Redesigning with students in mind
Essay

Redesigning with students in mind

By Jacob Adler
Assistant professor reflects on how the shift to online teaching revealed gaps in points-based grading and led to a redesign centered on transparency and student growth.
Essay

Teaching beyond information transfer

Educator reflects on moving beyond lectures to create a biochemistry classroom centered on engagement, transparency and student ownership, showing how small shifts like “student hours” and active learning can transform understanding.
Teaching beyond information transfer

News and Ideas

Mayday! Lessons from cellular dysfunction and group work dynamics
Essay

Mayday! Lessons from cellular dysfunction and group work dynamics

April 28, 2026

An upper-level biology course revealed that strong science doesn’t guarantee strong teamwork. One instructor shares how failed group dynamics reshaped their approach, leading to more structured, collaborative and effective student learning.

Showing students that it’s OK to ask questions
Essay

Showing students that it’s OK to ask questions

April 28, 2026

Assistant professor reflects on how admitting uncertainty and following student questions beyond the syllabus reshaped classroom culture, encouraging curiosity, vulnerability and deeper engagement in introductory biology.

Park wins Parkinson’s award
Member News

Park wins Parkinson’s award

April 27, 2026

He is one of three individuals who will receive $90,000 to fund their research.

In memoriam: George C. Hill
In Memoriam

In memoriam: George C. Hill

April 27, 2026

He conducted groundbreaking research on African sleeping sickness, supported countless underrepresented students in medical education and was an ASBMB member for 43 years.

Evolving the undergraduate biochemistry lab
Essay

Evolving the undergraduate biochemistry lab

April 24, 2026

Biochemistry professor reflects on 25 years of teaching lab courses, tracing the shift from technique-driven exercises to course-based undergraduate research experiences.

Promoting positive values in biochemistry classes
Essay

Promoting positive values in biochemistry classes

April 24, 2026

Associate professor integrates emotional awareness and values-based learning into biochemistry courses, helping students improve both academic performance and long-term personal growth.

Timeless reflections on mentorship and teaching
Essay

Timeless reflections on mentorship and teaching

April 23, 2026

Professor at a primarily undergraduate university reflects on how mentorship remains the heart of education, while technology changes how content is delivered and students connect with material and instructors.

When AI replaces confidence in the classroom
Essay

When AI replaces confidence in the classroom

April 22, 2026

After students relied on AI for writing assignments, one molecular biology instructor reframed the issue as a confidence gap and implemented a collaborative assignment to foster scientific reasoning and authentic engagement at an HBCU.

“Hi, profe!” How I learned to connect with my students
Essay

“Hi, profe!” How I learned to connect with my students

April 22, 2026

After critical course evaluations, a biochemistry instructor reflects on how sharing her story and building relationships transformed her classroom, helping students feel seen, welcomed and more connected to science.

Meet Our Contributors

Jay Thakkar
Jay Thakkar
Jessica Desamero
Jessica Desamero
Poornima Sankar
Poornima Sankar
Courtney Chandler
Courtney Chandler
Computational biosciences illuminate how molecular condensates form

Rohit Pappu will receive the 2025 DeLano Award for Computational Biosciences at the ASBMB Annual Meeting, April 12-15 in Chicago. Read More

Beyond the bench: On a mission to build an inclusive scientific community

Benjamin Garcia will receive the ASBMB Ruth Kirschstein Diversity in Science Award at the ASBMB Annual meeting, April 12–15 in Chicago. Read More

Quantifying how proteins in microbe and host interact

“To develop better vaccines, we need new methods and a better understanding of the antibody responses that develop in immune individuals,” author Johan Malmström said. Read More

Who decides when a grad student graduates?
Courtney Chandler

Careers Columnist

Ph.D. programs often don’t have a set timeline. Students continue with their research until their thesis is done, which is where variability comes into play. Read More

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