Zoë Soon

Zoë Soon is an Associate Professor of Teaching in the Department of Biology at the University of British Columbia Okanagan (UBCO), part of the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science. She teaches Anatomy and Physiology, Lifespan Motor Growth and Development, and Pathophysiology courses to undergraduate students.

Her educational background includes a Ph.D. in Biology (Cardiac and Skeletal Myogenesis) from York University, an M.Sc. in Biochemistry and Genetics (Neurogenesis) from the University of Sussex, and a B.Ed. STEP from UBC Okanagan, along with an NSERC Post-doctoral Fellowship.

Dr. Soon's research focuses on Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, developing innovative educational tools to enhance student learning and engagement. Her work examines effective teaching strategies for large classroom settings, particularly in anatomy and physiology education. She has pioneered approaches using lecture capture technology, multimodal case studies, hands-on pathophysiology models, and active learning techniques that incorporate movement and visual learning strategies.

Her publications, primarily in the HAPS Educator journal, demonstrate a consistent research trajectory examining how different teaching methodologies impact student learning outcomes in biological sciences. She has particularly focused on creating inclusive learning environments that accommodate diverse learning styles while maintaining academic rigor.

• 2020 UBC Teaching Excellence and Innovation Award
• 2016-2017 UBC Teaching Honour Roll
• 2015 HAPS Initiative Scholarship
• Multiple UBC Teaching Honour Roll recognitions (2014-2016)
• 2014-2015 UBC Green Fund Award for Undergraduate Teaching Labs

Dr. Soon actively supervises 1-2 research students per term in her educational leadership and research program, providing opportunities for students to engage in pedagogical research. She has presented her work at multiple HAPS (Human Anatomy and Physiology Society) conferences and the Universitas 21 Health Sciences Conference, sharing her findings on innovative teaching strategies with the broader educational community.