MEDIA, Pa. — Taya Misheva joined Penn State Brandywine in January as an assistant professor of biology.
He received his bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Northwestern University, and he received his master’s degree in biological anthropology and doctorate in biology education from Arizona State University.
Coming from Syracuse University, Misheva said he is looking forward to teaching a variety of courses across different semesters and developing his own courses, in a Q&A below.
Q: What courses are you teaching this semester?
Misheva: I’m teaching Evolution of Vertebrates (BIOL 433), Human Physiology (BIOL 472) and Laboratory in Mammalian Physiology (BIOL 473).
Q: What made you interested in teaching at Penn State Brandywine?
Misheva: When I was looking for jobs, I saw that Penn State Brandywine had an even balance of research and teaching. Some tenure-track jobs require running labs while teaching undergraduate students on the side, and teaching professors don’t have time carved out for research. Being able to have a more equal balance of the two definitely appealed to me.
Q: What is your background and previous experience?
Misheva: Prior to my position at Brandywine, I did evolution education research both as a postdoctoral researcher at Syracuse University, and as a doctoral student at Arizona State University. I initially began a doctorate in evolutionary anthropology at Arizona State, but I pretty soon realized that I’m more interested in studying how students learn evolution than conducting basic science research.
Q: What are your research interests?
Misheva: I’m an evolution education researcher, which means I study how to teach evolution better. Lately, most of my research has been on evolution acceptance and measuring students’ views on evolution. Going forward, I’m also thinking about doing some research on human evolution education.
Q: What made you interested in pursuing a career in biology, especially after switching from anthropology?
Misheva: I opted to go to graduate school because I would look at my anthropology professors and wanted to do what they were doing, so I started a doctorate in evolutionary anthropology. But as I learned more about what most anthropology professors’ jobs were like, I realized that they consisted of mostly just research, with minimal undergraduate teaching. However, I was more interested in how people thought about and learned evolution as opposed to doing basic research out in the field or in the lab. That was what prompted me to switch disciplines and finish my doctorate in biology, doing evolution education research.
Q: What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Misheva: I enjoy cross-stitching and listening to folk metal music.
Q: Do you have anything else you would like to add or anything you’d like people to know about you?
Misheva: I’m looking for undergraduate research assistants for the next academic year, if any students are looking for research opportunities on campus.