Laura Ott

Laura Ott is a Teaching Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She holds a Ph.D. in Immunology from North Carolina State University (2010) and a B.S. in Microbiology from Michigan State University (2005). Her academic focus revolves around STEM education innovation, particularly in biology and microbiology pedagogy.

Ott specializes in developing active learning strategies, tactile teaching tools, and scalable undergraduate research programs. She has contributed to curriculum design in courses like Human Anatomy & Physiology, Advanced Cell Biology, and metagenomics. Her work emphasizes accessibility for underrepresented groups, including deaf students in research settings.

Her research outputs highlight contributions to educational frameworks such as classroom-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs), inquiry-based microbiome activities, and role-based team learning. These initiatives aim to enhance student engagement, scientific literacy, and retention in STEM disciplines.

Ott teaches a range of courses including Principles of Biology, Cell Function, and Undergraduate Research in Biology. She actively collaborates with colleagues on projects addressing educational equity and evidence-based teaching practices.