Yoojin J. Choi, Ph.D.

Dr. Yoojin Choi is new to PLNU in 2022, bringing 15 years of teaching experience in various settings. She grew up in Southern California and feels blessed to be back in SoCal now with her family. From 2014 to 2022, Choi taught in the biology department at North Park University, a Christian liberal arts college in Chicago, and served as department chair in the last two years. She taught introductory human anatomy, advanced human physiology, neuroscience, cancer biology, and peer instruction in biology. An interesting experience during this time was serving as the Professor in Residence at a sister school in Sweden, in charge of study-abroad students in Fall, 2019. Prior to 2014, she taught genetics and the two-semester sequence of human anatomy and physiology at California Baptist University. She also taught summer courses at Korea University and Seoul National University. Choi's first teaching position out of graduate school was at Phillips Exeter Academy where she learned to practice student-centered and collaborative teaching and learning.

Choi holds a PhD in Neurobiology from Harvard University. She describes her neurobiology training as "cell biology using developing neurons." She has supported undergraduate research using Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, a mixotrophic algal species with proteins on their flagella that share similarities with human proteins. She plans to continue supporting undergraduate research if students are interested in working with chlamies. Choi is excited to invite PLNU students into hands-on and student-centered learning in the classroom and in the research lab.

• 2024 Excellence in Teaching Award