Mentoring & Training
As a graduate student in Dr. Lori Neuman-Lee's lab, undergraduate mentoring is expected and highly valued. While training students on lab or field related-tasks, I tailor each mentoring relationship to the student based on their personality, interests, career goals, and experience.
I have mentored the following undergraduate students in both field and lab settings:
Taylor Fiedor
Christian Vickrey
Mary Ambrette Veach
Alec Bowden
Ashley Carter
Emily Letner
Alexia Vanoven
Isaac Silos
Destiny Taylor
Abrianna Franke
Courtney Babcock
Ethan Saffle
Katherine Willis
Isabella Davis
High School Students
Ella Curlin
I also take students out to the field, show them lab techniques, or chat about career goals even if the student is not officially in our lab or under my mentorship! I love giving students the opportunity to learn about opportunities and try out "being a scientist." I especially take pride in teaching "Pipetting 101" and have developed a "Pipetting Bootcamp" to ensure that new students know the ins and outs of proper pipette work!
Further, I have trained fellow graduate students in the Neuman-Lee lab on lab assays and techniques including but not limited to: radioimmunoassays, microbial killing assays, blood smears, blood sampling on turtles and snakes, statistics, and animal handling.
I have mentored the following undergraduate students in both field and lab settings:
Taylor Fiedor
Christian Vickrey
Mary Ambrette Veach
Alec Bowden
Ashley Carter
Emily Letner
Alexia Vanoven
Isaac Silos
Destiny Taylor
Abrianna Franke
Courtney Babcock
Ethan Saffle
Katherine Willis
Isabella Davis
High School Students
Ella Curlin
I also take students out to the field, show them lab techniques, or chat about career goals even if the student is not officially in our lab or under my mentorship! I love giving students the opportunity to learn about opportunities and try out "being a scientist." I especially take pride in teaching "Pipetting 101" and have developed a "Pipetting Bootcamp" to ensure that new students know the ins and outs of proper pipette work!
Further, I have trained fellow graduate students in the Neuman-Lee lab on lab assays and techniques including but not limited to: radioimmunoassays, microbial killing assays, blood smears, blood sampling on turtles and snakes, statistics, and animal handling.
Teaching
Through teaching assistantships in the Biological Sciences Department at Arkansas State University, I have the opportunity to engage with undergraduate students in and outside of the Biology-related majors. I have been a teaching assistant in the following courses:
Comparative Physiology Laboratory, Instructor - Dr. Lori Neuman-Lee, 2 semesters
This lab is taken co-currently with the lecture by upper-level Biology majors. Students integrate physiology principles with hands-on lab experiences using specimens or live animals. Activities incorporate experimental design, scientific method, scientific writing, team work, IACUC protocols, animal care (amphibians), and basic statistics.
In Spring 2023, I enrolled in Mentored Teaching for this lab course. I will lead the Immune/Endocrine lab portion.
Microbiology Laboratory, Instructor - Dr. David Gilmore, 2 semesters
This lab is often taken co-currently with the lecture by upper-level Biology majors. Students learn techniques and then apply them in guided experiments. I prepared reagents, cultures, and supplies, graded lab reports, and assisted the instructor throughout the lab period. I was responsible for assisting with training students on critical techniques such as aseptic technique, streak plates, microscopy, and pipetting.
Genetics Laboratory, Instructor - Dr. Ronald Johnson, 2 semesters
This lab is taken co-currently with the lecture by Biology/Pre-Med/Wildlife majors. Students integrate genetics principles with hands-on experiences with population genetics with fruit flies, DNA extraction of beef liver, and other activities. I was responsible for assisting with training students, preparing for labs, and grading assignments.
Biological Sciences Laboratory for Non-Majors, Primary Instructor, 1 semester
This lab is often taken co-currently with the lecture by non-majors to fulfill University requirements. I led students through activities applying the material, ranging from measuring, evolution, DNA, and ecology, using a laboratory book designed for the course. Students were assessed through participation, quizzes, homework assignments, a group poster presentation, and a final exam.
Human Structure and Function Laboratory I, Instructor - Heiko Heisermann, 1 semester
This lab is often taken co-currently with the lecture by pre-med biology majors to fulfill major and professional school requirements. I provided study sessions, advice, and feedback throughout the semester and graded lab practicals in a fair and timely manner.
Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory I, Primary Instructor, 2 semesters
This lab is often taken co-currently with the lecture by non-Biology, pre-health majors in their first or second year. While the course is self-led, I assisted students with understanding the material and providing study tips. I realized that traditional lecturing at the beginning of lab was not very impactful, so I created weekly "practice practicals" for students to use on their own to familiarize themselves using practical style questions. This seemed to be beneficial for the students, so I have continued this study tool across semesters. Students were assessed through weekly quizzes, homework assignments (pre and post labs), and practicals.
Biology of the Cell Laboratory, Instructor - Dr. Guolei Zhou, 1 semester
This lab is often taken co-currently with the lecture by first or second year Biology majors. I prepared reagents and supplies, graded quizzes, exams, and homework assignments, and assisted the instructor throughout the lab period.
Comparative Physiology Laboratory, Instructor - Dr. Lori Neuman-Lee, 2 semesters
This lab is taken co-currently with the lecture by upper-level Biology majors. Students integrate physiology principles with hands-on lab experiences using specimens or live animals. Activities incorporate experimental design, scientific method, scientific writing, team work, IACUC protocols, animal care (amphibians), and basic statistics.
In Spring 2023, I enrolled in Mentored Teaching for this lab course. I will lead the Immune/Endocrine lab portion.
Microbiology Laboratory, Instructor - Dr. David Gilmore, 2 semesters
This lab is often taken co-currently with the lecture by upper-level Biology majors. Students learn techniques and then apply them in guided experiments. I prepared reagents, cultures, and supplies, graded lab reports, and assisted the instructor throughout the lab period. I was responsible for assisting with training students on critical techniques such as aseptic technique, streak plates, microscopy, and pipetting.
Genetics Laboratory, Instructor - Dr. Ronald Johnson, 2 semesters
This lab is taken co-currently with the lecture by Biology/Pre-Med/Wildlife majors. Students integrate genetics principles with hands-on experiences with population genetics with fruit flies, DNA extraction of beef liver, and other activities. I was responsible for assisting with training students, preparing for labs, and grading assignments.
Biological Sciences Laboratory for Non-Majors, Primary Instructor, 1 semester
This lab is often taken co-currently with the lecture by non-majors to fulfill University requirements. I led students through activities applying the material, ranging from measuring, evolution, DNA, and ecology, using a laboratory book designed for the course. Students were assessed through participation, quizzes, homework assignments, a group poster presentation, and a final exam.
Human Structure and Function Laboratory I, Instructor - Heiko Heisermann, 1 semester
This lab is often taken co-currently with the lecture by pre-med biology majors to fulfill major and professional school requirements. I provided study sessions, advice, and feedback throughout the semester and graded lab practicals in a fair and timely manner.
Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory I, Primary Instructor, 2 semesters
This lab is often taken co-currently with the lecture by non-Biology, pre-health majors in their first or second year. While the course is self-led, I assisted students with understanding the material and providing study tips. I realized that traditional lecturing at the beginning of lab was not very impactful, so I created weekly "practice practicals" for students to use on their own to familiarize themselves using practical style questions. This seemed to be beneficial for the students, so I have continued this study tool across semesters. Students were assessed through weekly quizzes, homework assignments (pre and post labs), and practicals.
Biology of the Cell Laboratory, Instructor - Dr. Guolei Zhou, 1 semester
This lab is often taken co-currently with the lecture by first or second year Biology majors. I prepared reagents and supplies, graded quizzes, exams, and homework assignments, and assisted the instructor throughout the lab period.