MITx Biology
digital learning media in the MIT Department of Biology
digital learning media in the MIT Department of Biology
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Dr. Mary Ellen Wiltrout is the Director of Online and Blended Learning Initiatives and Lecturer in Digital Learning in the Department of Biology. She completed her PhD in Graham Walker's lab from the Department of Biology at MIT, taught molecular biology and more at Harvard University, and returned to MIT to develop the first biology MOOC at MIT, 7.00x Introduction to Biology. She has been overseeing the open online course projects and teams, other hybrid learning projects, and the education research related to these projects for the Department of Biology at MIT since 2013.
Dr. Darcy Gordon is an Instructor of Online & Blended Learning Initiatives for the Department of Biology and former Digital Learning Lab Fellow postdoctoral associate. She completed her PhD with her project entitled "Evolutionary Neurobiology of Exceptionally Polymorphic Ants" in the Traniello lab at Boston University. Since July 2017, Darcy has been a core member of the MITx Biology course development team.
Dr. Monika (Moni) Avello is the 7.01 Introductory Biology Instructor for the Department of Biology. She formerly held the role of Digital Learning Lab Fellow postdoctoral associate (September 2018 to January 2021) in the group. She completed her PhD with her project entitled "Characterization of an exclusion mechanism in an integrative and conjugative element in Bacillus subtilis" in Alan Grossman's lab at MIT.
Dr. Tyler Smith is an Instructor of Pedagogy Training and Curriculum Development for the Department of Biology. He supports graduate students during their teaching assignments. He also is part of the core teaching staff for the 7.01s Introductory Biology and 7.05 General Biochemistry. He completed his PhD in the lab of Sebastian Lourido at MIT, studying Toxoplasma. Tyler started this position August 2022.
Dr. Ibiagbani (Ibi) Max-Harry is an instructor for Introductory Biology (7.01) in the Department of Biology. Ibi completed her PhD with her project titled "Novel discoveries on the role of PTHrP in Pancreatic Islet Function" in the Nunemaker and Rosol labs in Ohio University. During her PhD, Ibi taught introduction to Biology lab courses for 5 years and developed a love for science education. She started this position at the end of August 2024.
Dr. Christopher Stevens is a postdoctoral associate and teaching fellow in the Biology Department, as well as a member of the Open Learning Digital Learning Lab. Previously, he completed is Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin – Madison in the field of pharmaceutical sciences studying targeted protein degradation therapeutic tools. In addition to his research, he helped to design and instruct several courses across a range of biology, as well as conducted several educational research projects. Prior to his doctoral work, he completed his B.S. at the University of Texas at Dallas and taught chemistry and physics at the high school level. In his role at the Digital Learning Lab, Dr. Stevens aims to continue to develop his curricula design skills and continue to contribute to the developing landscape of digital learning and its relationship with AI tools.
Egzona Morina is currently in Dr. Matthew Bonds’ lab, in the Global Health and Social Medicine department at Harvard. She was a Digital Learning Lab Fellow postdoctoral associate with our group from November 2023 through July 2024 in which she contributed to 7.00x Introduction to Biology revisions. She completed her PhD in neuroscience with her project entitled "A novel behavioral paradigm for characterizing anticipatory postural adjustments in mice" at University College London (UCL).
Mingyu (Ming) Yang is currently an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology at the University of California, San Diego. He completed his PhD in Medical Engineering & Medical Physics at MIT while pursuing interests in educational research and the application to classroom practice. Ming made significant contributions to developing our 7.06x Cell Biology course series and the 7.03x Genetics course series and was part of our group from late 2019 to 2024.
Caitlin Friend was a Digital Learning Lab Fellow postdoctoral associate for the Department of Biology and former Learning Technologist. She completed her PhD with her project entitled “The Roles of the Helicase Double-Hexamer Complex and the ssDNA-Binding Protein RPA During Eukaryotic DNA Replication" in Steve Bell’s lab at MIT. Caitlin was a core member of the MITx Biology course development team between January 2020 and August 2023.
Summer Morrill was the first Instructor of TA training and Curriculum Development for the Department of Biology. She completed her PhD in the lab of Angelika Amon at MIT, studying the causes and consequences of haploinsufficiency in yeast. Summer held this position from August 2020 to July 2022. Summer left to teach high school students as a Biology Instructor at Phillips Exeter Academy.
Swati Carr was a Digital Learning Lab Fellow in the Department of Biology. She completed her PhD by developing methodology for improving the predictability of engineered genetic device behaviour in the Densmore lab at Boston University. As part of her role as a core member of the MITx Biology course development team, Swati developed and tested assessments for 7.28.3x and other courses. Swati is now the Customer Success Manager at Benchling.
Sera Thornton was a Digital Learning Lab Fellow in the Department of Biology from June 2014 to June 2017. In conjunction with her role as a core member of the MITx Biology course development team, Sera curated and created the graphics and video for their courses, including animating the lecture video inserts for the 7.28x series. Prior to that, she completed her PhD studying epigenetic gene regulation in stem cell lineage commitment and differentiation in the Boyer lab at MIT. Sera first transitioned to an Instructional Designer position in the University Center for Teaching and Learning at the University of Pittsburgh and now works as a Learning Scientist and Teaching Consultant at the same school.
Nathaniel Schafheimer was the first Digital Learning Lab Fellow in the Department of Biology from 2013 to 2015. He previously completed his PhD studying how ultraviolet light damages the proteins in the lens of the human eye in Jonathan King’s lab at MIT. Nathaniel is now Patent Counsel at Tessera Therapeutics.
Katie Blackwell is a current MIT Biology PhD student in Sara Prescott's lab. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and a minor in Secondary STEM Education from the University of Texas at Dallas. As an MSRPx-Biology 2020 summer student, she completed the 7.QBWx Quantitative Biology Workshop, contributed student feedback for the 7.06x Cell Biology series, and investigated learner engagement in the 7.00x MOOCs. Katie helped us develop the 7.06x Cell Biology series.
Lillian Delacruz is a current Biology PhD student at MIT. She graduated from the University of Arizona, majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology. As an MSRPx-Biology 2020 summer student, she completed the 7.QBWx Quantitative Biology Workshop, provided student feedback on the 7.06x Cell Biology series, and analyzed learner engagement in the 7.28.1x MOOCs.
Martha Castro graduated from Pomona College, studying Molecular Biology.
As an MSRPx-Biology 2020 summer student, she completed the 7.QBWx Quantitative Biology Workshop, provided student feedback on the 7.06x Cell Biology series, and evaluated learner engagement in the 7.05x MOOCs.
Shalini Gupta completed a PhD in Biology at MIT in Steve Bell's lab. Shalini has interests in educational research and the digital learning. Shalini helped us develop the 7.06x Cell Biology course series and continues for the 7.03x Genetics series.
Yasmin Chau contributed to problem development for 7.05x Biochemistry and the 7.06x Cell Biology series. She completed her PhD in the lab of Jing-Ke Weng at MIT, studying the molecular basis underlying the medicinal effects of natural products. Yasmin is currently a Scientist I at DoubleRainbow Biosciences Inc.
Theresa Wasylenko developed or tested many problem-solving assessments for 7.00x, 7.28.1x, and 7.28.2x during her PhD and postdoc in the Housman lab at MIT. After leaving MIT, she was a Lecturer of Biological Science at Olin College. Theresa returned to MIT as an instructor for the 7.02 lab and continues to contribute to our new projects.
Rachel worked with us during her freshman year as an undergraduate at MIT. During the 2018-2019 academic year, she helped us develop the 7.05x Biochemistry course by giving us her student-perspective insights. Rachel now continues at MIT as a course 7 major.
Ceri Riley graduated from MIT in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Comparative Media Studies and Biology. During her time as an MITx Biology UROP, she contributed to the team's educational videos, including production — from researching to scripting to animation to editing — of several of the videos in 7.28.1x and 7.28.2x. Ceri is now a writer and editor for SciShow and cohost of the science podcast SciShow Tangents.
Megan Warner completed her PhD in Steve Bell's lab in the Department of Biology at MIT. In addition to her graduate work, she created and evaluated assessment questions for 7.00x and the 7.28x series. Megan is now a Senior Scientist at First Light Biosciences, a diagnostic company working to design tests for hospital-acquired bacterial infections.
Manoshi Datta completed her PhD in Computational and Systems Biology under the supervision of Professors Gore, Polz, and Cordero at MIT. During her time at MIT, she created and evaluated assessment questions for 7.00x and 7.QBWx, and tested and coded materials for 7.28.3x. Manoshi is currently a postdoctoral fellow at Technion - Isreal Institute of Technology.
One of two of our 2023 high school interns was from North Garland High School in Garland, TX and the Empowr program. During his internship, he learned to code questions within the Open edX platform in our MOOCs as well as develop interactive plots for physics and biology courses. (Name and image not given for high school students)
One of two of our 2023 high school interns was from Wylie East High School in Wylie, TX and the Empowr program. During his internship, he learned to code questions within the Open edX platform in our MOOCs as well as develop interactive plots for physics and biology courses. (Name and image not given for high school students)
Our 2022 high school intern was from Boston Latin high school and a youth member at the LEAH Project under HRIA in Chinatown. During her intern time, she created images for our MOOCs while she explored her interests in science and graphic design. (Name and image not given for high school students)
Our 2017 and 2018 high school intern graduated from Boston Latin high school. She started college at Northeastern Unviersity September 2018 with interest in studying biological engineering. She shared her experiences at MIT through the mitxbio Instagram. During her intern time, she created new Cerego flashcards for the 7.00x Introduction to Biology course. In 2018, she did development work on on the 7.05x Biochemistry course.
AJ Amor completed his PhD in Bob Sauer's lab in the Department of Biology at MIT. In addition to his graduate work, he created and evaluated assessment questions for the 7.28x series and other digital learning projects on campus.