Anne Perez

Recent Education

Education

B.S. Entomology, Ohio State University. Ph.D. Biology, West Virginia University

Biography

Anne Perez joined the Biological Sciences Department in August of 2017. Before arriving at Ohio University, she earned a B.S. in Entomology at Ohio State University and a Ph. D. in Biology at West Virginia University, where she taught her first classes in introductory biology and physiology. As a graduate student, she developed a model that can be used to put a confidence interval around an insect succession-based estimate of time since death and continue to be involved in the field of forensic entomology. She previously taught many courses ranging from undergraduate science for non-majors to graduate-level forensic science courses. (Read more about her experience as a forensic entomologist.)

Teaching Philosophy

In recognition that today’s college classroom is extremely diverse, containing students with varied motivations, learning styles and supportive needs, I challenge myself to be a dynamic instructor, engaging students while delivering education. I believe that the utilization of multiple teaching modalities is paramount to the achievement of my overall goal; development of students with a passionate appreciation for science who will become committed and productive professionals. I regularly use traditional lectures, small group exercises (even in a large lecture), and electronic student learning opportunities and response systems to gauge student learning, opinion, perceptions and questions. Opportunities for supplemental learning should be just as varied, including peer-led supplemental instruction and study groups, selected readings and student-driven research.

A constant across my teaching strategies is a focus on content. Successful biology students must have a working knowledge of basic concepts in multiple disciplines while developing many scientific skills (e.g. organization, communication). Because students inevitably vary in degree of readiness across these disciplines and skills, it is important to celebrate the knowledge the student brings with them, identify the gaps in understanding that impede knowledge building and ultimately use the knowledge gained in an applied setting.

Courses Taught at Ohio University

• BIOS 1030 Introductory Human Biology I: Basic Principles,
• BIOS 1700 Biological Sciences I: Molecules and Cells
• BIOS 1100 Peer-Led Team Learning for BIOS 1700

Research Interests

Carrion insect succession including: development and validation of insect succession models that can provide a statistically supported estimate of time since death, spatio-temporal variation of succession, ecology, development and identification of forensically important insects.

Publications

Perez A.E., N.H. Haskell and J.D. Wells. 2016. Commonly used intercarcass distances appear to be sufficient to ensure independence of carrion insect succession pattern. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 109(1): 72-80.

Baek S., A.E. Perez, R.M. Turcotte, J.B. White, F. Adedipe and Y.L. Park. 2015. Response of Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) adults to potato: Implications for monitoring and sampling. Journal of Stored Products Research 60: 5-10.

Perez A.E., N.H. Haskell and J.D. Wells. 2014. Evaluating the utility of hexapod species for calculating a confidence interval about a succession based postmortem interval estimate. Forensic Science International 241: 91-95.