TRUE BUG BIODIVERSITY SHORT COURSE 2024
This 5-day course, funded by a National Science Foundation award, teaches participants about True Bug (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) biodiversity at the University of California, Riverside. Participants will be introduced to many families of True Bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera; approx. 45,000 species), including important plant and nuisance pests, beneficial species, and human disease vectors. Participants will also learn how to collect this group of insects in the field. Course goals will be achieved through a series of lectures, lab sessions, and two local field collecting trips. This course is designed for undergraduate and graduate students, scientific researchers, agricultural inspectors, and naturalists that are interested to learn more about this amazing group of insects. Information about the course and application can be seen below.
INSECT RESEARCH & SCIENTIFIC ENGAGEMENT
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course supports the development of scientific research skills for undergraduate students at the University of Florida. It was funded by a National Science Foundation CAREER and National Institute of Health awards to my postdoctoral advisor, Dr. Christine W. Miller, to: 1) integrate authentic research experiences and education and 2) increase participation of underrepresented minorities in STEM disciplines. In this course, students collect real, authentic data using insects to advance the lab's scholarly work and engage in weekly discussions that mimic “lab meetings” (i.e., flipped classroom environment). Given the structure of the course, the research project students engage in is dynamic across semesters. Together, students develop a number of skills that can be used in future research opportunities, as well as abilities to critically analyze scientific research, communicate science, and understand how science is viewed and used by society.
This course supports the development of scientific research skills for undergraduate students at the University of Florida. It was funded by a National Science Foundation CAREER and National Institute of Health awards to my postdoctoral advisor, Dr. Christine W. Miller, to: 1) integrate authentic research experiences and education and 2) increase participation of underrepresented minorities in STEM disciplines. In this course, students collect real, authentic data using insects to advance the lab's scholarly work and engage in weekly discussions that mimic “lab meetings” (i.e., flipped classroom environment). Given the structure of the course, the research project students engage in is dynamic across semesters. Together, students develop a number of skills that can be used in future research opportunities, as well as abilities to critically analyze scientific research, communicate science, and understand how science is viewed and used by society.
ENY2890
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As the instructor in charge of course design, implementation, and evaluation for the Fall 2018 course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE), the course theme focused on phylogenetic research in leaf-footed bugs. Aside from exposure to core Nature of Science topics, the goals of this course were to develop students' tree thinking skills, understand concepts of evolution and the importance of phylogenetics to societal and global issues, learn and apply general workflows of molecular phylogenetic analysis, and use phylogeny to study trait evolution (e.g., sexually-selected traits). Recently, the course became affiliated with the UF International Scholar's Program. As such, students were also exposed to the benefits and challenges of international research to promote understanding of global and intercultural issues regarding scientific research.
ENY4905
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As an instructor of this course, I developed, implemented, and evaluated the first iteration of this course under the funding of the National Science Foundation. The research theme of the Spring 2017 CURE course was morphometric data collection to investigate two research projects involving Narnia femorata: 1) phenotypic plasticity of mouthparts in response to novel hosts and 2) the effects of self-induced limb loss (autotomy) and population density on the morphology of sexually-selected weapons. This course also exposed students to Nature of Science topics, but the research goals were to develop students' skills in accurate data collection and understanding of sexual selection.
TEACHING ASSISTANTSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA – RIVERSIDE
INSECT BIODIVERSITY
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INTRODUCTORY EVOLUTION & ECOLOGY EEOB 005C (2014) |
This course introduces the science of insect systematics. There is emphasis on identifying the diagnostic characters of higher-level taxa, as well as behavioral and ecological traits observed in various taxa. Laboratories focus on developing skills in insect identification to the family level.
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This course offers an intensive introduction to the subjects of evolution and ecology, specifically population dynamics, community ecology, population genetics, and evolutionary theory.
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