PLU Biology professor nationally recognized

Pacific Lutheran University Professor of Biology Amy Siegesmund received the American Society for Microbiology’s 2023 Carski Award for Undergraduate Teaching. The award recognizes a university educator for outstanding teaching of microbiology to undergraduate students.

What I love about teaching microbiology is that I get to share with students a discipline that I am passionate about and excites me every day,” said Siegesmund. “I get the opportunity to bring students together in a learning community to understand how the microbial world is intricately tied to our lives and our deaths. To share in that journey with students is one of my greatest professional privileges and joys—I can’t think of a more rewarding experience as a microbiologist.”

Siegesmund regularly teaches microbiology, introductory biology, cellular biology, and immunology at PLU. Her current research focuses on student metacognition and learning; the use of self-assessment to increase metacognition; and student theories of intelligence, learning, and failure. Siegesmund is an alumnus of the National Science Foundation Biology Scholars Research Residency and has received PLU faculty excellence awards in service (2019-20) and teaching (204-15).

“During her time at PLU, Dr. Siegesmund has proven herself to be an incredibly dedicated, passionate and effective teacher,” said Chair of Biology Matt Smith. “She challenges her students to learn and think for themselves, holds them to high standards, but supports them tremendously.”

“More than being an excellent instructor to our students, Amy inspires better teaching in her colleagues, and as a result, her peers in our department have become better educators as well,” Smith continued. “She is the epitome of what an excellent teacher should be.”

One of the largest life science societies in the world, ASM has over 30,000 members, including researchers, educators and health professionals. ASM manages a slate of awards and prizes recognizing outstanding science at every career level and in every sub-discipline of the microbial sciences. Recipients are chosen by a selection committee from a competitive list of candidates nominated by their peers.

“The ASM Awards and Prize Program recognizes exceptional microbiologists who have made significant contributions to advance the field and the microbial sciences community,” said ASM CEO Stefano Bertuzzi. “There is no better way to show gratitude to a mentor, respect to a colleague, or support for an early career scientist than by nominating them and acknowledging their outstanding contributions.”