Laura Sauder, recipient of the Amit and Meena Chakma Award for Exceptional Teaching by a Student, 2016
Biology
Laura Sauder, a PhD student in Biology working with the Neufeld Research Group, is recognized by students for her unconventional but effective teaching methods. She taught BIOL 240, a course she never took as an undergraduate student, for Josh Neufeld during his sabbatical, and “exceeded his highest expectations.” When her students recall their time at UWaterloo, they will think of her interactive class demonstrations, microbiology art contests, personal anecdotes, and her microbiology Twitter account (@Biol240_2015). Multiple undergraduates commented that Sauder made students in her 300-plus student lectures feel like they were sitting in a class of thirty. On the last day, she provided her students with tips for long-term success in Biology. One undergraduate student remarked that Sauder was “really dedicated and passionate about the material she was teaching.” A Biology professor commented, “Laura Sauder is a rising star of Canadian academia and demonstrates a perfect storm of research and teaching excellence.”
