At a small liberal arts institution like the University of Puget Sound, professors spend much of their time in the classroom and associated laboratory sections.  Doc Martin is no different.

​

My goal here in the Biology Department of the University of Puget Sound is to train students to approach problems in microbiology with critical thinking, enthusiasm, communication skills, more enthusiasm, and above all a microbiocentric point of view.  The balance between teaching and research is, in my opinion, a false dichotomy:  just as I teach in the classroom, I teach my research students at the bench.  And it is true, in both situations, that I learn from my students as much as they learn from me!  No matter the venue, mentoring, collaboration, creativity, and positivity are vital to me. 

 

In the classroom, you can find me working with students in several courses here in Tacoma.  I teach first year students an introductory lab based survey of cell and molecular biology (Biology 111, "The Unity of Life").  I teach a first year writing seminar focusing on symbiotic and parasitic relationships (SSI1 165, "Never Really Alone: Symbiosis and Parasitism Around and Within Us"); I also teach a lecture based version of this course to juniors and seniors (Biology 376 "ONE:  Our Symbiotic Planet").  Finally, I teach a lab based overview of the depth and breadth of the microbial world to juniors and seniors (Biology 350, "Microbiology"---that yes, needs a snazzier title).  In all of my courses, I focus on student-driven creative approaches and investigation in concert with more standard pedagogies.  

​

Biology 111 (Unity of Life)
Biology 201 (Biology Colloquium)
Biology 350 (Microbiology)
Biology 376 (One: Our Symbiotic Planet)
Biology 392 (Intro to Biological Research)
SSI1 165 (Never Really Alone: Symbioses & Parasitism Around and Within Us)