Postdoctoral Training
A unique postdoctoral training experience for innovative educators.
As part of the cutting-edge program offerings, BIT hires postdoctoral researchers to design new courses involving the latest methodologies in biotechnology and to teach up-to-date evidence-based practices. Postdoctoral scholars also contribute to the body of higher education literature. The BIT Program has opportunities for postdoctoral teaching scholars. Information necessary to apply and learn about opportunities with the BIT Program can be found through NC State Human Resources.
BIT Postdoctoral Scholar Three-Year Training
Year 1
- Independently teach one section of a three-section molecular biology course, coordinating with other instructors.
- Earn a Reflective Educational Design Core Teaching Certification through the Office for Faculty Excellence.
- Begin development of a novel, CURE-based lab course, including planning a related SoTL research project.
Year 2
- Iterate teaching one section of a three-section molecular biology course, coordinating with other instructors.
- Co-teach existing CURE-based courses with established instructors.
- Teach your own novel, CURE-based lab course and collect data for SoTL study.
Year 3
- Continue to iterate, teaching novel and established courses.
- Mentor new postdocs.
- Analyze data and publish SoTL study, attend a related conference.
- Apply for faculty positions.
Current BIT Postdoctoral Scholars
Name | PhD Institution | Postdoc Institution | New BIT Module |
Raymond Haggerty | UNC-Chapel Hill | UNC-Chapel Hill | Quantitative Microscopy and Image Analysis |
Hayden Huggins | East Carolina University | UNC-Chapel Hill & Enfeugo Therapeutics Inc. | Mechanisms of Post-Transcriptional Regulation |
Corbin Jensen | University of Arizona | UNC-Chapel Hill | AI Applications in Biotechnology and Research |
Micaela Robson | NC State University | - | TBD |
BIT Postdoctoral Scholar Alumni
Name | PhD Institution | Prior Postdoc Institution | New BIT Module | Current Institution |
Lisa Lyford (2004 - 2005) | UNC-Chapel Hill | UNC-Chapel Hill | Mutagenesis | University of the Cumberlands – Professor |
Joanna Miller (2005 - 2008) | Northwestern University | Transzyme | RNA Interference | Drew University – Associate Teaching Professor |
Scott Witherow (2008 - 2011) | University of Miami | Duke University | Protein-Protein Interactions | University of Tampa – Associate Professor |
Heather Miller (2009 - 2012) | Duke University | – | mRNA Splicing | High Point University – Associate Professor |
Melissa Srougi (2011 - 2014) | Case-Western University | UNC-Chapel Hill | Cell Signaling | NC State University – Associate Teaching Professor |
Laura Ott (2012 - 2015) | NC State University | UNC-Chapel Hill | Immunological Tools | UNC-Chapel Hill – Assistant Teaching Professor |
Carlos Goller (2012 - 2015) | Emory University | Duke University | Metagenomics, Yeast Metabolic Engineering, High Throughput Discovery | NC State University – Teaching Professor |
Thomas Lentz (2014 - 2017) | UW-Madison | UNC-Chapel Hill | Virus Biotechnology | Promega Corporation – Senior Research Scientist |
Christina Garcia (2015 - 2018) | Vanderbilt University | Baylor University | Epigenetics | Centre College – Associate Professor |
Stefanie Chen (2016 - 2019) | Duke University | UW-Madison | Protein Interaction | NC State University – Associate Teaching Professor |
Eric Lazear (2017 - 2019) | University of Pennsylvania | Washington University | Protein Engineering | Founder of Lilevate Scientific |
Lihua Ye (2018) | Indiana University | Duke University | – | The Ohio State University – Assistant Professor |
Leigh Ann Samsa (2018 - 2020) | UNC-Chapel Hill | UNC-Chapel Hill | Organoids | UNC-Chapel Hill – Director, Office of Research Strategy |
Arnab Sengupta (2019 - 2021) | University of Alabama-Huntsville | UNC-Chapel Hill | RNA World | Georgia College and State University – Assistant Professor |
Andrew Hasley (2020 - 2022) | UW-Madison | BioQUEST | Environmental DNA Analysis & Applications | FAIR Data Resources Analyst – Covalent Solutions |
Carly Sjogren (2020 - 2023) | University of California-Riverside | UNC-Chapel Hill | Comparitive Plant Transcriptomics | The Pennsylvania State University, University Park – Associate Teaching Professor |
Jacob Dums (2020 - 2023) | NC State University | University of Delaware | Plant Genetic Engineering | University of Delaware – Assistant Teaching Professor |
David Bullock (2022 - 2024) | NC State University | – | Plant Genetic Engineering | North Carolina Central Univeristy – Lecturer |
Emily Cartwright (2022 - 2024) | University of California-Davis | – | Transcriptional Regulation and Gene Networks | NC School of Science & Mathematics – Instructor |
Sophie Noel (2022 - 2025) | NC State University | Industry Postdoc at Baebies | Experimental Assay Design | – |
Phillip Brown (2023 - 2025) | NC State University | – | CRISPR Technologies | NC State University – Assistant Teaching Professor |
BIT Postdoctoral Scholar Publications
- Phillip E. Brown, Stefanie H. Chen. 2025. A 3D-printed Sanger sequencing activity addresses student misconceptions. Journal of Microbiology and Biology Education. e20924. doi: 10.1128/jmbe.00209-24
- Stefanie H. Chen, Jacob T. Dums, Andrew O. Hasley. 2024. Building a valuable professional development course: instructor effort vs. perceived student value of activities in an online biotechnology course. Frontiers in Education. 9:1464387. doi: 10.3389/feduc.2024.1464387
- Dan Spencer, Caitlin McKeown, David Tredwell, Benjamin Huckaby, Andrew Wiedner, Jacob T. Dums, Emily L. Cartwright, Colin M. Potts, Nathan Sudduth, Evan Brown, Phillips Albright, Arnav Jhala, Melissa C. Srougi. 2024. Student experiences with a molecular biotechnology course containing an interactive 3D immersive simulation and its impact on motivational beliefs. PLoS One. 19(7):e0306224. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0306224
- Jessica Parzygnat, MacKenzie Maddox, Andrew O. Hasley, Carlos C. Goller. 2023. Analyzing Microbial Communities through Nanopore Sequencing. POGIL Activity Clearinghouse. 4(2). https://pac.pogil.org/index.php/pac/article/view/332
- Caroline A. Sjogren, Gary Comstock, Carlos C. Goller. 2023. Connecting Ethical Reasoning to Global Challenges through Analysis of Argumentation. Journal of Microbiology and Biology Education. 24(1):e00166-22. doi: 10.1128/jmbe.00166-22
- Felix R. Harris, Michael L. Sikes, Michael Bergman, Carlos C. Goller, Andrew O. Hasley, Caroline A. Sjogren, Melissa V. Ramirez, Claire L. Gordy. 2022. Hands-on immunology: Engaging Learners of All Ages Through Tactile Teaching Tools. Frontiers in Microbiology. 13:966282. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.966282
- Carlos C. Goller, Melissa C. Srougi, Stefanie H. Chen, Laura R. Schenkman, Robert M. Kelly. 2021. Integrating Bioinformatics Tools Into Inquiry-Based Molecular Biology Laboratory Education Modules. Frontiers in Education. 6:711403. doi: 10.3389/feduc.2021.711403
- Heather B. Miller, Melissa C. Srougi. 2021. Growth Mindset Interventions Improve Academic Performance but not Mindset in Biochemistry. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education. 49(5):748-757. doi: 10.1002/bmb.21556
- Leigh Ann Samsa, Melissa Eslinger, Adam Kleinschmit, Amanda Solem, Carlos C. Goller. 2021. Single Cell Insights Into Cancer Transcriptomes: A Five-Part Single-Cell RNAseq Case Study Lesson. CourseSource. doi: 10.24918/cs.2021.26
- Leigh Ann Samsa, Carlos C. Goller. 2021. Divide and Conquer: A Simple, Modern Technique for Collaborative Small Group Learning with Reciprocal Peer Teaching. Journal of Microbiology and Biology Education. 22(1):22.1.12. doi: 10.1128/jmbe.v22i1.2153
- Thomas B. Lentz et al. 2021. Prevalence of Ranavirus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, B. salamandrivorans, and Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola in Amphibians and Reptiles of North Carolina, USA. Herpetological Review, 52(2), 285–293. doi: 10.5061/dryad.x69p8czhj
- Leigh Ann Samsa, Linnea Anderson, Adam Groth, Carlos C. Goller. 2020. CourseSource. A CRISPR/Cas guide RNA design in silico activity. doi: 10.24918/cs.2020.46
- Christina Garcia, Ian Chapman, Stefanie Chen, Eric Lazear, Thomas B. Lentz, Christina Williams, Jacob T. Dums, Carlos C. Goller, Sabrina D. Robertson. 2020. Integrating Research into a Molecular Cloning Course to Address the Evolving Biotechnology Landscape. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education. doi: 10.1002/bmb.21402
- Stefanie H. Chen, Carlos C. Goller. 2019. Shifting Faculty Approaches to Pedagogy Through Structured Teaching Postdoc Experiences. Journal of Microbiology and Biology Education. doi: 10.1128/jmbe.v20i2.1789
- Thomas Lentz, Laura E. Ott, Sabrina D. Robertson, Sarah C. Windsor, Joshua B. Kelley, Michael S. Wollenberg, Robert R. Dunn, Carlos C. Goller. 2017. Unique Down to Our Microbes-Assessment of an Inquiry Based Metagenomics Activity. Journal of Microbiology and Biology Education. doi: 10.1128/jmbe.v18i2.1284
- Melissa C. Srougi, Jackie Thomas-Swanik, John D. Chan, Jonathan S. Marchant, Susan Carson. 2014. Making heads or tails: planarian stem cells in the classroom. Journal of Microbiology and Biology Education. 15(1):18-25. doi: 10.1128/jmbe.v15i1.692
- Carlos C. Goller. 2014. A Modern Twist on the Beaumont and St. Martin Case: Encouraging Analysis and Discussion in the Bioethics Classroom With Reflective Writing and Concept Mapping. Journal of Microbiology and Biology Education. doi: 10.1128/jmbe.v15i2.771
- Laura E. Ott, Susan Carson. 2014. Immunological Tools: Engaging Students in the Use and Analysis of Flow Cytometry and Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education. doi: 10.1002/bmb.20808
- Melissa C. Srougi, Heather B. Miller, D. Scott Witherow, Susan Carson. 2013. Assessment of a Novel Group-Centered Testing Schema in an Upper-Level Undergraduate Molecular Biotechnology Course. Biochem Mol Biol Educ. 41(4):232-41. doi: 10.1002/bmb.20701
- Melissa C. Srougi, Susan Carson. 2013. Inquiry into Chemotherapy-Induced P53 Activation in Cancer Cells as a Model for Teaching Signal Transduction. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education. doi: 10.1002/bmb.20741
- Melissa C. Srougi, Heather B. Miller, D. Scott Witherow, Susan Carson. 2013. Assessment of a Novel Group-Centered Testing Schema in an Upper-Level Undergraduate Molecular Biotechnology Course. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education. doi: 10.1002/bmb.20701
- Heather B. Miller, D. Scott Witherow, Susan Carson. 2012. Student Learning Outcomes and Attitudes When Biotechnology Lab Partners Are of Different Academic Levels. CBE – Life Sciences Education. doi: 10.1187/cbe.11-10-0094
- D. Scott Witherow, Susan Carson. 2011. A Laboratory-Intensive Course on the Experimental Study of Protein-Protein Interactions. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education. doi: 10.1002/bmb.20506