Shelley is a master’s student in the lab of Dr. David Reisman, where she researches the expression of genes regulated by tumor suppressor protein p53. She received her bachelor’s degree from the Arnold School of Public Health at UofSC and is interested in combining public health and biology to bring about changes in health outcomes and policy.

Each year the Center for Teaching Excellence offers teaching innovation grants designed to provide resources and support for faculty who are interested in exploring new and cutting-edge approaches in their teaching in ways that promise to enhance student learning. Shelley was awarded a Graduate Teaching Resource Development Grant and will be using her funds to incorporate the Western Blot (WB) analytical technique of protein separation in the BIOL 302L Cell and Molecular Biology lab curriculum. The WB technique is commonly used in research to separate and identify proteins. Currently the course only includes the more restricted technique of gelatin zymography. Project funds will be used to purchase WB materials, ensure continuity and sustainability of the methodology in the lab classes, and support the development of a detailed protocol to train future teaching assistants in usage of the WB in lab. Shelley believes that students’ learning of this common technique will assist them in carrying out their own independent research projects in this and future courses and become more marketable and successful in any career path they choose.