معرفی
Dr. Jacob Dums is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Delaware (UD). His teaching roles include courses such as Introductory Biology, Microbiology, and Virology. Though not engaged in active laboratory research, his work integrates past research experiences in microalgae biofuel production, viral ecology, and phage genomics with his current focus on education-focused scholarship.
Education:
- B.S. in Biotechnology, University of Wisconsin – River Falls
- Ph.D. in Plant Biology, North Carolina State University
- Postdoctoral Research: Viral Ecology and Informatics Lab at UD
- Postdoctoral Teaching: Biotechnology Program at NC State
Research/Scholarship: Dums emphasizes course development, student support tools, and experiential learning. He designs active learning activities for microbiology courses, integrates UD-based research into curricula, and collaborates on career pathways resources for biology students. His educational interests include STEM identity and the impact of peer interactions on student success.
Current Projects:
- Developing microbiology course materials that highlight non-human-associated microbes
- Adapting a Biology Career Pathways course with other faculty
- Leveraging undergraduate researchers to create class activities from real-world projects
Teaching-Research Synergy: While not mentoring graduate students, Dums frequently involves undergraduates in his scholarship projects, such as curriculum development and assessment studies.
