Teaching Faculty #86

My teaching philosophy centers on an active learning approach as I engage my students in critical thinking, problem-solving, scientific communication and experiential learning. These learning outcomes appear to be fundamental to transformative education. I believe that an effective teacher provides a catalyst for students’ learning by being passionate and enthusiastic for teaching and learning. I strive to stimulate my students’ intellectual growth and higher learning by focusing on student-centered and research-based teaching and learning methods. I have introduced new methods and tools for student assessment. For example, I have developed and introduced a student assessment method using short presentations based on Three Minute Thesis (3MT®).

My research interests include: the physiology and biochemistry of cytokinin and abscisic acid; nitrogen recycling in phenylpropanoid metabolism; and developmental and environmental regulation of photosynthesis and transpiration. I am of the view that an effective laboratory is investigative and requires students to actively develop their own hypothesis and research questions. This approach focuses on promoting the process of experiential learning with an emphasis on students working as scientists in the laboratory.