SEPAL Alumni – Postdoc
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Katerina Pia Günter, 2022-23Current Position, Title, & Institution Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Science and Mathematics Education (Institutionen för naturvetenskapernas och matematikens didaktik, NMD), Umeå University, Sweden What are you up to now professionally? I will be working on a project on emotions in engineering education (PI Johanna Lönngren), as well as continue working in and establishing new collaborations and research projects with international colleagues in and beyond science education and gender studies. What do you continue to use most from your time at SEPAL? I will continue implementing and developing teaching and collaborations strategies, as well as will take with me all incredible encounters with students and colleagues alike, which has significantly shaped who I am becoming. |
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Lorenzo Lones, 2022-23Current Position, Title, & Institution Assistant Teaching Professor at University of California, Berkeley What are you up to now professionally? I’m teaching biology, revising biology curriculum, and conduction biology education research. What do you continue to use most from your time at SEPAL? 21 strategies |
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Andrea Burton, 2022-23Current Position, Title, & Institution Lecturer, UCLA What are you up to now professionally? I am an instructor for the Life Sciences Core department teaching the introductory Biology series. What do you continue to use most from your time at SEPAL? I continue to think about how student’s voices and opinions can be heard in a large classroom. |
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Dax Ovid, 2019-22Current Position, Title, & Institution Assistant Professor, DBER Faculty in Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Georgia What are you up to now professionally? Still thinking about Scientist Spotlights and Instructor Talk – plus working with science students interested in experiences/perceptions of study abroad and also developing modules for Graduate Education Training for Justice in Undergraduate Science Teaching (GET JUST) in collaboration with SEPAL alums Drs. Tati Russo Tait and Brie Tripp! What do you continue to use most from your time at SEPAL? Assessments are incredibly valuable ways to get to know students, shape course material to be responsive to who is in the room, push boundaries to challenge preconceived notions, and foster empathy/mutual respect in a classroom community. |
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Brie Tripp, 2020-21Current Position, Title, & Institution Assistant Professor of Teaching at UC Davis What are you up to now professionally? I teach Physiology for non-majors and majors and conduct biology education research with an emphasis on equity and inclusion in STEM classrooms. What do you continue to use most from your time at SEPAL? SEPAL taught me the strength and power in collaborating with others in all aspects of the professoriate: research, teaching, and service. I learned that the most successful people don’t figure everything out on their own but rely on and engage with inclusive networks around them to strengthen themselves and empower others! |
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Mallory Rice, 2019-21Current Position, Title, & Institution Assistant Professor of Biology at California State University San Marcos What are you up to now professionally? Most of my time is spent teaching students either in the classroom or lab and collaborating with students on science education research projects that are inspired by their own curiosities on how to make the culture of science more inclusive. What do you continue to use most from your time at SEPAL? While my time at SEPAL taught me a lot about teaching and research, I have strived to use a growth mindset with students, colleagues, loved ones, and myself daily since my time at SEPAL. |
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Sarah Pickett, 2018-19Current Position, Title, & Institution Associate Director of Faculty & Lecturer Programs, Center for Teaching and Learning, Stanford University What are you up to now professionally? I work in the field of educational development: supporting university instructors in using evidence-based and reflective teaching practices to foster equitable, inclusive, and effective student learning experiences. What do you continue to use most from your time at SEPAL? So many things(!), but I’ll say the 21 Teaching Strategies — I routinely share them with instructors across campus and use them in academic and other professional contexts. |
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Maurina Aranda, 2018-19Current Position, Title, & Institution Assistant Professor / Department of Biological Sciences / Southern Illinois University Edwardsville What are you up to now professionally? I’m living my dream as a biology professor in the Midwest studying biology education research What do you continue to use most from your time at SEPAL? Pedagogical tools and resources |
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Kristin De Nesnera, 2016-18Current Position, Title, & Institution Lecturer, Department of Biology, Loyola University Chicago What are you up to now professionally? I teach a range of Introductory Biology courses as well as Ecology and Conservation Biology and stay involved in department and university efforts to improve the undergraduate education experience. What do you continue to use most from your time at SEPAL? I use the 21 Teaching Strategies all the time in my teaching. More recently, I have been able to put to good use the Zoom skills I developed collaborating cross-country with SEPAL research colleagues! |
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Melinda Owens, 2015-18Current Position, Title, & Institution Assistant Teaching Professor in Neurobiology at the University of California, San Diego What are you up to now professionally? I balance teaching introductory biology and neuroscience and service commitments, including serving on the School of Biological Sciences’ DEI and Assessment committees and being the Treasurer of the Society for the Advancement of Biology Education Research, with conducting research on faculty use of active learning and equitable ways to help students learn biology.
What do you continue to use most from your time at SEPAL? I use so much from my time at SEPAL, including the active learning techniques I learned, seeing education through a lens of equity and inclusion, mentoring students in equitable ways, and continuing the research I started at my time at SEPAL. |
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Sarah Bissonnette, 2015-17Current Position, Title, & Institution I am currently an Assistant Professor of Biology at California State University, Stanislaus. What are you up to now professionally? I teach General Biology 1 (the equivalent of Bio230) and upper division Cell and Molecular Biology. I’ll also be teaching an upper division molecular biology lab for the first time in Spring 2022! I’m also a Faculty Fellow for Advising, which means I spend a lot of time advising students in and out of my home department, and trying to help other faculty members be the best advisors they can be. What do you continue to use most from your time at SEPAL? Oh my gosh, everything: think-pair-shares, wait time, name tents, instructor talk, “student hours,” a million techniques for facilitating faculty professional development… I use multiple things I learned during my time at SEPAL every single day! I am *so* grateful for my time at SEPAL, the amazing mentoring I received, and the fantastic colleagues I got to work with! |
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Colin Harrison, 2015-16colin.harrison@biosci.gatech.edu Current Position, Title, & Institution Senior Academic Professional, Director of Introductory Biology Labs, Georgia Institute of Technology What are you up to now professionally? I am currently running the intro bio labs and teaching intro bio at Georgia Tech while continuing to do biology education research. What do you continue to use most from your time at SEPAL? Everything! My time a SEPAL really set me up well to continue inclusive teaching practices and education research related to improving DEI efforts in Biology. |
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Shannon Seidel, 2013-15Current Position, Title, & Institution Associate Professor of Biology, Pacific Lutheran University What are you up to now professionally? Teaching a variety of biology courses and doing biology education research with undergraduate students. What do you continue to use most from your time at SEPAL? I continue to use the skills I learned at SEPAL balancing research, teaching, and other professional responsibilities. The variety of activities I did as a SEPAL postdoc set me up well for life as a faculty member at a PUI. |
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Gloriana Trujillo, 2013-15Current Position, Title, & Institution Director, Academic Teaching Programs at Stanford University What are you up to now professionally? Partnering with instructors to reflect on their teaching to thoughtfully include evidence based and equitable teaching strategies in the classroom. What do you continue to use most from your time at SEPAL? Applying Scientific Teaching to all aspects of my professional life, not just the classroom. |
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Sara Brownell, 2012Current Position, Title, & Institution Professor in the School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University What are you up to now professionally? As a discipline-based education researcher, I strive to make undergraduate biology learning environments more inclusive, particularly for women, students with disabilities, religious individuals, and LGBTQ+ individuals. What do you continue to use most from your time at SEPAL? I still use the tools that I learned at SEPAL for enhancing equity in my teaching and how I run my research group. |
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Audrey Parangan-Smith, 2011-2013Current Position, Title, & Institution Co-Director, SF BUILD & Student Training Core Program Director at SF State What are you up to now professionally? I am currently working with the SF BUILD Program at SF State in partnership with UCSF with the goal to enhance diversity of the biomedical workforce. What do you continue to use most from your time at SEPAL? Effective strategies for workshop development and scientific teaching. |
