My teaching philosophy in a nutshell
The opportunity to teach and mentor students has been a fundamental pleasure and a driving force for me to persist in academia. My teaching philosophy is guided by three principles: 1) Using a versatile teaching toolbox to promote inclusive learning; 2) Cultivating curiosity, agency, and growth mindset; and 3) Creating a safe and inclusive learning community.
Courses
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Exploring the Brain-Body Interface: The Neuroscience of Basic Survival
Basic survival depends on the brain’s regulation of fundamental behaviors and physiological pathways, such as eating, drinking, breathing, digestion, cardiac function, and thermal regulation. How do the brain and body communicate with each other to achieve homeostasis under different physiological states, and what goes awry in disease? How have different animals adapted to thrive under challenging environments, such as extreme temperatures, hypoxia, and resource scarcity?
In this advanced seminar, students will take a deep dive into the exciting research taking place at the brain-body interface. We will explore the main components of the peripheral nervous system, such as the vagus nerve and the dorsal root ganglia, that act as gatekeepers into our internal and external sensory worlds. We will also explore pathways in the central nervous system that regulate our basic bodily functions. By reading primary literature and review papers, as well as participating in in-class discussions, students will gain deep knowledge of this burgeoning field of neuroscience. Through short written assignments and oral presentations on topics of their choosing, students will gain skills in scientific writing and scholarship as well as in oral communication of scientific information.
Listed as BIOL 373 and NS&B 373
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In this survey course, we explore a wide range of animal behaviors at the proximate and ultimate levels of analysis. Main topics include: the principles of communication, genetic and epigenetic regulation of behavior, neuroethology, biological rhythms, hormones and behavior, reproduction, and animal cognition. Students gain foundational knowledge by engaging with textbook readings and traditional lectures. Students practice self-directed inquiry, peer-assisted learning, and scientific communication through in-class work sheets, group discussions, take-home assignments, and presenting topics of their choosing. Finally, students will learn about research and the academic career path through scholar highlights, interacting with guest speakers, and reading primary literature.
Cross-listed as BIOL 254 and NS&B 254