We encourage authentic self-expression and invite wild imaginations as we challenge the status quo and envision academic spaces where students and instructors can be our whole selves.
Dax Ovid
Nice to meet you - my name is Dax (they/she) 👋 I’m an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology at the University of Georgia, College of Veterinary Medicine. I study discipline-based education research in biology, focusing on the new undergraduate major in Biomedical Physiology.
Our research group focuses on who is represented in our curriculum, what we say that shapes classroom learning environments, and how we can engage science students in cross-cultural humility and advocacy for a more equitable society. I completed a postdoc with San Francisco State University and have a PhD in Integrative Biology from UC Berkeley. I like to meet new people, practice electric guitar and to be outdoors (when it’s not too humid)!
Ph.D. Student
As a qualitative biology education researcher, I study the social mechanisms that support and hinder the emotional health of undergraduate life sciences students. I hope to contribute to the corpus of scientific knowledge that informs evidence-based pedagogical practices that promote emotional wellness within higher education. Outside of science, I enjoy stimulating conversations with friends about the joys and challenges of life and the methods we use to navigate it all!
Ph.D. Student
Through my Ph.D., I hope to make science more accessible to healthcare students through the lenses of universal design and generative learning, specifically creativity and analogous learning. For several years in my undergrad, I was a teaching assistant for Anatomy and Physiology I and American Sign Language. These formative experiences sparked my passion for teaching, fostering meaningful relationships with students, and improving educational methods. Outside of the lab, I spend time with my partner and service dog, Henry, a two-year-old standard poodle, exploring walking trails around Athens.
Ph.D. Student
My research focuses on gender equity and empowering young people, with an emphasis on marginalized young women and children in Ghana who aspire to excel in STEM education. Through my academic journey, I hope to gain experiences that deepen my commitment to fostering a more inclusive and equitable STEM environment. I am an International Student from Ghana, pursuing my PhD at the University of Georgia. In my free time, I like to explore the restaurants here in Athens, hike through nature’s wonders, and participate in local community events.
Hi everyone! I’m a fourth-year Psychology major with a Neuroscience Emphasis, currently on the pre-med track with aspirations of becoming an OBGYN. Here at UGA, I'm involved in Hearts for the Homeless, Period Project, and volunteer as a medical assistant at Mercy Health Center. For the past two years, my passion for women’s health has grown as a certified medical assistant at an OBGYN office. I’m conducting research on the influence of sex education on reproductive health access and exploring pedagogical approaches to reproductive physiology. I’m excited about the potential of our research to shape the future of reproductive health policy and enhance the teaching of reproductive physiology. Outside of academics, I enjoy running and reading. I’m looking forward to contributing to advancing reproductive equity and supporting efforts that shape the future of reproductive health in this region!
Hi! My name is Vybhavi Kotireddy, and I’m a third-year student majoring in Biology on the pre-med track at the University of Georgia. I aspire to become a physician and serve as an advocate in health policy. As a member of the CORPUS Lab, I am interested in understanding how students’ backgrounds influence their viewpoints on reproductive health, education, and access and how community resources can support further education. Outside of the lab, I enjoy volunteering around the Athens community, going on walks, watching TV shows, and exploring cafes with friends. If you have any questions about me or my research, feel free to contact me at vk18052@uga.edu!
Ph.D. Student, Computer Science
Research: Wearable technology in physiology education
Hi! My name is Sarah Dhanani and I am a 2nd year Biomedical Physiology and Psychology major. I am on the pre-med track and I aspire to be a surgeon one day. I am currently involved with MSSA (Minority Student Science Association) and I am on their advisory board. Once I got to college, I became a CLA (Chemistry Learning Assistant) and a student-athlete tutor. My past experience helped me interact with students of all ages and learn what methods of learning work best for each student. Alongside teaching others, I was also inadvertently teaching myself. I was becoming better at the subjects I was teaching and more confident speaking about it. I want to explore: how does teaching teach teachers? I am in the works of beginning my project on this topic, and I am excited to work on it! Outside of academics, I do Tae Kwon Do. I’ve been doing martial arts for 13 years now and I love practicing with my team every weekend and learning new techniques!
Hi! My name is Gabby Felix, and I’m in my 3rd year of majoring in Biomedical Physiology while pursuing a minor in Women’s Studies! I am on the pre-med track here at UGA and currently an Honors Teaching Assistant. Along with that, I am involved with the National Alliance on Mental Illness as well as the Women’s Studies Student Organization on campus! I have also gotten the chance to be a Chemistry Learning Assistant, which has sparked an interest in teaching methods for me. After looking into the CORPUS Lab, I felt like I could resonate with many of the values and topics that were presented! Thankfully, I am now a part of the lab and have the opportunity to explore how people who teach others, can learn more, and I am so excited to see where it goes! Besides science, I love listening to music, watching horror movies, and biking!
Hello Everyone! My name is Tanner Nelson, and I am a Third-Year here at UGA! I am involved in many things around UGA! I am an exec member for MSSA and The Backpack Project My role in both MSSA and The Backpack Project involves presiding over the Community Service aspects of both organizations. My mission is to aid fellow pre-health students tap in to the many volunteering opportunities we have connections with in Athens, clincal and nonclinical. My goal is to become and Orthopedic Surgeon in Sports medicine, and as you can imagine, I love Sports and exercise! If you catch me at Ramsey or Sanford, say Hi! (LEG DAY BEST DAY btw)
Hi everyone! My name is Jaidyn Schultz and I am a third-year Biomedical Physiology student with minors in Sociology and Public Health. I have been in the CORPUS Education Lab for almost two years and have loved every second of it! My research focuses on the implications of non-content instructor language, otherwise known as "Instructor Talk". Through this research, I aim to improve life-science classroom environments and increase students' feeling of belonging. Outside of the lab, I enjoy reading, cooking, and rewatching comfort movies and shows. After graduating, my goal is to become a physician and work in the non-profit healthcare industry.
Hi everyone! My name is Ava Scarpaci and I am a fourth year Biomedical Physiology student with minor in Spanish and Biology. I am on the pre-PA track and am interested in pursuing a career in women’s health. Here in the CORPUS Lab, my goal is to understand and analyze the structure of undergraduate physiology classes in order to determine what is and isn’t beneficial to learning physiology. I am also a Peer-Learning Assistant for a physiology class here at UGA, and I am passionate about helping my students and students that come after succeed in and enjoy learning STEM. Outside of science, I love learning and teaching Spanish and serve as an English as a Second Language tutor to elementary students here in Athens. I also love sports and coach a youth basketball league as well as play intramural volleyball at UGA.
Hi everyone! My name is Renata Stanescu, and I am currently a senior majoring in Biomedical Physiology with a French minor on a Pre-PA track. Originally from Romania, my background has made me develop a deep interest in exploring new cultures and learning different languages, leading to a passion for global health and helping people with diverse backgrounds. I am very excited to be part of the CORPUS Lab, where I collaborate on projects focused on improving the structure and content of physiology courses here at UGA, with the hope of extending these improvements to other institutions. Being part of this lab lets me bring together my passion for education with my interest in making science more accessible as well as more engaging for students. Outside of science, I enjoy photography, traveling, swimming, playing the piano and guitar, cooking, and watching movies with my friends.
We are committed to building diverse, equitable, and inclusive spaces
We cultivate an environment where lab members are encouraged to advocate broadly and work collaboratively. Our lab is both a brave community and a supportive space for students to engage in meaningful discipline-based education research. Our aim is for such scholarship to support actionable changes in STEM education practice and theory.
CORPUS Education Lab collaborates and engages with several science education researchers and communities of practice. Learn more about our colleagues and additional resources in the links below!
