Rate My Professor Heather Verkade

Verkade's research centers on enhancing undergraduate student outcomes in biomedical sciences, particularly in biochemistry and molecular biology. Her projects address student misconceptions through active learning strategies, promote student-centered learning in large classes, support engagement with primary scientific literature, and provide career mentoring for academic staff in education scholarship. She served as Director of Learning and Teaching for the School of Biomedical Sciences for four years until 2024, fostering curriculum improvements centered on student success, integrating junior teaching staff into committees, and promoting consistency across departments. Additionally, she coordinates the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology major and directs digital learning initiatives. Notable awards include the 2017 Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences Award for Learning and Teaching Achievement ($5000), the 2017 ASBMB Shimadzu Education Award ($2500), a 2018 MDHS Seed Grant ($4920), and a 2012 Faculty of Science Education Grant ($8000). Key publications encompass 'Misconceptions as a trigger for enhancing student learning in higher education: A handbook for educators' (2017), 'Undergraduate science students’ attitudes toward and approaches to scientific reading and writing' (Journal of College Science Teaching, 2016), 'Uptake of optional activities leads to improved performance in a biomedical sciences class' (Journal of Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 2015), and 'Training final year students in data presentation skills with an iterative report-feedback cycle' (Journal of Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 2015). Her contributions have profoundly shaped pedagogical practices in biomedical education.