TheDoctorBioLady

Thirteen years in education/Secondary level teaching 11th Grade Experimental Honors Biomed, Anatomy & Physiology, Zoology Honors, 12th Grade IB Biology, BioResource, Biotechnology 1 & 2, AP Biology, Biology Honors, Gifted, Regular, Earth Space and Integrated Science. Eleven years in molecular and cell biology. Three years as a postdoctoral associate. Approximately ten years as a life science laboratory teaching assistant on both the M.S. and Ph.D. levels for both graduate and undergraduate students, Ten years medical and industry research experience, Significant research experience in molecular biology of snRNAs, yeast genetics, phylogenetics and cell cycle delay (cancer related). Demonstrated expertise in teaching and mentoring students. Excellent problem solving, multi-tasking, writing and verbal communication skills. Multiple publications. Bilingual English-Spanish.

My teaching methodology comprises four main areas: fostering a learning environment, goal-setting, differentiated instruction, and effective assessment and evaluation. A successful learning environment consists of a classroom that facilitates instruction by exhibiting displays directly relating to the curriculum; If possible, use of technology such as the smart board for internet usage or PowerPoint presentations during lecture, and a classroom that allows for both a standard lecture arrangement and activities for small cooperative learning groups. The aim is to provide a comfortable, respectful, structured yet stimulating environment where students will feel free to express their opinions, ask questions and help themselves and those around them learn. The goals I set for my students are multi-layered. First, there are the specific course aims that must be mastered whether it is learning the steps to the kreb cycle in basic biology or identifying the various protein structures in graduate level molecular biology. Secondly, there are the various hands-on skills that are associated with each subject covering topics such as pipet usage to DNA extraction. For the third set of goals, the ones I directly challenge my students with, is the willingness to move beyond rote memorization and to develop critical thinking skills; 1) To look at things, ideas and events from an entirely new perspective, 2) To challenge the status quo and be willing to argue and criticize both old and new concepts and ideas. Finally, my last set of goals for my students is to have them connect all these concepts, skills and thinking processes and start developing or continue to develop the basis of a scientific researcher. Teaching is an art, not just a concatenation of facts doled out for daily consumption. It is the interaction of the instructor and the student, the "aha experience" after being guided yet being able to answer the question on one's own after careful consideration of the facts and/or scenarios. It is about interest, wonder and sometimes simply fun. To watch the evolution of the mind as it passes from the simple stage of fact memorization to the stages of critical thinking, such as logical synthesis and evaluation is a truly a mesmerizing experience. To teach is to build a musical score that sometimes rings false, many times rings true, and in the end is a unique masterful compilation between the teacher and the students where the benefit of learning has occurred for both.

Grants/Fellowships: Miami Teaching Fellows, Miami Dade County Public Schools, Miami, FL 33132 Miami Teaching Fellow, 2006-2009  Summer Teacher Training program designed for non-education majors who are outstanding professionals and community members to bring their experience, knowledge, and records of achievement to the classroom in a way that will positively impact the lives of Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) students. Selected to teach High School Biology (2006). Publications:  U6 snRNA variants isolated from the posterior silk gland of the silk moth Bombyx mori. Smail SS, Ayesh K, Sierra-Montes JM, Herrera RJ. Insect Biochem Mol Biol. 2006 Jun;36(6):454-65. Epub 2006 Mar 28.  Molecular identification of pathogenic house dust mites using 12S rRNA sequences. SuarezMartinez EB, Montealegre F, Sierra-Montes JM, Herrera RJ. Electrophoresis. 2005 Aug;26(15):2927-34.  The silk moth Bombyx mori U1 and U2 snRNA variants are differentially expressed. SierraMontes JM, Pereira-Simon S, Smail SS, Herrera RJ. Gene. 2005 Jun 6;352:127-36.  Superimposing polymorphism: the case of a point mutation within a polymorphic Alu insertion. Martinez L, Reategui EP, Fonseca LR, Sierra-Montes JM, Terreros MC, Pereira-Simon S, Herrera RJ. Hum Hered. 2005;59(2):109-17. Epub 2005 Apr 18.  Variants of U1 small nuclear RNA assemble into spliceosomal complexes. Pereira-Simon S, Sierra-Montes JM, Ayesh K, Martinez L, Socorro A, Herrera RJ. Insect Mol Biol. 2004 Apr;13(2):189-94.  A diversity of U1 small nuclear RNAs in the silk moth Bombyx mori. Sierra-Montes JM, PereiraSimon S, Freund AV, Ruiz LM, Szmulewicz MN, Herrera RJ. Insect Biochem Mol Biol. 2003 Jan;33(1):29-39.  Multiple forms of U2 snRNA coexist in the silk moth Bombyx mori. Sierra-Montes JM, Freund AV, Ruiz LM, Szmulewicz MN, Rowold DJ, Herrera RJ. Insect Mol Biol. 2002 Feb;11(1):10514

Doctor of Philosophy in Biology, 1995-2004 Florida International University, Biology Dept., Miami, FL, 33199  Graduate Assistant: Studied the U1 and U2 snRNA components of the Bombyx mori organism. Used molecular techniques such as PCR, RT-PCR, screening of recombinant cloning libraries, in situ hybridization, DNA sequencing, cloning, Northern and Southern blots, DNA/RNA extractions, cell culture (bacterial, viral, human and insect), mini-preps (plasmid isolation) etc. Knowledgeable in use of phylogenetic programs such as Clustal, PAUP, MacClade, Phylip, TreeView, Autoassembler and GeneDoc. Competent in use of ABI Sequencing analysis. PI: Dr. Rene Herrera.  Graduate School Dissertation Fellow-awarded one year's support for preparation and defense of my dissertation (2002-2003)  Research Assistant-Florida International University/MBRS-RISE Program (1995-2001). Masters of Science in Biology-Not Completed 1985-1987, 1993 C.W. Post/Long Island University, Biology Dept., Greenvale, NY 11548  Graduate Assistant: Teaching and tutoring Biology subjects. Setting up and running Biology labs. Writing and grading quizzes. Tutoring sessions.  Labs taught: General Biology, Enzymology, Invertebrate Anatomy, Genetics, Biochemistry Bachelor of Science in Biology 1983-1985 George Washington University, Washington DC, Majored in Biology, 1982-1983 Nassau Community College, Garden City, NY Majored in Aerospace Engineering Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA Double Major: MIT-Aerospace Engineering, Harvard: Literature Degree, Awarded in 1979 MIT/UNITE Program, Awarded in 1980 MIT Interphase Program for Minority Students

Teaching Certification: Permanent Florida State Teaching Certification: 2019 through 2024 Florida Teaching Certification Exam: General Knowledge and Subject-Biology AP3 Program: ESOL Issues & Strategies, Early Release Days 2006-2007, New Teacher Orientation Aug 2006, Project CRISS Southridge SHS, Reading Endorsement: Foundations of Research-based Practices in Reading, Technology for Teachers, Southridge Rookie Teacher program, Workshops: 11th Grade Integrated Science Course Organization May 2008, [Summer 2008: a) Subject Lesson Planning, b) FCAT Data Analysis] Certified to teach Biotechnology-Gainesville Program, FL Summer 2010