UROP Research Mentor Project Submission Portal: Submission #1302

Mentoring Philosophy Teaching and mentorship has always been a rewarding experience throughout my academic career. The cornerstone of my teaching philosophy is that fundamental biological principles must be understood and not memorized, a notion that needs to be instilled in the classroom and in the laboratory. Concepts learned in lectures, seminars and meetings need to be reinforced in small, interactive group activities that include journal clubs, round-table discussions and lab meetings. Furthermore, the process of discovery is as vital to learning science as it is to research. Students who are given the opportunity to make scientific discoveries and contributions are more motivated and engaged, and develop critical thinking skills that are invaluable in scientific research. As a teacher and mentor, I’ve facilitated student learning and discovery through an emphasis on scientific reasoning, group problem solving, and assessing scientific data. I’ve also recognized that not all students learn in the same manner. As such, I’ve utilized one-on-one, personalized approaches to scientific education, focusing on the individual strengths of students to further encourage and develop their scientific endeavors.