We work in two areas. The first is traditional cell and molecular biology, focussed on the molecular and cellular behavior of complex macromolecular systems, studied in the context of the developing Xenopus embryo. We are currently exploring the use of ultra-high resolution expansion microscopy to examine processes ranging from muscle formation, ciliogenesis, desmosome assembly and disassembly, and synapse formation. My other area of effort is in how to design, assess, and effectively teach students to understand, appreciate, and make use of chemistry (CLUE) and core biology (biofundamentals). These works, carried out in collaboration with Melanie Cooper at Michigan State, have led to multiple free (open educational resources or OERs) and demonstrated and dramatic improvements in student learning and success. As part of this project we employ the beSocratic web-based formative assessment system to evaluated and encourage student learning.
keywords
cell and molecular biology of early embryonic development, mesoderm formation, neural crest induction; organ formation; course and curricular design, the evaluation and improvement of biology education
