Teaching

I aim to create an inclusive classroom environment that provides students with exposure to core biological concepts while helping them to clearly communicate scientific information to others and apply scientific concepts in their lives. In order to do this, I act as a guide to create authentic learning experiences for my students, encourage critical thinking and discussion in the classroom, and provide opportunities for students to practice science communication in all the classes I teach. 

BIOL308: Disease Ecology (with lab)

Semester: Fall

The major concepts of community ecology will be used as a framework for understanding pathogen transmission and disease dynamics in natural populations. Primary literature readings will be the focus of discussions and small writing assignments. Students will work in consultation with the instructor in the weekly lab to choose a research topic, propose and design a study, collect data, perform statistical analysis, and convey their results through written reports and oral presentations. Field trips required. 

BIOL100 Lab: Organismal Biology Lab

Semester: Fall

The required lab for BIOL100. 

BIOL047: Biology of Infectious Diseases and their Global Impact

Semester: Spring

Infectious diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites have had a very large effect on human societies from ancient history to the current day. This course will provide an overview of the different types of pathogens that cause human disease and their effects on humans. We will investigate specific examples of each type of pathogen to illustrate the commonalities and differences of these disease-causing agents. We will also look at the way that human infectious diseases are treated and prevented, as well as the problematic history of infectious disease research and the long-term effects of diseases on human societies.

BIOL210: Genetics, Evolution and Ecology

Semester: Spring

This course provides biology majors and others with an integrated introduction to key biological principles of genetics, ecology, and evolution, including principles of inheritance, structure and expression of genes, and gene-phenotype relationships, selection, drift, sources of variation, and patterns of diversity, as well as factors and processes governing biotic and abiotic interactions that influence distribution and abundance of organisms.