Teaching and Mentoring
My goals as an instructor are ultimately to inspire students to cultivate and nurture their curiosities, provide them with the skills to pursue those curiosities, and most importantly to instill in them a confidence that they are capable of making valuable contributions to science. I use evidence- based methods to incorporate active learning techniques to engage students in this daunting process with the support of their peers. Using these techniques allows my students to come away with a confidence and ownership of their ability to read and understand primary literature, formulate research questions, design independent research, and build peer learning groups.
As a woman, a mother, and a person with a disability I have become acutely aware of the systems in place within academic science which funnel out diversity. Although the axes of inequity I have faced have been significant, they have opened my eyes to the privilege that has also served me, and thus my responsibility in dismantling the systems and policies that uphold it. As such, broadening the diversity of STEM is an important goal which has shaped my approach to teaching.
As a woman, a mother, and a person with a disability I have become acutely aware of the systems in place within academic science which funnel out diversity. Although the axes of inequity I have faced have been significant, they have opened my eyes to the privilege that has also served me, and thus my responsibility in dismantling the systems and policies that uphold it. As such, broadening the diversity of STEM is an important goal which has shaped my approach to teaching.
Courses
EEB 3409: Evolution, University of Minnesota, Spring 2025- Instructor of Record
BIOL 1502: Principles of Biology II, Normandale Community College, Spring 2022 – Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow (Co-taught)
BIOL 1002: Mastering Biology, North Hennepin Community College, Fall 2020 – Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow (Co-taught)
EEB 1961: Foundations of Biology Lab I, University of Minnesota, 2019 – Graduate Teaching Assistant
EEB 4129: Mammalogy Lab, University of Minnesota, 2018 – Graduate Teaching Assistant / Guest Lecturer
EEB 3409: Evolution Lab, University of Minnesota, 2017 – Graduate Teaching Assistant / Guest Lecturer
EBIO 111: The Diversity of Life Lab, Tulane University, 2010 – Visiting Instructor
EBIO 111: The Diversity of Life Lab, Tulane University, 2010 – Graduate Teaching Assistant
BIOL 1502: Principles of Biology II, Normandale Community College, Spring 2022 – Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow (Co-taught)
BIOL 1002: Mastering Biology, North Hennepin Community College, Fall 2020 – Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow (Co-taught)
EEB 1961: Foundations of Biology Lab I, University of Minnesota, 2019 – Graduate Teaching Assistant
EEB 4129: Mammalogy Lab, University of Minnesota, 2018 – Graduate Teaching Assistant / Guest Lecturer
EEB 3409: Evolution Lab, University of Minnesota, 2017 – Graduate Teaching Assistant / Guest Lecturer
EBIO 111: The Diversity of Life Lab, Tulane University, 2010 – Visiting Instructor
EBIO 111: The Diversity of Life Lab, Tulane University, 2010 – Graduate Teaching Assistant
Current Undergraduates Mentees
Brooklyn Lennes
Brooklyn is an undergraduate researcher investigating the molecular basis of sensory evolution in cavefishes. Her project focuses on identifying convergent gene loss in genes related to eye, lateral line, and taste bud development across diverse teleost lineages. She was awarded the Pathways to Graduate School Research Program and will be completing her research in our lab as a part of that program.
Kendall Dickson
Kendall is an undergraduate researcher exploring how cavefish adapt to extreme environments through changes in genes involved in insulin signaling. Her work examines gene loss and divergence in metabolic pathways associated with insulin resistance, using over 100 fish genomes. Kendall and Brooklyn are working together to complete synteny maps for genes relevant to cave-adaptation for hundreds of species of fish.
Brooklyn is an undergraduate researcher investigating the molecular basis of sensory evolution in cavefishes. Her project focuses on identifying convergent gene loss in genes related to eye, lateral line, and taste bud development across diverse teleost lineages. She was awarded the Pathways to Graduate School Research Program and will be completing her research in our lab as a part of that program.
Kendall Dickson
Kendall is an undergraduate researcher exploring how cavefish adapt to extreme environments through changes in genes involved in insulin signaling. Her work examines gene loss and divergence in metabolic pathways associated with insulin resistance, using over 100 fish genomes. Kendall and Brooklyn are working together to complete synteny maps for genes relevant to cave-adaptation for hundreds of species of fish.
Undergraduate Mentee Alumni
Johnathan Wiese
Johnathan Wiese was an undergraduate researcher in the McGaugh Lab, where I mentored him during my postdoctoral fellowship. He contributed to our plaat1 study (Drabeck et al. 2024, Proc. R. Soc. B) as a coauthor, assisting with gene sequence analysis and evolutionary interpretation. Johnathan is now pursuing his own PhD in Ecology and Evolution at University of Chicago.
Phoebe Fu
Phoebe was an undergraduate researcher in the lab in 2020, where she investigated patterns of relative evolutionary rate (RER) convergence in genes associated with sleep phenotypes across vertebrates. Phoebe was a Macalester student, but was awarded a scholarship to do research in our lab at UMN. I mentored Phoebe through the design and analysis of large-scale comparative genomic datasets, supporting her development in evolutionary theory, R-based bioinformatics, and hypothesis-driven research.
Jennifer Holt
Jen was an honors student at UMN who completed her senior thesis in the Drabeck Lab. Her research focused on the evolution of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) venom resistance system, reconstructing the history of this trait across multiple mammalian lineages. Jen is a coauthor on our 2022 publication on venom resistance, and has since begun graduate studies at UMN to become a genetic counselor.
Dr. Freddarla Miller
Freddie has assisted with the E.coli expression of vWF proteins, activity testing, and purification of venom proteins. She developed an independent research project examining site-directed mutants on Didelphid vWF to try to better understand which amino acids are most important in conferring resistance to Botrocetin-like toxins. Freddie is now has now graduated with her PhD in protein chemistry and is working in industry science.
Johnathan Wiese was an undergraduate researcher in the McGaugh Lab, where I mentored him during my postdoctoral fellowship. He contributed to our plaat1 study (Drabeck et al. 2024, Proc. R. Soc. B) as a coauthor, assisting with gene sequence analysis and evolutionary interpretation. Johnathan is now pursuing his own PhD in Ecology and Evolution at University of Chicago.
Phoebe Fu
Phoebe was an undergraduate researcher in the lab in 2020, where she investigated patterns of relative evolutionary rate (RER) convergence in genes associated with sleep phenotypes across vertebrates. Phoebe was a Macalester student, but was awarded a scholarship to do research in our lab at UMN. I mentored Phoebe through the design and analysis of large-scale comparative genomic datasets, supporting her development in evolutionary theory, R-based bioinformatics, and hypothesis-driven research.
Jennifer Holt
Jen was an honors student at UMN who completed her senior thesis in the Drabeck Lab. Her research focused on the evolution of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) venom resistance system, reconstructing the history of this trait across multiple mammalian lineages. Jen is a coauthor on our 2022 publication on venom resistance, and has since begun graduate studies at UMN to become a genetic counselor.
Dr. Freddarla Miller
Freddie has assisted with the E.coli expression of vWF proteins, activity testing, and purification of venom proteins. She developed an independent research project examining site-directed mutants on Didelphid vWF to try to better understand which amino acids are most important in conferring resistance to Botrocetin-like toxins. Freddie is now has now graduated with her PhD in protein chemistry and is working in industry science.
Cindy Nguyen
Cindy worked as a lab technician in the summer of 2015 working on biochemistry laboratory work with the vWF project. She learned many relevant biochemistry and molecular biology laboratory techniques. Cindy hopes to continue her studies and research in bio-medical sciences and pharmacology.
Cindy worked as a lab technician in the summer of 2015 working on biochemistry laboratory work with the vWF project. She learned many relevant biochemistry and molecular biology laboratory techniques. Cindy hopes to continue her studies and research in bio-medical sciences and pharmacology.
Kayla Lohman
Kayla learned molecular techniques and sequence analyses techniques in the lab over a semester. She sequenced vWF from many species of opossum as a part of a project looking at intraspecific regional polymorphism in this gene.
Kayla learned molecular techniques and sequence analyses techniques in the lab over a semester. She sequenced vWF from many species of opossum as a part of a project looking at intraspecific regional polymorphism in this gene.
Briana O’Malley
Briana was my field technician at Tulane University, New Orleans and assisted in population genetic and toxicological research on reptiles in the wake of the Deep Water Horizon oil spill. She has since gone on to do tropical field work with birds and amphibians.
Briana was my field technician at Tulane University, New Orleans and assisted in population genetic and toxicological research on reptiles in the wake of the Deep Water Horizon oil spill. She has since gone on to do tropical field work with birds and amphibians.
Ben Mauro
Ben assisted in my master's research examining the population genetic structure of marsh grasses on the Atlantic coast. He continued work in the same lab in genetics of stream fishes in Hawaii. Ben is now pursuing a master’s in public health at Tulane University.
Ben assisted in my master's research examining the population genetic structure of marsh grasses on the Atlantic coast. He continued work in the same lab in genetics of stream fishes in Hawaii. Ben is now pursuing a master’s in public health at Tulane University.