Focus Areas
- Evolution
- Phylogenetics and comparative methods
- Macroevolution
- Quantitative biology
I teach evolution because, as Theodosius Dobzhansky wrote, “Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution.” My goal is to help students think like evolutionary biologists, even if they do not pursue evolutionary science professionally.
This approach emphasizes primary literature, writing-intensive assignments, discussion, and regular feedback. It aligns with four core dimensions of scientific literacy discussed by Brandt et al. (2022): content knowledge, procedural knowledge, epistemic knowledge, and application of knowledge.
Teaching Profile
Formats and Mentorship
- Writing-intensive seminars, field courses, and invited guest lectures
- Mentorship: 8 undergraduate and 6 graduate advisees
- Integrated emphasis on critical reading, scientific writing, and discussion
Pedagogy Training
- Postdoctoral Short Course on College Teaching in Science and Engineering (UM CRLT)
- Teaching in STEM certificate training (UM)
- Writing in the Majors pedagogical training (Cornell Knight Institute)
Aggregated Rankings
Weighted mean instructor-performance scores (1-5), BIOEE 1780 (Fall 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018).
Selected Experience
University of Michigan
- EARTH 444 (Analytical Paleobiology): guest lectures in November 2023 and November 2025
- EARTH 437 (Vertebrate Paleontology): guest lecture in December 2021 — recording
- Faculty invitations from Matt Friedman and Jeffrey Wilson Mantilla
Cornell University
- BIOEE 1780 Writing in the Majors seminar (Fall 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018), including four 15-week sections designed and led independently
- BIOEE 2650 Tropical Field Ecology and Behavior (Kenya), Winter 2014
- BioEE 3730 guest lecture in phylogenetic systematics
MIDAS GenAI Workshops
- MIDAS Generative AI Tutorial Series (University of Michigan): workshop leadership focused on practical, inclusive use of AI tools in academic settings
- Visualizing and Presenting Data (May 2024, November 2024) — interactive workshop on data communication and visualization design (session link)
- Technology Meets Creativity (March 2024): AI-for-the-arts workshop designed to engage participants from varied disciplinary backgrounds
Methods and Source
Evaluation aggregates are parsed from the teaching dossier PDF and stored in _data/teaching_evaluations_aggregated.yml (Q08-Q22 instructor-performance items; Q23-Q25 self-report tracked separately). Additional activities and recordings are listed in the CV.