Stephanie A. Lockwood, Ph.D.

Education & Awards

• Ph.D. Biology, Texas Tech University (2011)
• M.S. Biology, Eastern New Mexico University (2006)
• B.S. Geology, Eastern New Mexico University (2003)
• A.A.S. Avionics Systems Technology, Community College of the Air Force (1998)

Awards

• President's Engaged Scholarship Award for Excellence in Community Engaged Research (2022)
• Texas Tech Teaching Academy Member (2019)

Teaching Philosophy

Biological processes are all around us, yet some people hear the word “biology” and cringe. I want to make biology accessible and enjoyable to everyone, especially students who may think they do not like biology. John Muir said, "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks," and I want my students to feel the same way about my class. When students leave my class, I want them to be able to critically think about the material and be able to apply the information now and in the future, but I also want students to develop academically and professionally. One approach I like for the teaching of biology is to keep students active in the classroom while tying classroom learning to what is going on around us. I believe that if I relate everyday experiences with classroom materials, students are more likely to remember and recall concepts relating to fundamental ideas. With a general course framework, students can begin to understand, analyze, and apply course concepts and information. With a solid biological foundation students can evaluate scientific ideas and formulate their own points of view and make knowledgeable, healthy, and environmentally sound decisions.

Research Interests

In my position at Texas Tech at Waco, I am responsible for undergraduate research versus my own research program. My background is in entomological and invertebrate zoological research. Over the past eight years, I have focused on the study of marine invertebrates on coral reefs of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef in Roatan, Honduras. Driven to create a differentiating research experience for students, I partnered with an MCC professor to develop a collaborative, international marine research program: Texas Integrated Diving and Ecological Studies (TIDES) laboratory (See link above). I also work with other students on individually tailored research projects. Students develop their own research projects and then study abroad to complete their projects in Honduras.

Publications (*Undergraduate students)

• Knauss, M., M.A. Barnes, Z.F.A. Bergum, M. Fokar, and A. Lockwood. Assessing the Diversity of Fishes Along the Texas Gulf Coast Using Environmental DNA Metabarcoding. In Prep.
• *Castillo, E., S. Randell, *A. Roy, K. Phelps, S. Hill and  Lockwood. Frequency of Dark Spot Syndrome on Starlet Corals of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, Honduras. In Prep.
• Lockwood, S.A., S. Hill, and S. Randell. 2020. Engaging students in experiential learning: Texas Integrated Diving and Ecological Studies (TIDES) Laboratory. Article 73 In: McMahon K, editor. Advances in biology laboratory education. Volume 41. Publication of the 41st Conference of the Association for Biology Laboratory Education (ABLE). [Access this Extended Abstract] [Access this Poster]
• *Kroll, M.L., *B.A. Rodriguez, *A.C. Edie, K.L. Phelps, D.E. Hamilton, S.M. Randell, and S.A. Lockwood. 2018. Poriferan Abundance is Negatively Associated with Coral Health in the Mesoamerican Reef. Texas Journal of Science 70(1):Article 7. https://doi.org/10.32011/txjsci_70_1_Article7
• Lockwood, S.A. Graduate Teaching Assistants Can Affect Undergraduate STEM Retention Rates: A Need for Graduate Teaching Professional Development. Page 64 in Tested Studies for Laboratory Teaching, Volume 36 (K. McMahon, Editor). Proceedings of the 36th Conference of the Association for Biology Laboratory Education (ABLE), 81 pages. [Access this Extended Abstract] [Access this Poster]
• Lockwood, S.A. and R.J. Deslippe. 2014. Queen red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) induce colony sororicide to reduce competition. Southwestern Entomologist 39(2):215-221. https://doi.org/10.3958/059.039.0202
• Lockwood, S.A., A. Miller, and M. Cromie. 2014. Preparing Future Biology Faculty: A Graduate Student Professional Development Program. The American Biology Teacher 76(1):17-21. https://doi.org/10.1525/abt.2014.76.1.5
• Lockwood, S.A. 2013. Establishing a Solid Pedagogical Foundation in Biology Graduate Teaching Assistants. Page 460 in Tested Studies for Laboratory Teaching, Volume 34 (K. McMahon, Editor). Proceedings of the 34th Conference of the Association for Biology Laboratory Education (ABLE), 499 pages. [Access this Abstract]
• Lockwood, S.A., HaghiPour-Peasley, D.R. Hoffman, and R.J. Deslippe. 2012. Identification, expression, and immuno-reactivity of venom gland proteins of queen red imported fire ants, Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Toxicon 60(5):752-759. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2012.05.011
• Lockwood, S.A. and D. A. Pollock. 2012. Landscape and habitat attributes of species of Glyptasida Casey (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). The Coleopterists Bulletin 66(1):15-22. https://www.jstor.org/stable/41413691
• Lockwood, S.A. and D. A. Pollock. 2009. A revision of the genus Glyptasida Casey (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Asidini). Zootaxa 2023:1-27. https://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2009/f/z02023p027f.pdf