Koby Ljunggren loves to teach undergraduates, especially first-years, and undergraduates love to be taught by them. In their feedback about Ljunggren’s classes, students consistently mention that the teaching fellow makes everyone feel welcome and valued—the words phenomenal, awesome, and amazing are regularly used—and that their enthusiasm for science and the course materials is contagious. “I would like to give my highest praise to Koby to make sure that the course head knows what a fabulous job they did in running our section!” said one student. “I would come to section completely confused and Koby would spend as much time as was needed to explain it.”
A teaching fellow for “An Integrated Introduction to the Life Sciences: Chemistry, Molecular Biology, and Cell Biology” (LS1a) and “An Integrated Introduction to the Life Sciences: Genetics, Genomics, and Evolution,” (LS1b), Ljunggren has an extraordinary track record of excellence in teaching at the undergraduate level. Their teaching in LS1b, for example, earned them a Q score of 4.85 even though the course itself earned only a 3.57.
Both LS1a and LS1b are large and complex courses with many components. Effective TFs must be well organized and adept at leading discussions, managing students in experimental lab activities, helping students with problem sets and practice materials in sections and during office hours, and grading fairly and promptly. LS1b preceptors Monica Boselli and Maria Ostapovich were impressed by Ljunggren’s creativity and organization. “Koby is an educator through and through: they are wonderfully creative in finding new and ever more effective ways to teach students about a topic that might otherwise seem stale and overly familiar,” they wrote. “Critically, Koby combines this flair for communication and explanation with a rock-solid command of logistics and organization. They are unfailingly on top of everything they take on.”
The two LS1a preceptors, Sien Verschave and Rebecca LaCroix agree, noting their ability to relate to any student, no matter the level of understanding or background. Verschave also emphasized Ljunggren’s role within the teaching team. “Beyond being an excellent teacher to our undergraduate students, they also proved to be equally well suited to inspire their graduate peers,” she said. “In their role as teaching fellow, Koby has been extremely helpful in encouraging an inclusive culture of collaboration within our teaching team.”
In their nomination, Professor of Medicine and Pathology Martha L. Bulyk and Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology Rachelle Gaudet were enthusiastic about Ljunggren’s abilities. “Koby loves teaching, excels at it,” they said, “and their teaching in two large and challenging life sciences courses has made a hugely positive impact on countless undergraduates, often first-years who are still adjusting to college.”
Koby Ljunggren, the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences is pleased to present you with the Derek C. Bok Award for Excellence in Graduate Student Teaching of Undergraduates. Congratulations!
More on the 2023 Derek C. Bok Awards
