Professor Melody Neumann

Melody J. Neumann

Professor, Teaching Stream


Campus

St. George (downtown)

CSB Appointment

Full, Teaching

Research Areas

Science Pedagogy

Education

Ph.D. University of Sydney Australia 2000
M.Sc. University of British Columbia 1994

Titles and Honors

Online Learning Academy Fellow, Faculty of Arts and Science 2020-2021
Society of Teaching and Learning In Higher Education D2L Innovation Award in Teaching and Learning 2020

European e-Learning Excellence Award (2nd place) November 2019

IMS Global Learning Consortium 3rd Annual App Challenge (First place, Institutional App category) 2016

Faculty of Arts and Science Dean’s Outstanding Teaching Award 2015

Primary Undergraduate Department

Cell & Systems Biology

Graduate Programs

Cell & Systems Biology
Developmental Biology

Research Description

At the departmental level, my research is focussed on developing and evaluating methods to improve undergraduate learning in cell and molecular biology. I am interested in using innovative and evidence-based teaching practices in my courses. Some examples include: development of online, hybrid, and ‘inverted’ classes based on peer-reviewed and evidence-based practices; the creation of animations for complex cellular mechanisms; effective use of clickers and Instant Feedback Assessment Testing (IFAT); team-based learning methodologies; assignments and tools to help students improve written and oral communication skills; and investigative labs using modern technologies and current research questions. I am involved in pedagogical research with faculty in Chemistry, Physics, Centre for the Environment, Geology, and Human Biology, which is used to inform the wider UofT community about teaching in the sciences. Most recently, we have been studying student and instructor uses/expectations of use of textbooks in science courses. I am also interested in improving the teaching of biology across Ontario and together with colleagues at various institutions (through the Ontario Consortium of Undergraduate Biology Educators or oCUBE) regularly share and disseminate innovative and evidence-based teaching practices and research. oCUBE members also work on multi-institutional research related to teaching biology.


Contact Information

Office Phone: 416-978-5551
Office: RW206c
Lab: BIO130/BIO230/BIO255/CSB34
Email

Mailing Address

Department of Cell & Systems Biology
University of Toronto
25 Harbord St.
Toronto, ON M5S 3G5
Canada


Recent News

Melody Neumann’s Excellence in Education recognized with a Full Professorship

Congratulations to Melody Neumann, who has been promoted to the rank of Full Professor, Teaching Stream in Cell & Systems Biology! Neumann is…

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Professor Melody Neumann earns U of T’s highest teaching honour

Melody Neumann, Associate Professor in CSB and Director of the Human Biology Program, has been awarded the President's Teaching Award, the highest…

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CSB Year in Review: Top Stories of 2020

As the year comes to a close, we look back on the achievements of students, staff, and faculty in the Cell and Systems Biology Department. Here are…

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Publications

Neumann, Melody. 2019. Team Up!: The use of student teams in online or large hybrid classes improves course outcomes. In 5th e-Learning Excellence Awards 2019: An Anthology of Case Histories, edited by Dan Remenyi. Academic Conferences and Publishing International. Pg. 109-117.

French M., Neumann M. and Taverna, F. 2019. Teaming up to re-imagine undergraduate education. In The Scholarship of Leading: Mini-Cases of Educational Leadership in Action. Rolheiser, C., Carbone, A., Macnab, E., & Ye, J. (Eds.). Toronto, ON: Centre for Teaching Support & Innovation, University of Toronto. https://teaching.utoronto.ca/sotl/scholarship-of-leading/ and also available at http://aautn.org/resources/

Taverna, F., Neumann, M. & French, M. 2019. Innovating the Large Class Experience: Teaming Up! to enhance learning. In G. Marks (Ed.), Proceedings of Global Learn 2019-Global Conference on Learning and Technology (pp. 144-147). Princeton-Mercer, New Jersey: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). Retrieved September 11, 2020 from https://www.learntechlib.org/primary/p/210299/.

Kajiura, L, Smith J, Montpetit C, Kelly T, Waugh J, Rawle F, Clark J, Neumann M, and French M. 2014.  Knowledge mobilization across boundaries with the use of novel organizational structures, conferencing strategies, and technological tools: The Ontario Consortium of Undergraduate Biology Educators (oCUBE) Model. Collected Essays on Learning and Teaching 7 (1): 19-25. https://www.lovayekajiura.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/2014-CELT-oCUBE.pdf

Neumann, M., Bank, C., Browning, S., Clarke, J., Harlow, J., Harrison, D., Ing, K., Kushnir, L., Kutas, C., Pitre, J., Serbanescu, R., Wall, M., & Wilson, R. 2008. Serial team teaching and the evolving scholarship of learning: Students’ perspective. Collected Essays on Learning and Teaching 1: 28-34.

Neumann, M. and N. Provart.  2006.  Using customized tools and databases for teaching Bioinformatics in introductory biology courses.  In: Tested Studies for Laboratory Teaching: Proceedings of the 27th Annual Association for Biology Laboratory Education June 21-25, 2005, edited by Michael A. O’Donnell, pp. 321-328.

2015

Textbook Use in the Sciences and Its Relation to Course Performance

French M, Taverna F, Neumann M, Paulo Kushnir L, Harlow J, Harrison D, Serbanescu R
2015, College Teaching, 10.1080/87567555.2015.1057099

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2011

Localization of DIR1 at the tissue, cellular and subcellular levels during Systemic Acquired Resistance in Arabidopsis using DIR1:GUS and DIR1:EGFP reporters

Champigny MJ, Shearer H, Mohammad A, Haines K, Neumann M, Thilmony R, He SY, Fobert P, Dengler N, Cameron RK
2011, BMC plant biology, 11, 125, 21896186

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2009

Forward and reverse genetics to identify genes involved in the age-related resistance response in Arabidopsis thaliana

Carviel JL, Al-Daoud F, Neumann M, Mohammad A, Provart NJ, Moeder W, Yoshioka K, Cameron RK
2009, Molecular plant pathology, 10, 621-34, 19694953

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2006

Characterization of the glyoxalase I gene from the vascular wilt fungus Verticillium dahliae

Klimes A, Neumann MJ, Grant SJ, Dobinson KF
2006, Canadian Journal of Microbiology, 10.1139/w06-033

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2005

Age-related resistance to Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato is associated with the transition to flowering in Arabidopsis and is effective against Peronospora parasitica

Rusterucci C, Zhao Z, Haines K, Mellersh D, Neumann M, Cameron R
2005, Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology, 10.1016/j.pmpp.2005.08.004

Root diseases in bareroot and container nurseries of the Pacific Northwest: epidemiology, management, and effects on outplanting performance

Dumroese RK, James RL
2005, New Forests, 10.1007/s11056-005-4422-7

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2004

Genetic structure of populations of Fusarium proliferatum in soils associated with Livistona mariae palms in Little Palm Creek, Northern Territory, Australia

Neumann MJ, Backhouse D, Carter DA, Summerell BA, Burgess LW
2004, Australian Journal of Botany, 10.1071/BT03158

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2003

Sequence tag analysis of gene expression during pathogenic growth and microsclerotia development in the vascular wilt pathogen Verticillium dahliae

Neumann M, K.F. Dobinson
2003, Fungal Genetics and Biology, 10.1016/S1087-1845(02)00507-8

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