Assistant Professor
Email: navanbreukelen@loyola.edu
Office
Dorothy Day 051
Department of Biology
Loyola University Maryland
4501 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21210-2699
Biography
Dr. Natalie April van Breukelen (Dr. VB) received her doctorate in Integrative Biology from Lehigh University and has worked in higher education since 2008 teaching at several undergraduate institutions as well as teaching abroad in Costa Rica and Australia. She teaches a wide variety of courses in biological sciences, developing and implementing innovative teaching pedagogies and utilizing evidence-based teaching including active learning in her courses. Dr. VB’s research focuses on exploring reproductive behavior across fish species using an integrative approach with an emphasis on mentoring undergraduate student researchers. She explores evolutionary, ecological, environmental, and physiological factors which impact behaviors such as parental care, courtship, and territoriality. Her research includes both laboratory and field work research in Costa Rica and Texas. Here at Loyola, Dr. VB will be teaching the Foundations courses as well as teaching Animal Behavior.
"My goal is to create meaningful classroom, lab, and field experiences so that students may engage with content, take responsibility for their learning, and gain a greater appreciation and understanding of biological sciences."