St. Norbert professor, Deborah Anderson, named 2010-2011 NSF Biology Scholar

Deborah Anderson, associate professor of biology at St. Norbert College, has been announced as a 2010-2011 recipient of the ASM (American Society for Microbiology)/NSF (National Science Foundation) Biology Scholars Program Research Residency.

The Biology Scholars Program is a national leadership program established in 2008 to empower faculty to improve student learning in the laboratory or classroom based on evidence, and lead colleagues in national efforts to sustain undergraduate biology education reform.

The yearlong research residency offers scholars an opportunity to design a research project to investigate student learning; understand methods for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data on student learning; and identify appropriate venues for publishing results. Twenty-three exemplary biologists were chosen to participate in the 2010 ASM/NFS Biology Scholars Program Research Residency through an application process.

Anderson's main teaching interests are in human anatomy, organism biology and paleobiology. In the classroom, she uses an active-learning class format based on constructivism. Anderson's courses are designed to promote development of critical-thinking and problem-solving skills as well as to provide exposure to essential content. In addition, Anderson is a pre-health adviser and natural sciences assessment specialist on the St. Norbert College campus.