Experience Summary
Soon after graduating the Vet Med Faculty and obtaining my DVM diploma, I started a career in university teaching at the same faculty, in the Department of Genetics. Between 1991 and 2002, I held a Teaching Assistant, Instructor, and then Assistant Professor position. I assisted and instructed undergraduate and graduate students in classroom and laboratory settings, revised curriculum and graduation requirements for the students, and created materials for lectures, seminars and final exams in Genetics. Also, I conducted and participated in interdisciplinary research projects and managed a laboratory for the diagnosis of genetic diseases in animals. Beginning July 2002, I worked in molecular genetics research at Iowa State University, and then for the past 4 years, in cell and molecular biology research at University of Iowa. During all this time I have tutored students in genetics, biology, and biochemistry.
Teaching Style
As a scientist, I have the unique opportunity to present science as a living discipline. It is my belief that my experience in designing experiments, interpreting results, writing papers and applying for grants can enrich the understanding and appreciation of science for a biology or chemistry student. It makes a great difference to be able to teach science as a process instead of a simple collection of facts. Also, my veterinary medicine education background allows me to present a unified view of the world, by being able to explain the connections between concepts as ecology, evolution, physiology, and cell and molecular biology. Lots of anecdotes from past career experiences of mine and of former research colleagues I can use for making a point to my students, and they really love that!