to ameliorate brain disease
TEACHING (reverse chronological order)
BIOL1310/2310 Analysis of Development
Spring semester, 2013
Course Leader and Sole Instructor
Enrollment: 24 (21 Undergraduates, 3 Graduate students)
Course Evaluation: 1.37 (out of 5: 1 = excellent; 2= very good)
Instructor Evaluation: 1.26 (out of 5: 1 = excellent; 2= very good)
BIOL1310/2310 Analysis of Development
Spring semester, 2012
Course Leader and Sole Instructor
Enrollment: 18 (16 Undergraduates, 2 Graduate students)
Course Evaluation: 1.45 (out of 5: 1 = excellent; 2= very good)
Instructor Evaluation: 1.20 (out of 5: 1 = excellent; 2= very good)
BIOL1310/2310 Analysis of Development
Spring semester, 2011
Co-Instructor
Enrollment: 12 (8 Undergraduates, 2 Graduate students)
Course Evaluation: 1.42 (out of 5: 1 = excellent; 2= very good)
Instructor Evaluation: 1.08 (out of 5: 1 = excellent; 2= very good)
BIOL2320A Current Topics in Developmental Biology: Cell Fate and Lineage Decisions in Neural Development and neurological diseases
Fall semester, 2010
Course Leader and Instructor
Enrollment: 6 (3 Graduate students, 3 Undergraduates)
Course Evaluation: 1.40 (out of 5: 1 = excellent; 2= very good)
Instructor Evaluation: 1.20 (out of 5: 1 = excellent; 2= very good)
BIOL1310/2310 Analysis of Development
Spring semester, 2010
Course Leader and Instructor
Enrollment: 12 (10 Undergraduates, 2 Graduate students)
Course Evaluation: 1.40 (out of 5: 1 = excellent; 2= very good)
Instructor Evaluation: 1.10 (out of 5: 1 = excellent; 2= very good)
BIOL1310/2310 Analysis of Development
Spring semester, 2009
Enrollment: 14 (12 Undergraduates, 2 Graduate students)
Course Evaluation: 1.44 (out of 5: 1 = excellent; 2= very good)
Instructor Evaluation: 2.11 (out of 5: 1 = excellent; 2= very good)
BIOL2320 Topics in Developmental Biology: Genetic Control of Cell Fate Decisions
Fall semester, 2008
Co-Instructor
Enrollment: 3 Undergraduates (2 received grades; 1 received no credit)
Course Evaluation: 1.0 (out of 5: 1 = excellent; 2= very good)
Instructor Evaluation: 1.0 (out of 5: 1 = excellent; 2= very good)
BIOL1310/2310 Analysis of Development
Spring semester, 2008
Instructor
Enrollment: 29 (21 Undergraduates, 8 Graduate students)
Course Evaluation: 2.12 (out of 5: 1 = excellent; 2= very good)
Instructor Evaluation: 2.19 (out of 5: 1 = excellent; 2= very good)