Karobi Moitra, PhD CBL Professor of Molecular Biology Assistant Professor (Tenure-track) Department of Biology Trinity Washington University Washington DC 20017

I Teach What’s your Super power?

Trinity Washington University: DC’s Best Kept Secret

Trinity Washington University

Catholic University

CAS - Traditional Women’s College

How did I get to Trinity?

Fall 2012

1999

2003

2008

8098 miles and 13 years later…. I reached Trinity

Trinity Washington University: DC’s Best Kept Secret

Trinity Washington University

Catholic University

CAS - Traditional Women’s College

Unique demographic

Teaching experience…..

Developing a Teaching Portfolio

•  Teaching philosophy statement •  Teaching strategies •  Teaching evaluations •  Teaching interests •  Courses taught •  Certifications •  Teaching Excellence Awards •  Websites and links Slideshare, You tube etc.

•  Introduced myself •  Talked about a model syllabus •  Handed out the syllabus •  Talked about a text book •  Handed out the book •  Talked about my teaching strategies •  Teaching demo

My teaching demo……….

Teaching, Research, Service and Collegiality

Research

•  Start-up funding from the Henry Luce Foundation •  Lab space •  Funding to employ students •  Collaboration with PXE International •  Collaboration with the NCI

Clare Boothe Luce Assistant Professor

•  Organized a workshop on genome annotation •  Plan to incorporate microbial genome annotation into undergraduate research projects and the undergraduate genetics curriculum

BIOL 103 Critical Thinking About Disease BIOL 241 Introductory Genetics BIOL 241 Introductory Genetics Lab BIOL 341 Cell and Molecular Biology BIOL 341 Cell and Mol Biology Lab BIOL 451 Evolution 6 courses/ yr ~ 150 classes/ yr Lectures- 1hr 15mins, Labs 3hrs

Exempted for the first year 6-7 students / yr

Teaching

BIOL 451: Evolution students presenting their projects

BIOL 451: Evolution students presenting their projects

Teaching Strategies in the Sciences The Ancient Art of

Story-Telling

MULTIMEDIA LEARNING

• PPT PRESENTTIONS • DESIGNING A

WEBSITE

PAPER CRITIQUE

WRITING • TERM PAPER

• CASE STUDIES • EXAMS

• QUIZZES

FUN GENETICS JEOPARDY

LECTURES

STORY-TELLING

FUN MOVIES

MULTIMEDIA TEACHING

• YOU TUBE VIDEOS • DVD’S

INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES

USED IN BIOL 241

PBL

GROUP PROBLEM SOLVING

CASE STUDIES DISCUSSION

LECTURES

STORY-TELLING

The Monk who liked to garden: Introduction to Mendel’s laws of Inheritance. The students will be introduced to Mendel’s Laws and their application in genetics. The Search for the Holy Grail: Photo 51 and the double helix I. The engaging story of the race to the discovery of DNA structure. In this module the students will learn: The principles of X-ray crystallography, structure and function of DNA, and the scientists involved in elucidating DNA structure. Students will also be introduced to the flow of genetic information (the central dogma of molecular biology). Tears of the Cheetah: A story of genetic diversity. The students will follow the exciting journey of scientists into Africa to understand why the cheetahs are an endangered species and which facet of their genetic make-up led them to this untimely fate. DNA detectives: A whale of a tale. The students become detectives as they follow the story of scientists tracking down the illegal hunting of whales in Japan using modern molecular biology techniques. In this module students will learn about the biology of whales, PCR technology and DNA sequencing .

The Lion Plague: Students will be introduced to the genetics of retroviruses, HIV/FIV, evolutionary patterns in FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus), viral interference, CDV(canine distemper virus) and detection of viral infection with PCR technology. The Panda Roots The phylogenic origin of the Panda will be covered in this class. The students will learn the basics of phylogenetic tree building and molecular evolutionary approaches for solving phylogenetic histories. The Way We Were Students will be introduced to the human genome project, SNP’s, genome mapping and its benefits for society. Genetic Guardians The students will learn the genetics and epidemiology of the AIDS virus and how measuring genotype frequency & allele frequencies in patients can uncover genes/mutations associated with disease/ disease resistance (in this case CCR5-delta32 mutation mediating HIV resistance) . A Silver Bullet The students will learn the genetic basis of metabolic disease and the concepts of gene therapy.

The PXE story Continuing on the theme of metabolic disease the students will be introduced to the genetic/metabolic disease Pseudoxanthoma elasticum and will learn how to experimentally design a genetic study and the successes and pitfalls associated with scientific research. The Story of Us This class will acquaint the students with the epic journey of the human race as we set out to answer long-standing questions of where humans came from, how we migrated and when we arrived in such places as Europe and North America. We will trace the migration of human beings from our earliest homes in Africa to the farthest reaches of the globe and in doing so will discover that what makes us different from each other is mostly cultural and less genet ic .

Biology 241: Introductory Genetics Syllabus

successful Storytellers will tell

you…

It’s not always about what you say:

It’s how you say it

Where do You start?

Information overload!

Look for your story

The story of us: the incredible journey of man

I read the entire book and condensed it into a 45 min lecture

Step 1: Build the framework for your story

Like this:

Step2: Add your Content

And you have the perfect storyline…….

Storytelling in the sciences 101:

Deconstructing the storytelling

process

1. Find your story, frame your concept

& engage the audience 2. Add an element of

mystery

3. Let the students solve the mystery

4. Incorporate audio-visual

content

5. Emphasize that people are as important

As their science

7. Make opportunities for discussion

8. Have a strong take-home message

9. Apply the concepts in the form of

activities

10. Have fun!

6. Integrate scientific content

Contact information: Karobi Moitra, Ph.D Clare Boothe Luce Asst. Professor of Molecular Biology Trinity Washington University CAS, Science 203 125 Michigan Ave. NE, Washington, DC 20017 Email: MoitraK@trinitydc.edu Phone: 202-884-9225 (Office)