Teaching

As a TA in this course, I had the opportunity to mentor students and nurture scientific excellence. Overall lessons I hoped to impart to students included lab safety, scientific integrity, and results transparency.

I equipped students with fundamental lab techniques like pipetting, and then built upon those basic skills to accomplish complex tasks like plaque assays and PCR detection of pathogens in environmental water samples. I prepared all lab materials, taught introductory lab sessions, and guided students through the experiments. 

Beyond my quarterly responsibilities as a TA, I took steps to improve the continuity and long-term sustainability of the course. To do this, I crafted an extensive protocol for future TAs. This protocol encompassed not only the practical aspects of laboratory management, but also established equity through the development of fair grading rubrics. Additionally, I created and organized the lab supply inventory, streamlining operations for future TAs.

TA Effectiveness Review Score: 4.88/5.00

Key Remarks: Knowledgeable, Approachable, Patient

"Claire was absolutely pivotal in supporting my development as an environmental microbiology communicator, across disciplines such as math/biology when writing reports and presenting figures. Claire was vital to my growth during this course's period." - CEE 274P Student