Faculty and Staff Directory

Introduction

I am a molecular geneticist, which means that I am interested in how DNA is duplicated, packaged, modified, read and repaired at the molecular level. I earned my Ph.D. from the University of Washington and carried out my research at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. My thesis research focused on how the process of copying DNA (something that must happen with high fidelity between every generation in every organism) is affected by enzymes that change the shape and organization of entire chromosomes.

I have been teaching biology courses at the introductory and advanced levels since graduation. I've primarily taught within the fields of genetics, molecular biology, evolution and biochemistry. Since arriving at UW Tacoma in 2011, I have worked closely with colleagues to develop our growing biology curriculum within the environmental science and studies majors.

Current Research

I am currently working with colleagues Cheryl Greengrove and Julie Masura to identify species constituting harmful algal blooms.

Teaching

• TESC 110: General Biology (a non-majors lab/lecture course surveying many disciplines in biology)
• TESC 120: Introductory Biology I (genetics, evolution, biodiversity, ecology)
• TESC 130: Introductory Biology II (biochemistry, metabolism, molecular biology)
• TESC 140: Introductory Biology III (plant and animal physiology)
• TESC 370: Genetics and Society (the science of genetics and how it impacts society)
• TESC 406: Introduction to Biochemistry II (metabolic pathways and molecular biology)
• TESC 422: Evolution (mechanisms of evolution and life history)