PPEM 440 - Environmental Microbiomes: Concepts and Analysis Tools
Offered each Spring

This course aims to:
1. Provide a variety of practical tools for the study of microbiome-related high-throughput sequencing data.
2. Ground students in the literature of a fast-moving field, while differentiating the microbiome concept from traditional microbiology.

My teaching approach will be geared at students with minimal background in computer science, but a solid background in ecology, microbiology, soil science, or a related field.  The goal is to not only teach the mechanics of existing sequence analysis tools, but through hands-on projects, learn how to learn unfamiliar computer programs.

I will provide frequent opportunities for student feedback, and plan to evolve my approach to teaching over time.  I am committed to enhancing the diversity of people and viewpoints in research, and am happy to meet with students about their future career goals, and provide any advice I can on how to get there.  
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Look how much fun everyone is having!


​PPATH 840 - Major Writing Projects: Start to Finish
Offered each Spring


​In this course, students pursue a major writing project (e.g. thesis proposal; manuscript) from start to finish. The course is focused on clarity of communication as opposed to grammatical skills.

The course incorporates numerous exercises, a rigorous writing schedule, and extensive peer review.  I am a writing coach as opposed to a judge. Our goal is to improve the quality of student projects, with the understanding that students enter graduate school with vastly different writing abilities and experiences.