Philosophy
All of my pedagogical strategies are dedicated to teaching the analytical skills required across all scientific disciplines, as well as fundamental concepts in biology. I employ active, inquiry-based approaches that link students’ experiences inside and outside the classroom so that these skills and knowledge will remain with them long after they graduate. In my classes students develop inquiry skills using real data; this process encourages them to think and allows them to be real scientists. I assign readings and exercises that emphasize the relevance of concepts to life, and teach core skills needed to analyze data effectively and efficiently.
Courses Taught
The Information Age, University of Rhode Island
Big Data Analysis, University of Rhode Island
Software Carpentry and Data Carpentry Workshops - University of Rhode Island; National Marine Fisheries Service; USGS Flagstaff; Arizona State University
Introductory Ecology and Evolution labs, Department of Biology, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
Senior Capstone, Department of Biology, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
Ecology for non-science majors, University of California, Davis
Other Teaching Experience
NSF GK-12 Fellow, 7th grade genetics and evolution, University of California, Davis - 2006-2007
Students mentored
Diana Arroyo, ASU 2015 - 2016
Dominic Nicacio, ASU 2014 - 2016
Sunny Mahesh, ASU 2014 - present
Emily Thompson, ASU 2014 - 2015
Nick Ingle, ASU 2014 - 2015
Phil Lavretsky, UCDavis, 2007 - 2008 (Currently an assistant professor at the University of Texas, El Paso)
Marisa Lim, UCDavis 2007 - 2008 (Currently a PhD student at Stony Brook University)
Stephanie Dowd, UCDavis 2007 - 2008 (Currently employed outside science)
Undergraduate honors thesis committees
Jessica Albanese, 2013-2014 (Currently a medical student at the University of Nevada, Reno)
Akash Khare, 2013-2014 (Currently employed in engineering)