Miriam Segura-Totten, Ph.D.

Courses Taught

• BIOL 1101 Biology: A Human Perspective
• BIOL1107 Principles of Biology I 
• BIOL 3240  Cell Biology
• BIOL 4250  Cell Biology of the Nucleus
• HNRS 3000  Honors Research Methods

Education

• Ph.D., Biochemistry, Cell & Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 2003
• A.B., Molecular Biology, Princeton University, 1998

Research/Special Interests

Dr. Segura-Totten’s research centers on studying pedagogical interventions that increase critical thinking skills in students. In particular, Dr. Segura-Totten is interested in how college students approach the reading and analysis of scientific research articles, methods for reading articles that increase student comprehension of topics in biology, as well as the learning gains associated with the analysis of research articles.

Awards:

• Inspiring Leaders in STEM Award - 2017
• University System of Georgia (USG) Regents’ Teaching Excellence Award (Felton Jenkins, Jr. Hall of Fame Faculty Award) – 2017
• UNG Distinguished Teaching Award - 2016

Publications

Nelms A.A. and Segura-Totten M. Expert-novice comparison reveals pedagogical implications for students’ analysis of primary literature. In press. Cell Biology Education – Life Sciences Education.

Shanks RA, Hazel AN, Jones WH, Segura-Totten M. 2019. Genome Sequence of Mycobacterium Phage LilHazelnut. Micro Res Announc May 2019, 8 (19) e00431-19

Segura-Totten M. 2018. Revamping a Course to Change the Climate. In M.L. Crowe and B. Guerrant (Ed.), Mentoring through the Transitions: Voices on the Verge. (pp. 35-36). Washington, DC: Council on Undergraduate Research.

Smith M., Segura-Totten M., West K. 2018. QR code lecture activity as a tool for increasing nonmajors biology students’ enjoyment of interaction with their local environment. J. Microbiol. Biol. Educ. 19(1): doi:10.1128/jmbe.v19i1.1453

Fleischacker CL, Segura-Totten M, SEA-PHAGES, Garlena RA, Jacobs-Sera D, Pope WH, Russell DA, and Hatfull GF. 2017. Genome Sequence of Mycobacterium Phage CrystalP. Genome Announc. Jul 13; 5(28).

Segura-Totten M, Dalman D.E. 2013. The CREATE method does not result in greater gains in critical thinking than a more traditional method of analyzing the primary literature. J Microbiol Biol Educ. 14(2), 166-75.

Segura-Totten, M. 2012. Initiating Undergraduate Research Through a Task Force. In J. Kinkaid and L. Blockus (Ed.), Undergraduate Research Offices & Programs: Models & Practices (pp. 214-219). Washington, DC: Council on Undergraduate Research.

Segura-Totten, M. 2012. Jim and the forgotten embryos: a case study on stem cell-based therapy. Retrieved August 21, 2012, from http://sciencecases.lib.buffalo.edu/cs/collection/detail.asp?case_id=628&id=628

Tifft K, Segura-Totten M, Lee KK, and Wilson KL. 2006. BAF-Like: A proposed regulator of BAF. Exp Cell Res. 312, 478-87.

Segura-Totten M and Wilson KL. 2004. BAF: roles in chromatin, nuclear structure and retrovirus integration. Trends Cell Biol., 14: 261-6.

Liu J, Lee KK, Segura-Totten M, Neufeld E, Wilson KL, and Gruenbaum Y. 2003. MAN1 and emerin have overlapping function(s) essential for chromosome segregation and cell division in C. elegans. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 100:4598-603.

Segura-Totten M, Kowalski AK, Craigie R, and Wilson KL. 2002. Barrier-to-autointegration factor: major roles in chromatin decondensation and nuclear assembly. J. Cell Biol., 158:475-85.

Segura-Totten M and Wilson KL. 2001. Virology. HIV--breaking the rules for nuclear entry. Science, 294:1016-7.

Personal Information

Dr. Segura-Totten was born and raised in Puerto Rico, so she is fluent in both English and Spanish. She came to the U.S. to attend college and has since lived in several states on the east coast, as well as having traveled to Latin America and Europe. She loves to spend time with her husband and her son. She welcomes all students, especially those wishing to converse in Spanish or learn more about her culture and research, to contact her.