Department of Genetics
University of Georgia
Dr. Jackson's graduation in fall 2025
People
Andrews Lab and Friends
Back L to R: Tj Montgomery, Luke Sligh, Ashley Bedell, Alycia Shekoni, Ben Jackson, Danielle Philo
Front L to R: Lexie Cooper, Lauryn Famble, Michelle Galanti, Lauren Smallwood, Tessa Andrews
L to R: Tessa Andrews, Ben Jackson, Alex Waugh
Luke Sligh, Lexie Cooper, Hannah Ericson
Abbie Vaughn, Mina Ziai, & Hannah Ericson at the CURO conference
Dr. Ericson's graduation in spring 2025
Tessa Andrews
Josiah Meigs Distinguished Professor
I am a discipline-based education researcher (DBER), which means that I conduct research to better understand teaching and learning at the undergraduate level within a discipline. I do so by drawing on training in both biology and the social sciences. Read more about my research interests on the Research page.
Lauryn Famble
Genetics Doctoral Student
Lauryn is deeply committed to social justice in biology education. She conducts research to better understand the experiences of students from marginalized racial groups and to develop and investigate instructional practices that can create more equitable and just learning opportunities.
Luke Slign
Genetics Doctoral Student
Luke is keenly interested in undergraduates' thinking about topics related to genetics and evolution. He studies the ideas students have about epigenetics early in college and how those ideas show up later as they learn about other topics in biology.
Michelle Galanti
Genetics Doctoral Student
Michelle knows well the power of effective teaching in recruiting students into biology and retaining them. She studies teaching expertise among undergraduate biology instructors, especially how they notice and respond to students' thinking while teaching. She's also interested in the strengths that non-traditional students bring to their education.
Graduate Student and Postdoc Alumni
Dr. Benjamin Jackson
Dr. Ben Jackson, a former doctoral student, is a taking a much needed break while job hunting.
Dr. Sandhya Krishnan
Dr. Sandhya Krishnan, a former graduate research assistant, is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Arkansas - Little Rock.
Dr. Jessica Gehrtz
Dr. Jessica Gehrtz, a former postdoctoral researcher, is an Assistant Professor in Mathematics Education at the University of Texas - San Antonio.
Dr. Michelle Ziadie
Dr. Michelle Ziadie, a former doctoral student, is an Assistant Professor of Instruction at the University of South Florida, St. Petersburg.
Dr. Alex Waugh
Dr. Alex Waugh, a former doctoral student, is a postdoctoral researcher at Michigan State University.
Dr. Hannah Ericson
Dr. Hannah Ericson, a former doctoral student, is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of North Carolina - Greensboro.
Dr. Gretchen King
Dr. Gretchen King, a former postdoctoral researcher, is a Research Professional in the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at UGA.
Dr. Katie Green
Dr. Katie Green, a former postdoctoral researcher, is a Science Instructional Coach at Cedar Shoals High School.
Dr. Cristine Donham
Dr. Cristine Donham, a former postdoctoral researcher, is an Assistant Teaching Professor at the University of California-Santa Barbara.
Dr. Kelly Lane
Dr. Kelly Lane, a former doctoral student, is an Assistant Professor at the University of Minnesota.
Dr. Anna Jo Auerbach
Dr. Anna Jo Auerbach, a former postdoctoral researcher, is taking a much-needed break.