Crystal Uminski
@crystaluminski.bsky.social
Asst. Professor at Towson University. #DBER work on assessments in undergraduate biology. Enthusiastic about movies and cats. she/her 📝🧬🎬
🧬 New publication! 🧬
The apparent simplicity of common visual models in biology can mask deep conceptual challenges for learners. We summarize empirical evidence for this ‘illusion of clarity’ and describe resources that may help instructors dispel this illusion.
www.cell.com/trends/genet...
The apparent simplicity of common visual models in biology can mask deep conceptual challenges for learners. We summarize empirical evidence for this ‘illusion of clarity’ and describe resources that may help instructors dispel this illusion.
www.cell.com/trends/genet...
November 18, 2025 at 5:30 PM
🧬 New publication! 🧬
The apparent simplicity of common visual models in biology can mask deep conceptual challenges for learners. We summarize empirical evidence for this ‘illusion of clarity’ and describe resources that may help instructors dispel this illusion.
www.cell.com/trends/genet...
The apparent simplicity of common visual models in biology can mask deep conceptual challenges for learners. We summarize empirical evidence for this ‘illusion of clarity’ and describe resources that may help instructors dispel this illusion.
www.cell.com/trends/genet...
A home is a little happier with Jeff Goldblum in the room
November 14, 2025 at 4:38 AM
A home is a little happier with Jeff Goldblum in the room
How do we know what biology students know? I'll be sharing a bit about how biology education research gives us insights into what students learn and remember from introductory biology courses during this Friday's Biological Sciences Seminar at Towson University.
November 12, 2025 at 4:19 PM
How do we know what biology students know? I'll be sharing a bit about how biology education research gives us insights into what students learn and remember from introductory biology courses during this Friday's Biological Sciences Seminar at Towson University.
Cat on a Cat on a Hot Tin Horn
November 9, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Cat on a Cat on a Hot Tin Horn
25 Cats Name Sam and One Gray Turnip
November 4, 2025 at 3:00 AM
25 Cats Name Sam and One Gray Turnip
A colleague told me I’m the “Elton John of DBER” and I can’t think of a higher compliment
November 1, 2025 at 6:09 PM
A colleague told me I’m the “Elton John of DBER” and I can’t think of a higher compliment
Celebrating Halloween at a biology teacher conference with some spooky scary skeletons 💀
October 31, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Celebrating Halloween at a biology teacher conference with some spooky scary skeletons 💀
I’m in a new city for NABT, so that means new opportunities to color coordinate! My conference outfit matched the hotel hallway!
October 31, 2025 at 1:55 AM
I’m in a new city for NABT, so that means new opportunities to color coordinate! My conference outfit matched the hotel hallway!
A little fella looking for snacks
October 22, 2025 at 11:40 PM
A little fella looking for snacks
Meow in Light
October 15, 2025 at 12:43 AM
Meow in Light
A little fella enjoying the Fall
October 8, 2025 at 9:50 PM
A little fella enjoying the Fall
I’m delighted to be back on the Elizabethtown campus to receive the Honors Outstanding Young Alumni Award!
October 4, 2025 at 8:34 PM
I’m delighted to be back on the Elizabethtown campus to receive the Honors Outstanding Young Alumni Award!
Turnip is getting a lesson about neuroplasticity from David Byrne 🧠
September 24, 2025 at 12:37 AM
Turnip is getting a lesson about neuroplasticity from David Byrne 🧠
It doesn't have the fun animations like on the DNA Landscape website, but we do have some ideas about how to teach and draw alleles in this paper!
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
September 23, 2025 at 12:01 AM
It doesn't have the fun animations like on the DNA Landscape website, but we do have some ideas about how to teach and draw alleles in this paper!
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
We do a small bit about alleles in the "Beta Globin" tab (all the animations are in the context of the HBB gene that makes beta globin), but we don't have any spiffy animations specifically of alleles.
September 23, 2025 at 12:01 AM
We do a small bit about alleles in the "Beta Globin" tab (all the animations are in the context of the HBB gene that makes beta globin), but we don't have any spiffy animations specifically of alleles.
I'm teaching about the structure of DNA, genes, and chromosomes. If you're in the same boat, consider bringing the DNA Landscape into your class! It can be tricky to "see" how representations of DNA are related, so we created animations to make it more visible! sites.google.com/view/dnaland...
September 22, 2025 at 8:21 PM
I'm teaching about the structure of DNA, genes, and chromosomes. If you're in the same boat, consider bringing the DNA Landscape into your class! It can be tricky to "see" how representations of DNA are related, so we created animations to make it more visible! sites.google.com/view/dnaland...
A new office on campus means new places to hang up David Byrne art
September 11, 2025 at 10:21 PM
A new office on campus means new places to hang up David Byrne art
Turnip has some opinions about the new David Byrne album
September 6, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Turnip has some opinions about the new David Byrne album
Delilah is a little adventurer 🌿
August 26, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Delilah is a little adventurer 🌿
Speaking in Meows
August 23, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Speaking in Meows
Dreams walking in broad daylight! These Talking Heads lyrics best capture what I’m feeling as I’m starting as a tenure-track professor at Towson University! @towsonu.bsky.social
August 18, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Dreams walking in broad daylight! These Talking Heads lyrics best capture what I’m feeling as I’m starting as a tenure-track professor at Towson University! @towsonu.bsky.social
I’m gonna keep on dancing at the Pink Poodle Club 🐩
August 8, 2025 at 2:18 AM
I’m gonna keep on dancing at the Pink Poodle Club 🐩
Turnip: Beastie Boys edition.
July 29, 2025 at 1:11 AM
Turnip: Beastie Boys edition.
Tonight’s painting: Turnip in the David Byrne Big Suit 🎨
July 26, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Tonight’s painting: Turnip in the David Byrne Big Suit 🎨