Teaching

I teach courses for the Biology major and the Environmental Science major, both at the undergraduate and graduate level. 

BIO 109A: Exotic species in Chicago (FYE)

Catalog description

Global trade and travel spreads microbes, plants and animals across great distances and over previously insurmountable barriers. This course will survey the diversity of species that have invaded ecological communities in the Chicago area, look at the factors that allowed them to become invasive, review examples of how ecological principles are being applied to control them, and examine the ecological and economic impacts. Students will meet with local experts in the field, in order to get first-hand experience with some of the more infamous invasive species and to see Chicago from the perspective of urban ecologists. Lecture, laboratory, and field trips. 

BIO 305: General Ecology (Writing Intensive Program) 

Catalog description

In an introduction to the basic concepts of ecology, students will examine the factors and interactions that determine the distribution and abundance of species at the individual, population, community, and ecosystem levels. Students will satisfy the writing intensive requirement by developing persuasive arguments supported by data, writing a primary research paper, creating graphs to present experimental results, and keeping a field and laboratory notebook. Lecture, laboratory, and fieldwork, with up to two field trips scheduled on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.

BIO 453: Conservation Biology

Catalog description

This course will explore how ecological theory (including mathematical models), principles, and methodologies are applied to the conservation of populations, species, communities, and landscapes. Covered topics include biodiversity, the demographic and genetic structure of populations, population viability analysis, the problems that small populations face, extinction as a historical and contemporary process, current tools applied in conservation (e.g., GIS, molecular tools), and the application of ecological principles to nature reserve design and ecosystem management. Students will read extensively from the primary literature, lead class discussions, and solve applied and quantitative problems. 

BIO 455: Restoration Ecology

Catalog description

This course explores how ecological research and concepts can be applied to the restoration of disturbed ecosystems. It will take into account current trends and challenges in restoring populations, communities and ecosystems. Students are expected to have completed coursework in ecology prior to taking this course. 

ENVI 101: Introduction to Environmental Science

Catalog description

This course introduces environmental science as the interdisciplinary study of environmental issues related to human impact on the natural environment. The course addresses environmental science literacy and scientific methods through inquiry into and discussion of biogeochemical cycles, ecosystem dynamics, climate change, conventional and renewable energy, resources, and sustainability.