Andrea Nicholas

Picture of Andrea Nicholas
Associate Teaching Professor, Neurobiology and Behavior
School of Biological Sciences
Ph.D., University of Chicago, Neurobiology & Pharmacology
Phone: (949) 560-3253
Email: acnichol@uci.edu
University of California, Irvine
1228 McGaugh Hall
Mail Code: 4550
Irvine, CA 92697
Research Interests
The process of learning and memory as it relates to the method and practice of teaching.
Appointments
Postdoctoral Research:
2003-07 Department of Biological Sciences, Stanford University.
Principal Investigator, Robert Sapolsky
Senior Research Associate:
2009-12 Department of Integrative Biology and the Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley. Principal Investigator, Daniela Kaufer
Research Abstract
Human Biology Major: Bio Sci N120 A, B & C,
Courses taught: Bio Sci 93, From DNA to Organisms
Bio Sci 35, Brain & Behavior
Bio Sci 43, Media & Mind
Bio Sci 41, Mood Disorders
Bio Sci 47, Stress
Bio Sci 36, Drugs and the Brain
Awards and Honors
2019 Gallow Professor of the Year award: Council for Teaching, Learning, and Student Experience and the Division of Teaching Excellence and Innovation
2021 Outstanding contributions in teaching: Dean of Biological Sciences
2022 Faculty Mentor Award
2023 Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching: School of Biological Sciences
Publications
Yaccoub, M., Nicholas, A., Learning Modules Created on Qualtrics: An Adaptable Tool for Student Engagement (2024), American Biology Teacher
Meadows, A., Sweiss, R., Kanchana, V., Stout, R. F., Otazu, G. H., Nicholas, A., & Ramos, R. L. (2024). Active Learning Exercises in Synaptic Physiology and Connectivity for the Neuroscience Lecture Hall, Laboratory Course, or Outreach Setting. Journal of Undergraduate Neuroscience Education, 23(1), A9. https://www.funjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/june-23-9.pdf
Tran, J., Meller, L.,Le, V., Tam, J., Nicholas, A., Behavioral Assessment of Soft Skill Development in a Highly Structured Pre-health Biology Course for Undergraduates (2024), Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education. https://journals.asm.org/doi/pdf/10.1128/jmbe.00192-23
Characterization of Metabolic Illnesses and Metabolic Syndrome in an Luke Chi, Anmol Gill, Kashish Chawla, Christine Vu, Roseanne De Guzman, Tanvi Sondhi, Ketaki Lole, Anny Do, Hera Kim, Aarti Dachepalli, Karina Melgar, Andrea Nicholas, (2024), Characterization of Metabolic Illnesses and Metabolic Syndrome in an Underserved, Predominantly Hispanic/Latino Population at a Local Student Run Free Clinic, Journal of Student-Run Clinics (accepted)
Ha, J., Afana, D., Moghaddam, K.N., Nicholas A., Using BioRender for Active Learning: Exploring Learning-Style Preference and Visual-Spatial Ability in Undergraduate Students (2024), The Journal of Undergraduate Neuroscience Education. https://www.funjournal.org/volume-22-issue-3-spring-2024/ha-et-al-june-223a289-a295/
Deena A., Golzar A., Dong A., Beshai A., Delgado D., Nguyen J., Torres J., (2021), Kuru Disease and Cultural Factors Contributing to Sickness, NSF National Center For Case Study Teaching in Science, Peer Reviewed Case Studies.
Naik V., Aghajanyan V., Shen C., Do Huong., Ahorro R., Hari R., Nicholas A., (2020), Sexually Transmitted Diseases, NSF National Center For Case Study Teaching in Science, Peer Reviewed Case Studies.
Castillo J., Cotter A., Mejia C., Perry A., Pimentel M., Porat A., Yadollahi Y., Nicholas A., (2020), Malaria Case Study, NSF National Center For Case Study Teaching in Science, Peer Reviewed Case Studies.
Ramos, R. L., Lodato, Z., Elnashar, A., Sweiss, R., Kanchana, V., & Nicholas, A. (2020) Amazing Papers in Neuroscience, Journal of Undergraduate Neuroscience Education.
https://www.funjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/june-19-r7.pdf?x89760
Dhillon M., Na D., Kawata C. Swede J. Patel P., Ringor A., Chu J., Ringor A., Nicholas A., (2019), Cholera: Death by Dehydration, NSF National Center For Case Study Teaching in Science, Peer Reviewed Case Studies.
Cohler S., Ahmad S., Benitez L., Corrales D., Gadepally S., Kreusser N., Munoz J., Ngo D, Nicholas A., (2020), Case Crackers: A Virus Story, NSF National Center For Case Study Teaching in Science, Peer Reviewed Case Studies.
White AO, Javier LK, Goldberg NR, Boucquey V, Overman J, Ochaba J, Marsh S, Huffmanb D & Nicholas A, Front and Back Flipping for Neurobiology! Developing a Hybrid Upper-Division Lab Course, (2017), Journal of Undergraduate Neuroscience Education.
Nagel, A., Nicholas, A., Don’t Believe the Gripe! Increasing Course Structure in a Large Non-majors Neuroscience Course, (2017), Journal of Undergraduate Neuroscience Education.
http://www.funjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/june-15-128.pdf
Nagel, A., Nicholas, A., Drugs & the Brain: Case-based Instruction for an Undergraduate Neuropharmacology Course, (2017), Journal of Undergraduate Neuroscience Education.
http://www.funjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/june-15-c11.pdf
Han, C., Angeles, C., Villano, I., Nicholas, A., Antibiotic Resistance in a Russian Prison, (2016), NSF National Center For Case Study Teaching in Science.
http://sciencecases.lib.buffalo.edu/cs/collection/detail.asp?case_id=911&id=911
Garland Science Learning System modules for Principles of Neurobiology, written by Liqun Luo, (2015), Modules created by Andrea Nicholas, University of California, Irvine.
https://my.rocketmix.com/coursedetails.aspx?cid=1104&guest=1
Nicholas, A. & Villano, I., A Case Study & Cholera Outbreak Game for Undergraduate Biology Majors and Non-Majors, (2014), NSF National Center For Case Study Teaching in Science.
http://sciencecases.lib.buffalo.edu/cs/collection/detail.asp?case_id=766&id=766
Sundari, C., Kirby, E.D., Krupik, D., Mirescu, C., Nicholas, A., Wong, A., Geraghty, A., Krishnamurthy, A., Tsai, M., Covarrubias, D., Friedman, A., Francis, D., Sapolsky, R.M., Palmer, T.D., Kaufer, D., (2014), Stress and glucocorticoids promote oligodendrogenesis in the adult hippocampus, Molectular Psychiatry. Impact Factor 14.897
Nicholas, A., Munhoz, C., Ferguson, D., Campbell, L., Sapolsky, R.M., (2006), Enhancing cognition after stress with gene therapy, The Journal of Neuroscience. 26(45),11637-11643. ISI Impact Factor 7.178
Kaufer D., Ogle W.O., Pincus, Z.S., Clark K.L., Nicholas A., Dinkel K.M., Dumas T.C., Ferguson D., Lee A.L., Winters, M.A., Sapolsky, R.M. (2004) Restructuring the neuronal stress response with anti-glucocorticoid gene delivery. Nature Neurosci. 7:947-953. ISI Impact Factor 29.51.
Nicholas A. & Seiden L.S., (2003), Ambient temperature influences core body temperature response in rat lines bred for differences in sensitivity to 8-hydroxy- dipropylaminotetralin. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 305(1):368-74. ISI Impact Factor 4.309.
Professional Societies
Nu Rho Psi
Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience (FUN)
Society For Neuroscience
SABER
Other Experience
Reviewer
National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science 2017—2024
Reviewer
Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education 2017—2025
Associate Editor
Journal of Undergraduate Neuroscience Education 2019—2025
Last updated
01/30/2025