Thomas Newpher

Background

About Thomas Newpher

I teach and advise for Duke's Undergraduate Studies in Neuroscience program, and serve as the Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies in Neuroscience. I also direct the Summer Neuroscience Program of Research in the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences. I earned my Ph.D. in molecular biology from Case Western Reserve University. After graduate school, I came to Duke University to receive postdoctoral training in the Neurobiology Department, where my research focused on identifying key molecular mechanisms that underlie learning-related synaptic plasticity. As the director of the Summer Neuroscience Program, I provide mentorship and professional development opportunities for undergraduate research fellows. My courses utilize a variety of team-based learning activities to promote critical thinking skills, foster collaboration among students, and create an engaging, student-centered classroom experience. My current research focuses on identifying teaching practices that increase student learning and improve classroom dynamics.