Associate Professor of Biology
Specialty: Molecular Genetics, Developmental Biology
My pedagogical philosophy in undergraduate science education advocates for the immersion of students in the practice of investigative, hypothesis driven science as a way to learn the scientific process, to acquire and develop science process skills, to understand the reality and challenges of science, and to be given the opportunity to become creators of knowledge. In short, I believe that science should be taught as it is practiced. Therefore, my goal as a teacher, beyond teaching students fundamental concepts in molecular biology and genetics, is to engage students in the process of science. Partnering with students in rigorous, authentic experimental research is central to many careers in biology and is critical in providing students the opportunity to acquire and develop science process competencies that include writing research proposals, formulating hypotheses, designing and performing experiments, troubleshooting problems, interpreting data, reading and synthesizing the scientific literature, and effectively communicating their scientific results. Participation in investigative research also has the added benefit of assisting students in developing general life skills that includes; enhancing their ability to work and collaborate with others, promoting effective time-management strategies, strengthening organizational skills, increasing proficiency in prioritizing and planning, and improving critical thinking and interpretation of information. In essence, my aim is not teach students biology, but rather to train students to become biologists.
The transport of proteins, mRNA transcripts and organelles within a cell facilitates their localization to discreet cellular domains for specific cellular functions. Active transport systems are complex, highly coordinated and utilized in a diverse array of cellular activities including axonal transport, organelle movement, chromosome segregation and vesicle motion. This extensive range of action is indicative of the importance of cellular transport systems in the fundamental biology of the cell and foreshadows the consequences when they become perturbed in multicellular organisms. My current research interests aim to identify components of microtubule based transport systems in the cell.