ASBMB undergraduate education programs foster tomorrow’s scientific minds
Developing the next generation of scientists is woven into the fabric of the Âé¶¹´«Ã½É«Ç鯬 and Âé¶¹´«Ã½É«Ç鯬 Biology’s mission to build and empower a broad community of molecular life scientists to advance discovery. The society offers multiple programs that help prepare tomorrow’s scientists by supporting both scientist–educators and undergraduate institutional departments. They also form valuable forums that enable scientist–educators to engage one another on best practices for training, education and professional development.
Opportunities to gather & explore
Learning together and sharing experiences on teaching practices is an important benefit of ASBMB membership for scientist–educators. ASBMB’s annual meeting supports all of their important responsibilities: as researchers, they can dig deep into scientific discoveries; as educators, they can also attend workshops and presentations on educational research. The meeting also encourages the next generation of scientists through the Undergraduate Poster Competition. Periodic webinars and virtual events help interested members connect year-round.

The Transforming Education in the Âé¶¹´«Ã½É«Ç鯬 Life Sciences meeting, or TUEMLS, is a signature forum to dive deep in education and training. It occurs biannually during the summer and provides opportunities for educators to learn and share engaging approaches that support students.
“Suddenly I found this community of faculty who were practitioners of biochemistry education,” , TUEMLS organizer and professor of biology at Hamline University, said. “And it really opened my eyes to the different ways in which I could make my courses better, the different ways in which I could serve all the students in my classroom much better.”
Dan Dries, a fellow TUEMLS organizer and assistant professor of chemistry and chemistry education research at Chapman University, said science pedagogy standards are moving toward national competency-based instruction and alternative grading practices.

The 2025 National Academies report “" highlights competency-based education as a personalized, self-directed approach grounded in students’ interests and experiences. It also contrasts traditional grading, which often lacks reflection on learning objectives, with alternative methods that promote self-assessment and better communication. These alternatives — like specifications-based and standards-based grading — can enhance feedback and help students develop a growth mindset.
“There's also been a consistent push for more active learning and the implementation of course-based undergraduate research experiences,” Dries said. “So, we thought it would be a great opportunity to have a space (TUEMLS) where we could talk about, more holistically, what a contemporary life sciences education could, and frankly, maybe must be.”
Martinez–Vaz said she focuses on culturally responsive pedagogy, as well as concepts, themes and tools from a variety of practitioners.
Much like Martinez–Vaz’s own teaching practices, the National Academies report recommends a comprehensive, collaborative teaching approach and offers a common framework for academic dialogue. It outlines seven principles for equitable and effective teaching, emphasizing that courses should be student-centered. The report also highlights culturally responsive teaching, which values and leverages the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and goals students bring to the classroom.

Recognizing program excellence
Since 2013, ASBMB has recognized excellence in undergraduate programs in BMB and related fields through an accreditation program that provides a national, independent, outcomes-based evaluation mechanism. Starting with six approved programs, today’s ASBMB’s accredited programs total 121 at 115 institutions. Programs can be fully or partially accredited, and the accreditation is renewed on a regular basis.
Hampden–Sydney College's biochemistry and molecular biology program earned a full seven-year ASBMB accreditation in 2023. According to Michael Wolyniak, a professor of biology and director of undergraduate research at H-SC, he and his colleagues sought out this honor to confirm and signify their program’s excellence.
"ASBMB accreditation was crucial for the successful introduction of a biochemistry and molecular biology major at my institution,” Wolyniak said. “The accreditation showed my colleagues across the institution that the program we developed has been vetted and approved by world-class experts in biochemistry and molecular biology education. The accreditation also shows prospective students that they will receive a sound biochemistry and molecular biology education."
Earlier this year, Nathan Vanderford, an associate professor at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine and ASBMB’s Education and Professional Development Committee chair, and John Tansey, a professor of chemistry at Otterbein University and ASBMB’s Education Subcommittee chair, worked with the ASBMB Council to streamline the accreditation application and renewal process.
According to Vanderford, “Our goals were to maintain standards while also creating greater capacity to sustainably administer the program.”
Tansey added, “The changes have many benefits, including maintaining quality, rigor and intentions of the program; reducing burden for applicants, reviewers and staff; and creating some space to improve or grow the program.”
The accreditation process includes a National Institutes of Health–style review where the primary and secondary reviewers present the applicants’ evaluation for additional discussion and final decision by the full group of participating reviewers. Volunteers are welcome year-round to assist with reviews.
ASBMB also offers:
- ASBMB exam: An assessment of core competencies in biochemistry and molecular biology at both foundational and advanced levels. Volunteer scorers are accepted year-round — apply via our education website.
- Undergraduate student chapters: A national community of undergraduate students and faculty members that promotes research, education and outreach. Visit our education website to start a chapter.
- ASBMB’s Education and Professional Development Committee: A group of volunteer leaders who develop and oversee programs that promote effective molecular life sciences curricula and educational practices and provide career resources. Applications are accepted annually during the call for applications to committee appointments.
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