Bethany Ponte's Teaching Portfolio

About Me

I am a fourth-year Ph.D. candidate in neuroscience with a strong background in both research and teaching. My research focuses on the Mexican tetra fish (Astyanax mexicanus), specifically investigating the interplay of neuronal signaling—particularly Norepinephrine—and its role in egg quiescence in response to starvation. This work explores how environmental factors influence reproductive physiology and broader neural processes.

Throughout my graduate career, I have been dedicated to teaching and have served as a teaching assistant for multiple semesters across a range of biology and neuroscience courses. These include Introduction to Biology, Microbiology, Integrative Neuroscience, and Cell Biology of Disease. In these roles, I have graded exams and held office hours to provide individualized support to students. My experiences have allowed me to engage with students across various disciplines and learning styles, strengthening my ability to communicate complex concepts effectively.
Throughout my graduate career, I have been dedicated to teaching and have served as a teaching assistant for multiple semesters across a range of biology and neuroscience courses. These include Introduction to Biology, Microbiology, Integrative Neuroscience, and Cell Biology of Disease. In these roles, I have graded exams and held office hours to provide individualized support to students. My experiences have allowed me to engage with students across various disciplines and learning styles, strengthening my ability to communicate complex concepts effectively.

Education

2021 – present Doctor of Philosophy

    • Integrative Neuroscience – 4.0 GPA – University of Nevada, Reno – Reno, NV

2019 – 2021 Bachelor of Science

    • Psychology with an Emphasis in Biology – With Honors – 4.0 GPA – University of California, Davis – Davis, CA

2014 – 2019 Associate of Science

    • Biology – With Honors – 4.0 GPA – Sierra College – Rocklin, CA

2014 – 2019 Associate of Science

    • Psychology – With Honors – 4.0 GPA – Sierra College – Rocklin, CA

2014 – 2019 Associate of Science

    • Social and Behavioral Sciences – With Honors – 4.0 GPA – Sierra College – Rocklin, CA

2014 – 2019 Associate of Science

    • Life Sciences – With Honors – 4.0 GPA – Sierra College – Rocklin, CA

Teaching and Mentorship Experience

TEACHING
Teaching Assistantship BIOL 482 | Cell Biology of Disease | Lecture | Lecturer: Cynthia Mastick Ph.D.
UNR, Spring 2025 NS 474 | Integrative Neuroscience | Lecture | Lecturers: Grant Mastick Ph.D. and Edward Ester Ph.D.
Teaching Assistantship BIOL 100 | Biology: Principles and Applications | Lecture | Lecturer: Angela M. Smilanich Ph.D.
UNR, Fall 2024 BIOL 251 | General Microbiology | Lecture | Lecturer: Emily E. Jackson Ph.D.
Teaching Assistantship BIOL 315 | Cell Biology | Lecture | Lecturer: Simon Pieraut Ph.D.
UNR, Spring 2022
Teaching Assistantship BIOL 105 | Introduction to Neuroscience | Lecture | Lecturer: Thomas Kidd Ph.D.
UNR, Fall 2021 BIOL 475 | Neurobiology | Lecture | Lecturer: Jennifer Hoy Ph.D.
Embedded Tutor Chem 1A | General Chemistry 1| Lab | Lecturer: Jason Giuliani Ph.D.
Sierra College, Fall 2016 Chem 1X | Problem Solving for Chem 1A | Lecture | Lecturer: Jason Giuliani Ph.D.
Embedded Tutor Chem 2A | Introduction to Chemistry | Lab | Lecturer: Jason Giuliani Ph.D.
Sierra College
Spring 2018 - Spring 2019

MENTORSHIP

June 2023 – August 2023: Salvador Fernandez, University of Nevada, Reno, undergraduate in cellular molecular biology. Salvador is also an INBRE Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program recipient. Currently in graduate school in the cellular molecular biology program at the University of Nevada, Reno in Dr. van der Linden’s lab.

August 2020 – July 2021: 2020 Class of University Honors Program Transfer Students, University of California, Davis, variety of undergraduate majors. Part of the 2020 required transfer directed class to support transfer students as they enter the university. Offered office hours and community building activities such as game nights, biweekly walks, and mental health talks. Created a handbook for introducing transfer students to the University of California, Davis and available resources.

August 2016 – May 2019: Chemistry Embedded Tutor, Sierra College, variety of undergraduate majors. Held weekly tutoring sessions specifically for the chemistry class I was embedded in (Chem 1A or Chem 2A). Produced a handbook with worked out practice questions from Chem 1X class for students understanding if a tutor was not present.

Awards and Honors

University of Nevada, Reno
2024 Jerry and Betty Wilson Biology Scholarship
2021, 2024 Dean’s Merit Scholarship
2023 Hadley - Lynch Scholarship
2023 Raymond H. Berner Scholarship
2021 Dean’s Merit Scholarship
2021 NSF GAIN Scholar
University of California, Davis
2019-2021 University Honors Program
2019-2021 Dean’s List, Letters and Science
2019 Regent’s Scholarship
Sierra College
2019 American Association of University Women Scholarship
2015 - 2019 TRIO Scholar
2018 Wells Fargo Scholarship, part of the Osher Initiative for Community College Students
2017 - 2018 President’s Honor Roll
2017 California Community College Scholarship Endowment
2014 - 2015 President’s Honor Roll

Additional Activities

2024 Dissertation Writing Bootcamp | University of Nevada, Reno
Enhance dissertation writing skills, complete a writing product draft, foster a supportive writing community, and provide constructive feedback from peers and faculty.
2024 Integrative Neuroscience Program Colloquium Committee Member
2024 Guest Presenter, Introduction to Neuroscience Class 2024
Discussing my research and introduction to graduate school.
2023-2024 Organizer for annual Integrative Neuroscience Program Symposium
May 2024 Project Initiation: Starting a Successful Project
Online non-credit course authorized by Google and offered through Coursera
October 2024 Foundations of Project Management
Online non-credit course authorized by Google and offered through Coursera
March 2023 R For Data Science Bootcamp | University of Nevada, Reno
Participants will receive example data sets to practice data manipulation, organization, and graphical exploration. Participants are also encouraged to bring their own data and data challenges. In addition, major concepts of data science such as reproducibility will be addressed. Participants will gain the skills necessary to manage and organize data, run basic analyses, and generate professional documents and figures in R.
Spring 2021 PACE4E Program | University of California, Davis
Program focusing on program-level assessment capacity for equity, to dive into changes the program could make to its curriculum to equally benefit students coming in from different entry points, including transfer students.
Spring 2019 SKDV 1 | Techniques of Tutoring | Sierra College | Lecturer: Melody Meier
Introduction to learning theories, styles and techniques as related to tutoring. Fundamentals of communication and motivation for effective tutoring. Strategies for planning tutoring sessions. Tutoring techniques and resources for addressing unique student needs.

Received certificate for completing the course.