For the first semester since arriving at FIU in 1986, biological sciences associate professor Ophelia Weeks is not teaching any courses. While the neuro-anatomist prizes her time in the classroom (and routinely receives student-evaluations that are among the highest possible), her time this semester is being spent getting a novel program off the ground that could wind up serving as a model for similar initiatives universitywide.

The program – Quantifying Biology in the Classroom, or QBIC – seeks to integrate an interdisciplinarity that is often lacking in U.S. university classrooms today.

“In the real world, there’s rarely a situation where a biologist works alone. We usually work across disciplines,” says Weeks, who was born in Washington, D.C., but raised in Liberia. Heeding a national study that found that curriculum in the United States needed to be more quantitative and infused with greater interdisciplinarity, the professor and her colleagues spent three years developing QBIC. Twenty-three students were accepted into the rigorous program, which integrates biology, chemistry, biomedical engineering and statistics courses for a more holistic education.

“We hope, in time, that this interrelationship between disciplines will actually be the norm rather than a small track within biology with a smaller group of students,” says Weeks.

After 21 years at the university, Weeks is still passionate about FIU.

“The ability to play a role in the growth of the university and the ability to have an impact on many students who are the first in their family to go to university is compelling to me,” says Weeks. “This is a wonderful place to be. There are challenges here, but there’s also a tremendous amount of opportunities here.”

FIU is so proud that Weeks is a member of the Golden Panther family that we’re featuring her in a “Best in Class” ad campaign that’s running in The Miami Herald. The campaign began with a spotlight on this year’s valedictorians who chose to attend FIU. Since then, we’ve expanded the campaign to include FIU faculty and researchers, scholar-athletes, student scholars and alumni.

Recently, we met with Weeks and asked her a few questions about her tenure at FIU and her dreams.

My passion:
I am a neuro-anatomist – I study the nervous system. Most recently, I’ve been investigating how lithium can play a role in learning and memory and also neuroprotection. For me, it’s not so much about the research as it is engaging the students to the point where they begin asking their own questions.

On starting the QBIC program – Quantifying Biology In the Classroom:
Biologists usually work across disciplines – chemistry, statistics, biomedical engineering – but that’s not how we teach in this country. QBIC, which began this fall, weaves this interdisciplinary throughout its curriculum. Data generated in the biology lab will be taken to the calculus class and so on. We’re hopeful that this interrelationship between disciplines will become the norm.

On being a good teacher:
The students must have no doubt that you care about them. This has an enormous impact on their capacity to learn. FIU has enthusiastic students from many, many cultures. Those students bring with them promise and expectation and responsibility, both from within themselves and from their families. I see that in the classroom.

My dream:
I’m from Liberia, which has been in turmoil for the last 25 years. I went back last year for the first time in 18 years. The devastation was overwhelming. I visited the medical school and delivered several lectures. What an exhilarating experience to see the resiliency and determination of these students. My dream is that the country will rebound and become productive once again.

“The diversity of our faculty and student population makes for a fertile educational environment.”

To view the ad, running October, 1 in the The Miami Herald, please click here to download a PDF file.

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