Immediately after I obtained my PhD in Medical Microbiology at Pasteur Institute of Lille in France, I decided to come to the US in order to continue my research adventure as a Post-doctoral fellow in the field of tuberculosis. My major interest was in identification of genes in the bacterium responsible for human tuberculosis (Mycobacterium tuberculosis). During my post-doctoral fellowship, I realized that though I was enjoying research, I was however missing interactions with students. Therefore, I decided at the end of my post-doctoral position to seek an academic position that would give me the opportunity to fulfill my dream of interacting and above all sharing my educational experience with students. Ten years after deciding to join the academic world, I feel that I have found myself and that I am fulfilling my purpose on earth. What I love the most about teaching is to bring basic biology concepts to life through my research experience. I am able to illustrate basic biology concepts with clear and simple examples that my students can relate to.
When I start interacting with a student or a group of students, I get to know them first. Getting to know my students is a key aspect in determining the best approach to convey complicated biology concepts to them. Thus, I strive as much as possible to adapt my teaching to my students while keeping high academic standards essential for producing highly competitive students and excellent citizens.
Beside teaching, I love performing woodwork projects, spending time around my house on landscaping and construction/repair projects. In addition, I love hiking and I love spending time with my family.