Teaching

Training the next generation of ecologists through integrative and data-driven learning

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Our goal is to emphasizes the integration of ecological theory, field-based research, and modern analytical approaches to understand how natural systems respond to environmental change. Across courses, students engage with primary literature, ecological data, and real-world case studies, with a focus on developing critical thinking, quantitative skills, and scientific communication.

 

Penn State

Ecology (BIOL 463): A core upper-level course exploring how organisms interact with each other and their environment across individual, population, and community scales. Emphasis is placed on linking ecological theory to contemporary challenges in biodiversity conservation and global change.

 

Microbial Macroecology: Methods and Applications (BIOL 564):
A graduate-level course examining the large-scale patterns and processes shaping host-associated microbial communities. Students gain hands-on experience with data mining, modern computational tools, statistical analyses, and bioinformatics to study ecological aspects of host-microbiome interactions through a macroecological, spatial lens. 

 

Population and Communities – Ecology & Evolution (BIOL 230W):
A large-enrollment, undergraduate course focused on ecology and evolutionary biology. Students become familiar with basic concepts and recent theoretical advancements in the field.

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University of Alabama

Disease Ecology (BSC 497-9 / 695-9): An advanced course exploring the ecological and evolutionary dynamics of infectious diseases in wildlife and human systems, with a focus on host–pathogen interactions and environmental drivers of disease emergence.

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Microbiomes in Health & Disease (BSC 497-7 / 695-7): A lab-oriented course examining the role of microbiomes in host health, disease resistance, and ecological interactions, integrating concepts from microbiology, ecology, and evolution. Students design a class experiment, and the course covers experimental design, sampling, library preparation, bioinformatics, and data analysis.

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Introductory Biology (BSC 110): An introductory course covering fundamental concepts in biology, including organismal diversity, ecology, and evolution, designed to build a strong foundation in biological sciences.

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The main goal is to create an inclusive and engaging learning environment that prepares students to think critically about complex ecological challenges and contribute to solutions in a rapidly changing world.

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