Each year the DCB Teaching Committee recognizes graduate students who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to the educational mission while serving as a TA. This year, in addition to the school-wide Steinhaus TA award honoring Tori Tucker’s achievements, the DCB teaching committee wishes to recognize Vini Duarte with a departmental TA award for his outstanding performance while serving as TA for Bio 93 DNA to Organisms.  During a year of remote learning, Vini was recognized for going above and beyond to connect with his students, and helping them to master the material.  In order to bring the students into the lab, Vini proposed, developed, and executed an online lab tour and experiment demonstration for the students, at a time when undergraduates couldn’t come to campus.  Many students described the value they got from this exposure to a scientific research lab right at the beginning of college.  Without prompting, Vini’s students called out his dedication and teaching excellence in mid-quarter and end-of-quarter course surveys.

Please join us in congratulating Mr. Duarte for his strong commitment to education and his excellent performance as a TA, as we recognize his accomplishment with a cash prize.