Teaching Philosophy and Educational Research

• Current research shows that teaching science similar to how bench research is conducted increases student learning and long-term retention.
• This “inquiry-based” approach prepares the precollege, university and professional student with long lasting problem solving skills and conceptual understanding.
• Our EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH PROGRAM actively engages graduate students in science education research.
• Teaching science through inquiry demands that scientists of the future are trained with the quantitative and content knowledge and provides students with the skills for success at higher levels of learning.
• Educating students in a positive, creative and exciting manner, provides the nation with a prepared work force and a scientifically literate public able to meet the future demands of expanding biosciences.

Physiological Research

• Focus upon renal function and mechanisms controlling salt and water balance and blood pressure.
• Understanding how altered mitochondrial gene expression may lead to development of hypertension. (Collett JA 2015; doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0136441).
• Translational research focus on essential hypertension in , chlorocebus aethiops sabeus or Caribbean Green Monkey (CGM).
• The invasive CGM develops spontaneous hypertension and shares significant common ancestry with h. sapiens.
• Current studies involve a role of reactive oxygen species, altered renal function, mitochondrial gene expression and development of high blood pressure.
• Whole animal research and  with in vitro molecular biology.

.

Lab Philosophy

Our laboratory provides an environment where all experience "science in action". Our goal is to conduct cutting edge translational research at both the bench top and within the classroom.  In the research lab, we focus upon training future PhD scientists in studies of the control of renal function and the pathophysiology of hypertension.  In the classroom, our research is directed toward improving inquiry based instruction and understanding "how students learn physiology most effectively.

Osborn Lab

Department of Biology University of Kentucky

University of Kentucky | Lexington, Kentucky| Tel: 859 253 3988