Rate My Professor Ben Peters

Peters has authored several publications in molecular and developmental biology, including "Discovery of a cis-regulatory element SaeM involved in dynamic regulation of synergid-specific MYB98" (2023), "The meiotic regulator JASON utilizes alternative translation initiation sites to produce differentially localized forms" (2017), "A cis-regulatory module in the transcription factor DUO1 promoter" (2016), and the chapter "Identification of Cis-Regulatory Modules that Function in the Male Germline of Flowering Plants" (2017). These works have accumulated 27 citations. In his current teaching role, he co-convenes BIOC351 Advanced Protein Biochemistry with Professor Catherine Day and BIOC352 Advanced Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics with Associate Professor Anita Dunbier. He contributes significantly to undergraduate practical teaching, including BIOC192 Foundations of Biochemistry laboratories alongside Dr Nicole Power. Peters excels in science outreach and engagement, leading hands-on biochemistry experiments for high school students during Hands On At Otago (2023 and 2025), Pacific Island school groups (2021), rangatahi at Molecular Magic workshops during Science Wānanga (2023), and demonstrations like pansy infiltrations and DNA sequencing at the New Zealand International Science Festival (2025). As the Department of Biochemistry's Pacific Island Liaison in the Division of Sciences, he promotes access for Pacific students. His teaching excellence earned him the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences Distinguished Professional Practice Fellow/Teaching Fellow award in 2025. Additionally, he won a Lifeology science communication challenge for developing educational content.