BIOL SCI 335 / PBC 451 - Critical Topics in Conservation and Ecology
Winter 2009 - 2011 & Fall 2011, 2012
 
This course provides students with the conceptual and theoretical framework within the field of plant biology (especially ecology) and conservation. This seminar-style course focuses on reading and discussion of historical and contemporary primary literature. Special emphasis is placed on encouraging students to think critically and discuss their thoughts within a structured yet informal setting and will provide them with a basic background in reading and writing scientific papers. This course is designed specifically to help students read and discuss primary literature critically, learn important skills for writing scientific papers, become comfortable presenting and discussing papers with their peers, establish a solid background in Plant Science and Conservation, write a critical review of a manuscript and write a review paper on the topic of their choosing.
 
PBC 450 - Field and Laboratory Methods in Plant Biology and Conservation
Fall 2009 - 2012 (team taught)

Course Goals:

• To make students familiar with various tools and techniques used frequently in the plant biology and conservation research


• To give students hands-on experience with a variety of field and laboratory methods used in plant biology and conservation research


• Students should complete the course feeling confident in their ability to select and implement the appropriate methods to address a variety of research questions

The field and lab components of this course will be linked and whenever possible the collections made in the field component will be analyzed in the lab component. Given the growing season, the first half of the quarter will focus on field methods whereas the latter half will focus on lab methods. There is no text for this course. Rather, for each topic, students will be given background reading material. Each class will start with an introductory lecture on the topic/methods to be covered. Then students will go into the field or lab to address a research question using the appropriate techniques. Given the breadth of topics to be covered in this course, it is team taught in order to draw upon the expertise of the faculty. Students will be graded based on participation, a weekly journal of field and lab activities, and a project. For the project, students will develop a hypothesis and write a research proposal, modelled after the NSF-GRFP guidelines, including the field and lab methods they would use to test it. They will also give oral presentations of their proposals at the end of the quarter.
 

 
Current Topics in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Co-instructor
Spring & Fall 2007
 
A weekly undergraduate seminar designed around the EEB weekly seminar series. Students learn how to critically read and discuss current primary literature written by the weekly seminar speaker, meet with the speaker and attend the weekly seminar.
 
Developmental Plant Morphology, Teaching Assistant
Fall 2004
 
Independently instructed laboratory classes of upper level undergraduate students and graduate students. Acquired skills on designing and implementing a course with a strong laboratory component.
 
Introduction to Botany, Teaching Assistant
Fall 2003
 
Independently instructed laboratory classes of undergraduates, focusing on various aspects of plant sciences, providing hands-on experience on topics covered in course lectures.
 
Principles of Biology, Teaching Assistant
Fall 2002 & Spring 2003
 
Co-instructed laboratory classes of undergraduate with another teaching assistant, focusing on general principals in biology, providing hands-on experience for undergraduates not majoring in Biology.