Teaching

Teaching Philosophy

I believe students learn biology best by actively engaging with scientific questions rather than simply memorizing facts. My courses emphasize scientific inquiry, data analysis, experimental design, and the process of discovery. Whether in the classroom, laboratory, or field, I aim to help students develop the skills and confidence needed to think critically and approach biological problems as scientists.

A major focus of my teaching is providing students with authentic research experiences early in their academic careers. Many courses incorporate hands-on projects involving experimental physiology, bioinformatics, marine ecology, or field-based investigation. Students are encouraged to analyze real datasets, engage with primary scientific literature, and contribute to ongoing research questions whenever possible.

The marine environment provides a powerful setting for biological education. Through work at the Rosario Beach Marine Laboratory, students gain direct experience with marine organisms and ecosystems while learning field methods, organismal biology, and the ecological and physiological challenges facing marine systems in a changing world.

Courses

Courses taught have included:

• Animal Physiology
• Introduction to Marine Sciences
• Cell Biology
• Bioinformatics and Computing for Biology
• Introduction to Biological Research
• Systematic Botany

My courses often integrate experimental design, statistical analysis, scientific communication, computational biology, field and laboratory methods, and collaborative research.

Undergraduate Research

Undergraduate research is a central part of my teaching approach. Students frequently participate in projects involving marine physiology, ocean acidification, cephalopod biology, genomics, and ecological research. Whenever possible, projects are designed to address novel scientific questions and generate data suitable for conference presentation or publication.

Students are encouraged to develop independence in scientific reasoning, technical laboratory skills, computational analysis, scientific writing, and collaborative problem solving.

Rosario Beach Marine Laboratory

Many teaching and research activities are connected to the Rosario Beach Marine Laboratory on the Salish Sea. Rosario provides students with opportunities for immersive field-based learning and direct interaction with marine organisms and ecosystems of the Pacific Northwest.

Courses and field experiences at Rosario emphasize marine biodiversity, organismal biology, ecological interactions, marine conservation, physiology and adaptation, and scientific field techniques. The laboratory serves as both a teaching facility and an active research environment where students can engage directly in the scientific process.