CLUB MISSION

I am an Associate Professor of Teaching in the Microbiology and Molecular Genetics department, an enthusiastic microbiophile (Greek for "microbe lover"), and mom to two busy teenagers. I teach Introductory Microbiology (MIC 102) each spring, the General Microbiology Laboratory (MIC 104L) in the Fall and/or Winter, and the Introductory Microbiology Laboratory (MIC 103L) as an occasional pinch hitter. My scholarly activity is focused on the development and assessment of student-centered teaching practices and the implementation of undergraduate learning assistant programs on campus. My hobbies include stand-up paddleboarding, teaching folks how to referee soccer, and reading anything and everything.

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The ASM Club has a long history of introducing the public to "cool" microbes through outreach activities, such as Picnic Day and the Marguerite Montgomery Elementary Science Fair. Another important function for the Club is to help prepare our members for their future careers. To accomplish this, we typically invite scientists from academia and industry to give talks on their cutting-edge research and share the lessons learned from their own career path. We also organize workshops on topics that will help you achieve your professional goals, such as how to write a curriculum vitae or personal statement, find a research lab, study smarter, or work in industry. If you have ideas for future club activities, particularly those that work well in a virtual setting, please share them with us!

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You can find me on Twitter: @MicrobialGurl.

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Email: memarkum@ucdavis.edu