What does GB's teaching look like?

AI curated word cloud from GB's course evaluations.

BNFO 301 (Introduction to Bioinformatics)

This semester Dr Bret Boyd and I are coteaching 301. This is a course with a different flavor than 201. The content is more bioinformatics algorithms and solving the logic of these algorithms using python. A bit challenging for students but is a good introduction to a complex field.

BNFO 420 (Applications in Bioinformatics)

This is a capstone course for students to work in groups and identify a gap in the research of cardiometabolic health related papers which use big datasets and or bioinformatics methods. The goal is the create something new using coding skills, which is beyond understanding, analyzing, interpreting and evaluating. The bar is very high but the end result is equally rewarding. The groups will publish their findings as a website on Github.

BNFO 201 (Intro Python)

I taught one section BNFO 201 at VCU School of Life Sciences and Sustainability (SLSS) in Fall 2025. This is a course where an introduction to computation in bioinformatics, including basics of data representation, and computer organization, as well as programming in Python is given. Bioinformatics applications in the literature were also discussed.

BNFO 411 (Bioethics)

I am teaching BNFO 411 (Ethical Issues in Life Sciences) at VCU School of Life Sciences and Sustainability (SLSS) as well. This course introduces fundamentals in ethical conduct with a focus on interdisciplinary application to the life sciences, and attention paid to the design, collection, analysis, and dissemination of bioinformatic datasets.

BIOL 310-Molecular Cell Biology

I taught two sections of the Molecular Cell Biology (BIOL310). The sections met on MWF for 50 minute lectures.

We used Lodish et al 2021, 9th edition as our text book.

This was an intense class but we are tried to use small group games and in class activities to make learning easier. Check out the "Photos and Fun" tab to see how it looks :)

BIOL-404 Cell Biology Labs

I really enjoyed teaching the BIOL 404 Cell Biology labs. This was an advanced level lab course, introducing commonly used Molecular Biology methods. The initial part focused on DNA related experiments, the later part focused on proteins and we used the pGLO-GFP system as a model.

BIOL 460-Diseases and Cures of 2020s

I also taught the COLL 400: BIOL 460 course: Diseases and Cures of the 2020s.

This was a friendly journal club type discussion course. We had each student present a topic of their choice, among a list of possible topics. Each student led a journal club discussion in one class and also provided a summary of relevant scientific literature in another class.

Since this was a COLL 400 class, there was also a writing requirement which was the natural outcome of our semester long research efforts in trying to understand a disease or cure. The goal was to gain experience in reading, synthesizing and expressing our understanding of complex biomedical literature.

We enjoyed sharing our knowledge and experiences related to the subjects in the course 🤗