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
- 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 of Faculty Development (attend workshops, participate in reading circles, present a capstone project). For details, visit RED-CTC.
- Begin development of a novel, CURE-based lab course, including planning a related SoTL research project
- Continue to teach one section of a three-section molecular biology course, coordinating with other instructors
- Co-teach existing CURE-based courses with other instructors
- Teach their own novel, CURE-based lab course, collect data for SoTL study
- Continue to teach courses (co-teach and individual)
- Analyze data and publish SoTL study, attend a related conference
- Apply for faculty positions.
Current BIT Postdoctoral Scholars
| Name | PhD | Prior Postdoc | BIT Module |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sophie Noel | NC State University | Industry Postdoc at Baebies | Experimental Assay Design |
| Emily Cartwright | University of California, Davis | – | Fly-ing Beyond the Transcriptome: Transcriptional Regulation and Gene Networks |
| David Bullock | NC State University | – | Plant Genetic Engineering |
| Phillip Brown | NC State University | – | Genome Engineering: CRISPR Technologies |
| Hayden Huggins | East Carolina University | UNC-Chapel Hill/Enfuego Therapeutics Inc. | Found in Translation: Mechanisms of Post-Transcriptional Control |
| Raymond Haggerty | UNC-Chapel Hill | UNC-Chapel Hill | Quantitative Microscopy and Image Analysis |
BIT Postdoctoral Scholar Alumni
| Name (period of appointment) | PhD | Prior Postdoc | New BIT Module | Current Institution |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lisa Lyford (1/2004 – 6/2005) | UNC-Chapel Hill | UNC-Chapel Hill | Mutagenesis | University of the Cumberlands – Professor |
| Joanna Miller (7/2005 – 6/2008) | Northwestern University | Transzyme | RNA Interference | Drew University – Associate Teaching Professor |
| Scott Witherow (1/2008 – 6/2011) | University of Miami | Duke | Protein-Protein interactions | University of Tampa – Associate Professor |
| Heather Miller (6/2009 – 6/2012) | Duke | – | mRNA splicing | High Point University – Associate Professor |
| Melissa Srougi (6/2011 – 6/2014) | Case-Western | UNC-Chapel Hill | Cell Signaling | NC State University – Associate Teaching Professor |
| Laura Ott (1/2012 – 12/2015) | NC State University | UNC-Chapel Hill | Immunological Tools | UNC-Chapel Hill – Assistant Teaching Professor |
| Carlos Goller (7/2012 – 6/2015) | Emory | Duke | Metagenomics, Yeast Metabolic Engineering, High Throughput Discovery | NC State University – Associate Teaching Professor |
| Thomas Lentz (7/2014 – 7/2017) | UW-Madison | UNC-Chapel Hill | Virus Biotechnology | Promega Corporation |
| Christina Garcia (7/2015 – 8/2018) | Vanderbilt | Baylor | Epigenetics | Centre College – Assistant Professor |
| Stefanie Chen (7/2016 – 6/2019) | Duke | UW-Madison | Protein Interactions | NC State University – Assistant Teaching Professor |
| Eric Lazear (7/2017 – 7/2019) | University of Pennsylvania | Washington University | Protein Engineering | Vice President of Research at Courier Therapeutics |
| Lihua Stefan (7/2018 – 12/2018) | Indiana University | Duke | – | The Ohio State University |
| Leigh Ann Samsa (7/2018 – 7/2020) | UNC-Chapel Hill | UNC-Chapel Hill | Organoids | UNC – Chapel Hill – Research Development Manager |
| Arnab Sengupta (7/2019 – 12/2021) | University of Alabama – Huntsville | UNC-Chapel Hill | RNA World | Georgia College and State University – Assistant Professor |
| Andrew Hasley (12/2020-12/2022) | UW-Madison | BioQUEST | Environmental DNA Analysis & Applications | FAIR Data Resources Analyst employed by Covalent Solutions |
| Carly Sjogren (12/2020-7/2023) | University of California, Riverside | UNC-Chapel Hill | Comparative Plant Transcriptomics | The Pennsylvania State University, University Park – Associate Teaching Professor |
| Jacob Dums (7/2020 – 7/2023) | NC State University | University of Delaware | Plant Genetic Engineering | University of Delaware – Assistant Teaching Professor |
BIT Postdoctoral Scholar Publications
- 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. J Microbiol Biol Educ. 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. Front Microbiol. 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. Front Educ (Lausanne). 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. Biochem Mol Biol Educ. 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. J Microbiol Biol Educ. 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. Making heads or tails: planarian stem cells in the classroom. J Microbiol Biol Educ. 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