The Flow-State of Teaching

As I reflect upon my past semester’s work through the CUTF, I can genuinely identify it as one of the most meaningful and transformative experiences that I have had during my time at college. Introduction to Cell Biology is widely regarded as one of the most difficult courses in the curriculum of bioengineering students at…

Learning Through Teaching

When I took Introduction to Cell Biology as a sophomore, I knew right away that I wanted to be teaching assistant for the course in the future. The way my professors, Drs. Carsten Stuckenholz and Lance Davidson, presented the complex processes and pathways underpinning the function of the cell made coming to class a thoroughly…

CUTF: Deconstructing the Cell for First-Year Bioengineering Students

Hi everyone! My name is Reetwan Bandyopadhyay and I am a senior majoring in Bioengineering at the University of Pittsburgh. I’m also pursuing a minor in Chemistry and a certificate in Conceptual Foundations of Medicine through the department of History and Philosophy of Science. For my project for the Chancellor’s Undergraduate Teaching Fellowship, I will…

Striving Towards the Asymptote of Perfect Performance

As human beings, we’re accustomed to the idea that a fixed amount of effort will produce an expected result. If we study diligently for a test, we’ll get a good grade. If we work hard in the gym, we’ll get stronger. I think one of the hardest parts of being a researcher is that this…

Bridging the Gap Between Engineering and Immunology

Hi everyone! My name is Reetwan Bandyopadhyay, and I am a junior at the University of Pittsburgh. I’m majoring in Bioengineering and pursuing a minor in Chemistry and a certificate in Conceptual Foundations of Medicine. I was born right here in Pittsburgh, PA and have called it home my entire life. My love for the…