Join us for an immersive experience in innovative teaching in the College of Natural Sciences! During Teaching Discovery Days, faculty members have the unique opportunity to observe classroom instruction led by past Teaching Excellence Award winners and other distinguished professors. These sessions showcase diverse teaching styles and pedagogical approaches, offering fresh perspectives on student engagement. After the observations, participants will come together in round table discussions to reflect on the lessons and share insights.

This redesigned general chemistry lab is a foundational first-semester course for all pre-medical and Natural Sciences students. Students alternate between dry and wet labs, with dry labs emphasizing scientific thinking, skill-building, and teamwork in fixed pods of four. Led by a TA and learning assistants, the class blends flipped-classroom videos with collaborative activities, often culminating in groups preparing to co-author their first scientific paper.

Paola Sotelo coordinates the General Chemistry Labs at UT Austin. Each semester she works with thousands of students as they begin their journey in chemistry, helping them build confidence in lab skills and discover how science connects to their future goals. When she is not in the lab, Paola loves exploring Austin and spending time with her family.

This freshman honors course is the first in a two-course sequence, open to CNS Honors students or those with AP Biology credit. While the semester typically focuses on genetics, the class session visitors will observe covers cell communication. The flipped format includes pre-class readings and videos, with lecture time devoted to interactive activities, polling questions, and even a short film.

Dr. Jen Moon is a Professor of Instruction in BIO and MBS. She has a PhD in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology from Indiana University. Jen regularly teaches Genetics and has received several teaching awards such as the Regents Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award, the President's Associates Teaching Excellence Award, and the College of Natural Science Teaching Excellence Award. Recently, she was inducted into the UT System Academy of Distinguished Teachers.

This upper-division course enrolls about 70 Computer Science majors and focuses on the math behind a specific machine learning algorithm. The instructor emphasizes approachable, intuitive explanations with real-world examples and step-by-step breakdowns. Observers will see an interactive lecture paired with in-class practice questions. 

Dr. Angie Beasley is an Associate Professor of Instruction in the Computer Science department at The University of Texas at Austin, where she teaches machine learning. Angie is passionate about getting others interested in and excited about computer science and believes that in today's digital world every student should be required to take at least one computer science class. Angie enjoys demystifying complex topics like machine learning and discussing the social impacts, both good and bad, of the increasing use of this technology.

NSC 109: CNS Foundations, Prof. Elizabeth Ilardi
PAI 5.41, 11:00-12:00 pm

CNS Foundations is a first-semester seminar serving more than 1,100 students across 50+ sections tailored to students’ intended majors. Visitors will first hear a brief overview of the course before observing a 25-student seminar led by an undergraduate course assistant. The class helps students connect with the college, build community, explore career paths, and begin shaping their identities as STEM professionals.

Dr. Elizabeth Ilardi is an Associate Professor of Practice and Associate Director of the Freshman Research Initiative at The University of Texas at Austin. She leads the Bioactive Molecules Research Stream, a year-long course focused on organic chemistry and small-molecule synthesis related to drug discovery. She also manages the CNS Foundations first-year seminar, piloted in Fall 2024, which supports first-year CNS students. Since 2015, Elizabeth has been passionate about finding innovative ways to provide hands-on research experiences and foster collaborative learning environments that empower undergraduates.

This large introductory course serves non-majors from across the university. Visitors will observe an interactive lecture where short bursts of instruction are interspersed with activities like discussions, Slido polls, and demonstrations. These strategies help students engage with and better understand complex astronomical topics.

Danielle A. Berg is an Assistant Professor of Astronomy. Her research focuses on the chemical enrichment and physical conditions of galaxies across cosmic time, with an emphasis on ultraviolet, optical, and infrared emission. She uses powerful telescopes like NASA's Hubble and James Webb to explore the stars, gas, and chemical elements that shape galaxies, from our cosmic neighborhood to the early universe. Prof. Berg is also active in advancing future missions such as NASA's UVEX and Habitable Worlds Observatory, and is passionate about fostering collaborative research environments and teaching and mentoring the next generation of scientists.

In this lab, more than 55 undergraduates—primarily Bio, Neuro, and Biochem majors—conduct independent, aptamer-based research projects. Class sessions begin with community-building and a brief concept huddle before students collaborate, troubleshoot, and make discoveries together. The lively, supportive environment shows that meaningful research is achievable even for freshmen and sophomores.

Gwendolyn Stovall, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Practice in the Freshman Research Initiative at The University of Texas at Austin, where she leads the Aptamer Stream and directs the NIH-funded High School Research Initiative. A biochemist and RNA aptamer researcher, her scholarship advances reproducibility and transparency in aptamer discovery, including the creation of the widely used UTexas Aptamer Database. Equally dedicated to education, she designs authentic research experiences that empower undergraduates and high school students across Texas. Recognized with the Jean Holloway Award for Teaching Excellence, she is committed to mentoring the next generation of scientists.

This medium-sized course of 107 students is primarily for graduating seniors, most of whom are not chemistry majors but take it as a requirement. Visitors will observe an interactive lecture format with instruction interspersed with activities like polling. The class emphasizes applying fundamental chemical principles and quantitative reasoning to real-world analytical problems.

Devleena Samanta is an Assistant Professor of Chemistry, an Associate Member of the Livestrong Cancer Institutes, and a member of the Texas Materials Institute at The University of Texas at Austin. Her research focuses on developing nanoscale tools to sense and program biocatalysis, with applications in medicine and sustainability. She has received numerous prestigious awards, including the Packard Fellowship, a Scialog Fellowship, and two teaching awards at UT Austin. Devleena earned her Ph.D. in Chemistry from Stanford University under Richard Zare and completed postdoctoral training with Chad Mirkin at Northwestern University as a fellow of the International Institute for Nanotechnology.

This small, upper-division course serves Math: Option 1 – Actuarial Science majors as an advanced actuarial class. Visitors will observe a structured lecture format. Students engage with the material through multiple methods and interactive opportunities.

Professor Alisa Walch is the Actuarial Program Assistant Director in the Math Department and was recently promoted to Professor of Instruction. In 2024, she was a recipient of the CNS Stanley J. Roux, Jr. Excellence in Experiential Teaching award. She has brought experiential learning to students in the actuarial program through case competitions every semester that are created by professional actuaries. Alisa also created an Actuarial Case Studies course that is taught in the spring.

This small class of 15 students represents one section of a biochemistry research course. At this stage, students are working on projects that include protein expression and purification, PCR gene cloning, and computer-based molecular docking for drug discovery. Visitors may also see a student presentation or worksheet activity related to infectious disease research.

Dr. Beckham is head of the Virtual Cures (a.k.a. Virtual Drug Screening - VDS) stream of the Freshman Research Initiative. He leads students in infectious disease drug discovery projects using both computational and wet lab techniques.

This large introductory course draws students from a wide range of majors, including RTF, education, communication, government, history, and theater and dance. It is taught by Dr. Austin with support from two trained undergraduate course assistants. Visitors will observe an interactive lecture combined with a hands-on exploration of the Möbius band.

Currently Dr. Austin is teaching M 398T Supervised Teaching (for first-year graduate students), M 302 Introduction to Mathematics (for non-STEM majors), M 175T Being You in Mathematics (for undergraduate mathematics majors), and a one-hour applied topology conference course. Dr. Austin aims for M 302 students to gain an appreciation of mathematics as a process of thinking relevant in their daily lives, overcome math anxiety, appreciate the creativity and beauty in advanced mathematics, and gain effective thinking strategies which they can use in their daily lives. She guides students through interactive, hands-on, in-class activities that lead them to discover mathematical concepts for themselves.

This large introductory course of 130 students enrolls mostly pre-med, non-physics majors from across CNS. Visitors will observe a lecture that incorporates interactive elements such as in-class quizzes and demonstrations. Each class begins with a non-physics quiz to spark discussion and peer interaction before moving into course content.

Christina Markert joined the physics faculty at the University of Texas in 2006. Dr. Markert graduated from Frankfurt University, Germany in 2001, using data obtained with the NA49 heavy ion experiment at the CERN particle Accelerator and was as a postdoctoral research fellow at Yale University before she became a senior research scientist at Kent State University. Dr.Markert's research focuses on the properties of nuclear matter at high densities and temperatures. A new state of matter, a deconfined plasma of quarks and gluons should have existed shortly after the Big Bang. Besides research Christina loves teaching and mentoring students. Christina fosters Growth Mindset and Belonging in her classroom to enhance students' learning experiences.

This small class of about 15 students prepares future middle and high school teachers for secondary mathematics instruction. The course emphasizes exploring math topics in greater depth to strengthen their teaching preparation. During the observation, the class will focus on periodic functions and trigonometry.

Pamela, a proud UT graduate, has dedicated her career to teaching and mentoring since 1988. She has taught mathematics at both the high school and middle school levels with Austin ISD and served as adjunct faculty at Austin Community College. At UT Austin, she coordinated the Math/Science Lab (now the Sanger Learning Center), where she taught calculus and GRE review classes, and supervised teaching assistants. She served as an advisor in the College of Engineering. Currently, she is Associate Director of the UTeach Natural Sciences Program and a mathematics instructor. From 2003-2020, she also coordinated the UTeach France Exchange Program, supporting international teacher development.

Discover ongoing education projects and classroom innovations led by your CNS colleagues. This come-and-go session will showcase highlights and updates from the Pathways Grants program, offering informal discussions and a chance to mix and mingle with fellow faculty. Enjoy late afternoon snacks while connecting with new ideas in teaching and learning.

This 37-seat upper-division course is an elective for Nutrition majors and students pursuing the Food & Society Certificate. Visitors will observe a mix of student group presentations and lecture that expands on key points. The class also highlights strategies for building rapport, boosting engagement, and facilitating small group work.

Michele Hockett Cooper has been at UT-Austin since 2016 and has been recognized for her innovative and engaging teaching through awards such as the Tower Award for Outstanding Service-Learning Instructor, the Eyes of Texas Teaching Excellence Award, and the CNS Teaching Excellence Award. With a background in social science and agriculture, Michele teaches courses on food systems, community nutrition, and global food policies. Her web-based class, Fundamentals of Nutrition, has cohorts of 2,100+ students every semester. Michele is also the Faculty Advisor for the Peace Corps Prep and Food and Society Certificates, and she directs the EdEN Intern Program.

This small, interactive class includes both upper-level undergraduates and first-year graduate students. Visitors will observe a mix of in-class problem solving, lectures, and discussion. The class uses homework and discussion to guide students toward higher-level concepts and the physical intuitions behind the mathematics.

Doran Raccah earned his Ph. D. from the University of California at Berkeley in 2013. After a two-year adventure at the Dow Chemical Company, he took a post-doctoral fellowship at Harvard University with Prof. Alán Aspuru-Guzik. He was an assistant professor of chemistry at Southern Methodist University in Dallas from 2019-2023. He joined the Department of Chemistry at The University of Texas at Austin in 2023. Doran leads the MesoScience Lab where members work on developing new algorithms for scalable quantum dynamics simulations.

This large lecture course enrolls about 70 juniors and seniors, with roughly 60% preparing for healthcare careers. The class emphasizes interaction through frequent questions, volunteer participation, and Instapoll questions every 15–20 minutes. On the observation day, attendance will be high due to a quiz in the final 15 minutes of class.

Eric was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, and realized his dream of attending The University of Texas at Austin, where he earned a BA in Biology. He worked as a research technician at UTHSCSA, co-authoring papers and discovering a passion for scientific research that led him to a PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology at UTSA. After a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania, Eric found his love for teaching and spent ten years at Suffolk University in Boston instructing courses from genetics to cancer biology. He and his family eventually returned to Texas, thrilled to continue his faculty career at his alma mater. 

This session is a demonstration of an active learning tool for biochemistry. Instead of a class observation, attendees will preview a card sorting activity that is being developed to teach metabolism. After testing the activity, attendees will provide feedback and discuss design ideas for their own active learning tools.

Kristen Procko is an Associate Professor of Instruction in the Department of Molecular Biosciences and Faculty Director for Innovative Scholarship in the Office of STEM Education Excellence. She has led curriculum development initiatives, including the redesign and evaluation of the biochemistry degree plan. She directs an NSF-funded community of practice to advance biomolecular visualization instruction, and developed a repository of validated visual assessments for classroom use. Her current research focuses on studying the effectiveness of virtual reality as a tool for teaching biochemistry.

This is the first course in the CS major for freshmen, with students ranging from no prior experience to 12 years of coding. Lectures are driven by questions and curiosity, featuring code demos, experiments, and group hands-on practice. The class emphasizes active learning, conceptual scaffolding, and community building.

Carol Ramsey is an Assistant Professor of Instruction in UT Computer Science. Her goal is to design and implement computer science classroom experiences that improve student performance and CS identity. She received both her M.Ed. in STEM Education and her B.A. in Computer Science from The University of Texas. She has twenty years experience as a software developer and program manager, primarily with enterprise-level, integrated Java applications. She has taught computer science in industry, Junior Colleges and in K12. 

This redesigned general chemistry lab is a foundational first-semester course for all pre-medical and Natural Sciences students. Students alternate between dry and wet labs, with dry labs emphasizing scientific thinking, skill-building, and teamwork in fixed pods of four. Led by a TA and learning assistants, the class blends flipped-classroom videos with collaborative activities, often culminating in groups preparing to co-author their first scientific paper.

Paola Sotelo coordinates the General Chemistry Labs at UT Austin. Each semester she works with thousands of students as they begin their journey in chemistry, helping them build confidence in lab skills and discover how science connects to their future goals. When she is not in the lab, Paola loves exploring Austin and spending time with her family.

This course is designed for talented first-year Turing Scholars honors students. The class emphasizes critical thinking and questioning, fostering active student participation. Visitors will see about 50 students engaged in an interactive lecture and discussion.

Calvin Lin is a University Distinguished Teaching Professor of Computer Science at The University of Texas at Austin. His research interests are in compilers, security, and computer architecture. He is also the Director of the department's Turing Scholars Honors Program and has led UT's NSF-funded effort to improve high school CS curricula. When he is not working, he can be found coaching the UT men's ultimate frisbee team.

This upper-division elective of 35–40 students introduces the fundamentals of licensing and its role in brand strategy. Co-taught with Craig Westemeier, Sr. Associate Athletic Director for Business Development, the course explores intellectual property, business models, and product development through applied learning activities like group work and case studies. Visitors will see students engaging in active, real-world projects centered on the Texas Longhorn brand in partnership with the Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC).

Deborah Sztejnberg, Ed.D., is a professor at The University of Texas at Austin with over 15 years of experience in the fashion industry, including work with Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, and Oscar de la Renta. She serves as Director of the TXA Internship Program and created the TXA Industry Leadership Board to strengthen connections between academia and industry. Deborah teaches courses in Strategic Brand Management, Sewn Product Analysis & Manufacturing, and Career Management for all UT students. Her research and teaching focus on career development, ethical leadership, and preparing students to thrive in an evolving global fashion landscape.

Co-hosted by STEMx and UTeach, this special Learning Lunch will feature a conversation with Dean David Vanden Bout on the education priorities of the College of Natural Sciences. Lunch will be provided, and seating is limited—please RSVP using the button below to reserve your spot!

This upper-division elective enrolls about 60 CS majors and focuses on applying knowledge from prior coursework to iPhone app development. Lectures mix brief concept overviews with live programming demos that show how to implement ideas in practice. Attendance is mandatory, with a clever and fun system used to track it.

Dr. William Bulko is an Associate Professor of Instruction in the Department of Computer Science. His primary responsibility is to teach classes in mobile computing and iOS development (i.e., writing apps for the iPhone platform). His interests include AI, Programming Languages, Pervasive Computing, and Computer Science Education. He has a B.S. in Mathematics from UT El Paso, and a Master's and Ph.D. in Computer Science from UT Austin. Before arriving to teach at UT, he spent 24 years with IBM, and has multiple patents and publications.

This large course of about 200 students is a required gateway for all neuroscience majors. It combines traditional lecture with active learning strategies like discussion and sharing. The course emphasizes student engagement, encouraging participation and questions in a challenging but supportive environment.

Michael Mauk is a Professor in the Department of Neuroscience and a member of the Center for Learning and Memory. He received his PhD in 1985 from Stanford University. After postdoctoral training at Stanford Medical School, he joined the faculty of the University of Texas Medical School at Houston in 1988. In 2007 he joined the Department of Neuroscience at UT-Austin. He was the chair of the Neuroscience Department from 2016 through 2021. Dr. Mauk is known for combining experiments and computer simulations to study the cerebellum and motor learning.  

This upper-division lab course for Neuroscience majors enrolls 15 students who work in groups of three on brain slice electrophysiology experiments. It is a research-based class where students collect data throughout the semester and present it in manuscript-style reports. Using a mouse model of SETBP1 haploinsufficiency, students conduct experiments while blinded to genotypes, then unblind at the end to compile and present their findings.

Dr. Jessica Chancey earned her B.S. and M.S. in Biology from Southeastern Louisiana University and her Ph.D. in Neurobiology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism before joining UT Austin as a Research Associate in the Howard Lab. Her research career has centered on electrophysiology, spanning ion channel biophysics, single neurons and synapses, and in vivo physiology during behavior. In 2023, she became an Assistant Professor of Instruction. She now teaches Neural Systems I (NEU 330), the first required course for Neuroscience majors, as well as the advanced neurophysiology lab (NEU 365L), where undergraduates record electrical signals in neurons using whole-cell electrophysiology.

This small, discussion-based seminar is part of the Pre-Health Professions Certificate and primarily serves first- and second-year students. The class focuses on career planning and exploration. During the observed session, students will discuss common dysfunctional beliefs about career paths and explore alternative options.

Jessica has spent the last 20+ years working with undergraduate science students at the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Pittsburgh as both a lecturer and academic advisor. Currently at UT-Austin, she is focused on combining her experiences with teaching, academic advising, and career coaching to develop and run three new professional development seminars aimed at supporting undergraduate students on the path to their future career.

PHY 315 is the third course in the introductory physics sequence, enrolling about 100 students, primarily physics, astronomy, and math majors. Lectures feature instructor presentations, demonstrations, and interactive Instapoll questions. These activities encourage students to work together and engage with the material.

Can Kilic was born in Turkey and earned his B.S. in Physics from Bogazici University in 2000 before completing his Ph.D. at Harvard University in 2006 under Nima Arkani-Hamed. He then held postdoctoral positions at Johns Hopkins University and Rutgers University. In 2011, he joined the faculty at The University of Texas at Austin, where he was promoted to associate professor with tenure in 2017 and to professor in 2024. A member of the Theory Group at the Weinberg Institute for Theoretical Physics, his research focuses on extensions of the Standard Model. His work spans model-building, collider physics, particle astrophysics, and early universe cosmology.

In this lab section, approximately 24 students—mostly sophomores from various departments—participate, many with aspirations for graduate or medical school. The Lab TA begins with a slide presentation introducing key concepts. Students then work in small groups to record soil bacterial growth on Blood Agar and explore prepared slides through microscopy. Throughout the activities, the TA circulates to provide feedback and guidance.

Marty Maas is an Assistant Professor of Instruction in the Biology Instructional Office (BIO). For over ten years, she has taught the large Introductory Biology Lab that servers over 700 students each semester. In Fall 2023, Dr. Maas implemented a redesigned curriculum that focuses on soil microbiome research. The course is now structured so that students have freedom to design and manage their own research projects, but still complete their research within one semester. Marty also serves as the BSA in Biology Faculty Advisor and a CNS Expert Teaching Assessment Program fellow. Dr. Maas earned her Ph.D. in Biology from UT Austin, and her research focused on a native grass and its community interactions.

Join us for the Teaching Discovery Days Reception, celebrating innovative teaching in the College of Natural Sciences. The first hour features hors d'oeuvres, drinks, and opportunities to network with faculty, staff, and attendees. In the second hour, we will honor the 2024 Teaching Excellence Award Winners during a formal ceremony and dinner. This business casual event is a great chance to connect with the CNS teaching community and celebrate excellence in education.