Dr. Karla Fuller, Associate Professor of Biology and Program Coordinator of Liberal Arts and Sciences-STEM, has been selected to lead a microbiome curriculum-building project by the National Institutes of Health – National Human Genomic Research Institute (NIH-NHGRI). Dr. Fuller will lead a team of 2 high school teachers, four community college faculty and 2 NHFRI researchers to create open access research based curriculum modules focusing on the microbiome. This project is part of a governmental response supporting a larger science reform calling for more inquiry-based and scientifically relevant pedagogies in science classes. The modules will be piloted this summer at NIH-NHGRI summer institute.
Dr. Karla Fuller received her Ph.D. in cell and molecular biology (cancer genetics) from Purdue University. After a post-doctoral appointment at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Science Park Research Center, she made a slight change in career to focus on mentoring and teaching undergraduate students at the community college level. Dr. Fuller teaches a variety of biology classes at Guttman Community College and also serves as the Coordinator of the Liberal Arts and Sciences – Science Concentration. In addition to teaching, Dr. Fuller mentors student research projects ranging from antibiotic resistance to virtual reality for science education. Dr. Fuller’s research interests include best practices to increase learning and success for undergraduate science students, particularly from underserved populations. Dr. Fuller was awarded the National Association of Biology Teachers Two-Year College Teacher of the Year for 2016, and Education Update 2017 Outstanding Teacher of the Year.
