TEACHING
Teaching Philosophy
My principle as a teacher is to create an environment in which every student feels respected and valued, so we can collectively build and foster critical and creative thinking in the classroom and beyond. In doing so, my teaching approaches involve both motivating and challenging my students while equipping them to examine cause and effect, create logical arguments, and draw conclusions from existing facts.
Teaching Experience
I have experience teaching graduate and undergraduate courses and seminars on neurocircuitry of addiction, behavioral neuroscience, research methods, neuroanatomy, neuropharmacology, among others. I have also taught chemistry, biology, and introduction to neuroscience to high school students and to the NSLC summer program.
Teaching at AU
Behavior Neuroscience (NEUR-320)
This upper-level course with laboratory examines the etiology of behavior as a product of evolution combined with the development of the central nervous system and life experiences. Specific emphasis is placed on the developmental patterns of neural systems that regulate innate behaviors and mechanisms of plasticity that underlie the expression of processes such as learning, memory, motivation, and emotions. We also discuss how dysregulation of specific brain networks can lead to addiction, affective and mood disorders. Students are introduced to cutting-edge technologies to study how the manipulation of specific neural circuits is sufficient and necessary to trigger natural behaviors such as feeding, drinking, fear, and aggression.
Behavior Neuroscience (NEUR-320)
This upper-level course with laboratory examines the etiology of behavior as a product of evolution combined with the development of the central nervous system and life experiences. Specific emphasis is placed on the developmental patterns of neural systems that regulate innate behaviors and mechanisms of plasticity that underlie the expression of processes such as learning, memory, motivation, and emotions. We also discuss how dysregulation of specific brain networks can lead to addiction, affective and mood disorders. Students are introduced to cutting-edge technologies to study how the manipulation of specific neural circuits is sufficient and necessary to trigger natural behaviors such as feeding, drinking, fear, and aggression.
Neuroanatomy (NEUR-450)
This course provides a historical perspective on advances in the field of neuroanatomy from the molecular level to behavioral endpoints. The course also introduces students to modern technologies used to map neural connections and the advantages, limitations, and ethical principles and implications of such technologies.
Neuroanatomy (NEUR-450)
This course provides a historical perspective on advances in the field of neuroanatomy from the molecular level to behavioral endpoints. The course also introduces students to modern technologies used to map neural connections and the advantages, limitations, and ethical principles and implications of such technologies.
Neuropharmacology (NEUR-450)
This course explores the use of drugs as probes to identify cellular mechanisms and neural systems for typical and abnormal behaviors and to advocate for awareness of substance use and abuse for mental health. Students are introduced to the functional organization of the nervous system and its synaptic transmitters and modulators as a basis for understanding the drug’s actions. We examine the history of drug development, the mechanisms of drug actions, and the rationale for applying specific medications to treat brain disorders. General strategies, methods, and challenges of drug discovery are also addressed.
Neuropharmacology (NEUR-450)
This course explores the use of drugs as probes to identify cellular mechanisms and neural systems for typical and abnormal behaviors and to advocate for awareness of substance use and abuse for mental health. Students are introduced to the functional organization of the nervous system and its synaptic transmitters and modulators as a basis for understanding the drug’s actions. We examine the history of drug development, the mechanisms of drug actions, and the rationale for applying specific medications to treat brain disorders. General strategies, methods, and challenges of drug discovery are also addressed.
Independent Research Studies (NEUR-390, 392, 490, 492)
Under the supervision of a faculty member, students are able to explore different research topics either through literature search and reading or working in a research lab. I supervise students interested in both ways. For students interested in developing an independent reading project, the student and I choose a specific topic within my expertise, and the student carries out a literature review of a chosen neuroscience topic throughout a semester. For those interested in conducting research, students are involved in one of the projects I run in the lab, where they have the opportunity to design and perform experiments to test their hypothesis. At the end, students practice their scientific writing by summarizing and submitting their work in paper-style format.
Independent Research Studies
(NEUR-390, 392, 490, 492)
Under the supervision of a faculty member, students are able to explore different research topics either through literature search and reading or working in a research lab. I supervise students interested in both ways. For students interested in developing an independent reading project, the student and I choose a specific topic within my expertise, and the student carries out a literature review of a chosen neuroscience topic throughout a semester. For those interested in conducting research, students are involved in one of the projects I run in the lab, where they have the opportunity to design and perform experiments to test their hypothesis. At the end, students practice their scientific writing by summarizing and submitting their work in paper-style format.
Other courses taught:
- Drugs and the brain: A view from other lenses (CORE-107)
- The neuron (NEUR-220)
- Seminar on neurocircuitry of addiction (NEUR-488)
- Seminar on neurocircuitry of depression (NEUR-688)