Two genetics, development and cell biology graduate students received Fall 2021 Teaching Excellence awards from the Graduate College. Priyanka Bhandary received her TEX award for work in Biology 211L, Principles of Biology Laboratory I, while Jie Tang received a TEX for his work as a TA in the Biology 313L, Genetics Laboratory.  

Priyanka Bhandary

Biology 211L Teaching Lab Coordinator Chris Myers nominated Bhandary for her “outstanding work” as a TA in Biology 211L over the course of three semesters.

Myers said, “We demand a lot from our TAs in 211L. Not only do we expect our TAs to master a very broad array of introductory biodiversity disciplines, but we also ask our TAs to navigate the very challenging task of motivating and fostering the biological interests of many first-year students at ISU.” Bhandary “has especially excelled in the personal and professional relationships she builds with her students.”

Bhandary is a graduate student majoring in bioinformatics and computational biology with a minor in statistics. Her major professors are GDCB Professor Eve Wurtele and Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology Associate Professor Matthew Hufford.

Jie Tang

In nominating Tang for his award, GDCB Assistant Teaching Professor Jelena Kraft described him as “one of the most organized and skilled teaching assistants we have ever had in the lab. He spends significant time preparing for his teaching by looking through lab materials ahead of time, coming prepared during pre-run meetings, and most of all enthusiastically participating in all activities during these meetings.”

Tang is a graduate student majoring in plant biology. His major professor is GDCB Professor and Walter E. and Helen Parke Loomis Professor of Plant Physiology Diane Bassham.

The department congratulates these two TEX recipients for jobs well done.