Karen Atwood

Assistant Instructor @University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee

Sarasota, FL, US

Scientific Course Instruction: Teach and develop a variety of courses for science majors as well as non-majors. Courses include Cellular Processes Laboratory, Biological Diversity Laboratory, Genetics Laboratory, Honors Thesis, and Principles of Biology for Non-Majors. Create engaging learning environments, develop specialized learning materials, and assess student performance through various evaluation methods. Regularly review new research articles to assess the necessity of updating laboratory courses. Teach authored courses, including Marine and Freshwater Toxins; Island Ecology and Biology: USFSM Fieldwork, Service, and Cultural Immersion in the Galapagos Islands; Independent Study: Impacts of Harmful Algae; and Advanced Undergraduate Research: Harmful Algal Bloom Internship. Lab & Class Management: Ensure students utilize lab resources safely and efficiently and avoid unnecessary waste. Manage chemical and lab supplies with a daily budget ranging from $100–$2.5K and oversee lab equipment valued up to $100K. Supervise between 50 to 125 students per semester. Reduce costs and environmental impact by using digital platforms in lieu of textbooks. Assess assignments, lab reports, and presentations within online platforms, providing virtual access for students. Selected Accomplishments & Key Results: Flipped classrooms and created a specialized curriculum for all classes that introduced facets of the Learning Assistant Program and encouraged a more active learning style. Organized a study abroad program to the Galapagos Islands that offered students a diverse and enriched curriculum that included fieldwork as well as service and cultural components, emphasizing critical thinking and reflection. Established an internship program with the FWRI HAB Group, enabling students to gain valuable laboratory experience.